Mayor denies Debenhams building will be sold for £1

The Mayor of Bedford has refuted allegations that the former Debenhams building, which closed its doors in 2021, is slated for a £1 sale. This denial comes amidst scrutiny from opposition councillors regarding a regeneration agreement between Bedford Borough Council and developer Cityheart for the Mayes Yard area, a site that previously housed both Debenhams and Beales department stores.

Henry Vann, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, expressed disbelief, stating, "It's beyond belief the mayor is willing to dispose of a building that cost £1.8m to buy, for just £1. This decision needs serious investigation by a council's Scrutiny Committee."

However, Conservative Mayor Tom Wootton firmly countered these claims, asserting, "We have absolutely guaranteed I'm not going to sell it for a pound." He dismissed the cross-party accusations as "political points scoring," particularly with an upcoming election.

The Debenhams building was acquired by Bedford Borough Council for £1.8 million in 2024, and its ground floor was subsequently transformed into a cultural hub, which opened in 2025.

In July, the BBC reported that Cityheart secured the contract to redevelop Mayes Yard, with proposals including bistros, cafes, restaurants, flats, and enhanced pedestrian access to the town centre.

Despite this, Labour and Green Party councillors have echoed Vann's concerns, prompting a re-examination of the plans by the authority's Overview and Scrutiny Committee in the coming months.

Carl Meader, Labour group deputy leader, criticized the Mayor, stating, "This is one of many examples where the mayor and his cabinet have complete disregard for elected members. He has said many times he wishes to work cross party, but obviously this is not the case."

Green Party Councillor Paul Edmonds emphasized the need for transparency, adding, "The bigger and more important the decision, the greater the need for clarity and transparency. We must ensure public assets are protected and the scheme can be delivered for the benefit of Bedford."

Vann further criticized the Mayor's proposal, stating, "The mayor's proposal sees the council giving up the property it owns for next to nothing and in return there isn't even a complete redevelopment scheme planned. With future phases left hanging this is the worst of all worlds."

Opposition councillors also voiced concerns about the absence of a comprehensive plan for the area, fearing that development might not progress beyond the initial phase. They also questioned the developers' limited experience in Bedford and suggested that the project's risks to the council have been underestimated.

Mayor Wootton challenged the claims, stating, "Instead of talking about how wonderful it is [the regeneration plans], we're talking about maybe selling it [a building] for a pound and I challenge anybody to find where it says we're actually going to sell it for a pound because we're not and that's a complete fib." He reiterated that the accusations were politically motivated.

Cityheart, the developers, declined to comment when approached by the BBC.