Biggleswade

We want to make Central Bedfordshire a great place to live and work. That’s why we continue to invest in areas across Central Bedfordshire, including Biggleswade.

Over the last few years, millions of pounds have been invested in Biggleswade to create excellent new facilities, important infrastructure, and services for local people.

Below are some of the investments we’ve made or are planning, and how we are making it a great place to live and work.

You can also view our latest press releases with news relating to Biggleswade or sign up for our email alerts to stay updated with the latest news.

Transport interchange at the train station as well as general station improvements in partnership with the operators is a new development for the town that will see future passenger growth.

A £2.3 million improvement scheme will ensure the station can accommodate demand and make it an important gateway into Biggleswade and Central Bedfordshire.

Power infrastructure for the local community, allowing for ever-increasing demands and business growth. New development sees increased demand for electricity. To help future-proof the area, a new electricity substation was one of the major projects for the town.

This will mean more power can be accessed from the national grid to maintain a reliable electricity supply, support future investment in Biggleswade and help local communities transition towards a low carbon economy.

The proposals include two new compounds:

• a National Grid site (Biggleswade 400kV Substation)
• a UK Power Networks site (Biggleswade East Grid)

In 2025 we began installing new underground cables to enable the first connections for the new substation in Biggleswade. This is the latest milestone in delivering £70m of government funding for power, education, rail and road infrastructure to support the town’s growth.

The new substation will not only contribute to reducing environmental impacts, but also attract new investment, create jobs and drive sustainable growth in the area, underlining our commitment to preparing Biggleswade for its future.

Why do we need new power infrastructure?

The proposed 400kV substation is vital to meet increased electricity demand and to support the expansion of Biggleswade. The substation will include two transformers that are needed to power the local area.

Currently, Biggleswade draws around 40MW capacity per annum and is close to reaching this capacity. The 400kV substation will initially boost power capacity by 80MW, allowing for residential and employment growth, with a total of 240MW available in the future as demand increases e.g. through home electric car charging points.

The 400kV substation will be built on land to the north of Dunton Lane to the east of Biggleswade.

Find out more about the Biggleswade Substation

Following the development of the new substation being built in the town – helping future proof energy supply as it grows, we are proposing the development of a battery energy storage facility nearby to this site.

Renewable energy, such as solar or wind is generated and used in real time.

But in some cases, we generate more renewable energy than what is required.

To avoid wasting it, we would look to save this in a battery storage facility so it can be used on a supply and demand basis to limit waste in the area.

A replacement bridge for people, cyclists, and horse riders to the north of Biggleswade where the Green Wheel Bridleway crosses the East Coast Mainline. A significant step towards safer travel with the official opening of the new bridleway bridge at Lindsells Level Crossing.

The fully accessible bridleway bridge allows walkers, horse riders, cyclists and others on wheels to safely cross the railway line, providing better access and connectivity for the community.

Rising eight metres above the track with ramps approximately 185 metres long on each side, it now serves as a vital link for Biggleswade’s Green Wheel, a walking and cycling route that promotes active and sustainable travel around the outskirts of Biggleswade.

There are four tracks at Lindsells which carry over 300 trains per day travelling at speeds of up to 125mph. The bridleway bridge removes the need for users to cross the railway line, improving safety for users, train crew and train passengers.

 

Biggleswade Library opens its doors after being transformed into a modern facility and community hub for residents, with a children’s centre, Registrars office and help for people moving to online banking.

The library reopened in October 2024 last year, with children’s events planned during the week including crafts, a scavenger hunt and Halloween themed activities.

The refurbishments have enhanced the current library layout, made better use of the space, and enabled additional services to be offered within the building. The improvements to the library include:

• a bigger children’s library
• an improved information technology (IT) zone
• increased study space
• new books, a microfiche reading machine and self-service machines
• improved Wi-Fi

Library staff will be on hand to show customers around the new library.

There have also been crucial improvements made to the building including new ventilation, flooring, furniture, and shelving. The building has been upgraded to function more efficiently and sustainably.

The registration service will be available in an office located in the library building from Wednesday to Friday, operating between 9:30am and 4:30pm. It will handle registrations for births, deaths, marriages, and civil partnerships exclusively; ceremonies will take place at different locations. Find out how to schedule an appointment.

Biggleswade Children’s Centre also started delivering its service from the library location.

Barclays Bank will host a weekly advice centre in the library, from Tuesday to Thursday, operating between 10am and 4pm. The purpose of this centre is to provide support and guidance to customers looking to transition to online services.

To find out more about the library service and activities happening at Biggleswade Library, sign up for our email alerts or follow the libraries on Facebook.

Across the Biggleswade cluster of schools, we are investing £32 million to ensure this cluster not only changed to become two-tier, but so that most schools have additional, improved, modern spaces to help inspire children to get the most out of their education.

The two-tier change will make an incredible difference to the education system in this area, by reducing the number of transitions between schools, which can be disruptive to children’s education, from two to one.

In the Biggleswade area, to support schools after their change from the three-tier model of education (lower, middle and upper schools) to the two-tier model (primary and secondary schools), which took place in September 2024, the following construction works are also planned.

Around 3,000 new homes are set to be delivered in the next 15 years. Less than an hour’s commute to London, 30 minutes from Cambridge, Luton and Bedford, sited directly on the A1, Biggleswade is of significant interest to people looking to create their future family homes within a quality environment, and to companies looking for an affordable site within an ideal national transport radius. However, the town cannot support further housing and commercial growth without significant infrastructure investment.

The successful Housing Infrastructure Fund bid means that we can support new and existing communities in Biggleswade by ensuring they have the transport, schools, and power to sustain the homes being built.