The Local Plan for 2030 is distinctly lacking in an arts and cultural strategy for the Borough, and in particular how this could be leveraged to improve the Town Centre. The Town Centre review in 2020 recommended development of a Culture & Leisure Strategy, and it would seem to be important that this is completed in order to complete the local plan for 2040 (and inform interim planning as well).

The benefits of an arts/cultural-led placemaking policy are well-known yet this lever seems to be ignored by Bedford town planners, with sole focus on the success of the Riverside development.

Bedford is poorly provisioned for arts and culture compared to its larger neighbours (Northampton, Milton Keynes, Cambridge) yet is large enough to support a more adventurous and creative arts programme than the one provided by the great work of organisations such as Bedford Creative Arts, Bedford School, and The Place. The opportunity to re-develop town centre plots into a professional arts space for theatre, dance, comedy, music and more, and provide resources for education-focused arts programmes would increase footfall, provide education opportunities, school holiday activities, improve tourism, improve cultural capital, provide employment and skills opportunities, and enliven the nightlife of the town centre (potentially moving the centre of gravity of the nighttime economy back to the High Street/Midland Road).