The Planes is in Kempston, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 7JT is located in the Kempston South electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about The Planes, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7JT and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7JS, MK42 7JU, MK42 7LA, MK42 7JX, MK42 7LB, MK42 7JR, MK42 8EX, MK42 7PT, MK42 7QT.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 7JT is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 49.9%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 53% | 50.1% | -2.9% | 51.0% | -0.9% |
| Male | 47% | 49.9% | 2.9% | 49.0% | 0.9% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of MK42 7JT there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 51.3% of the resident population. In contrast, the average marriage rate across the census is about 44%.
Areas with a high percentage of married residents are typically suburban neighborhoods, towns with good schools and family-friendly amenities, and regions with affordable, spacious housing options. Additionally, such areas can be popular among retirees.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 31.8% | 32% | 0.2% | 37.9% | -5.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 55.8% | 51.3% | -4.5% | 44.2% | 7.1% |
| Separated | 2.8% | 3.6% | 0.8% | 2.2% | 1.4% |
| Divorced | 5.9% | 6.9% | 1.0% | 9.1% | -2.2% |
| Widowed | 3.7% | 6.2% | 2.5% | 6.1% | 0.1% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 46.5% | 49.9% | 3.4% | 48.4% | 1.5% |
| Good health | 37.9% | 33.5% | -4.4% | 33.6% | -0.1% |
| Fair health | 11.9% | 13.5% | 1.6% | 12.7% | 0.8% |
| Bad health | 3% | 2.1% | -0.9% | 4.0% | -1.9% |
| Very bad health | 0.7% | 1% | 0.3% | 1.2% | -0.2% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 20.2% | 17.1% | -3.1% | 18.2% | -1.1% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 16.5% | 13.8% | -2.7% | 9.6% | 4.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 19% | 13.8% | -5.2% | 13.4% | 0.4% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.2% | 6.9% | -0.3% | 5.3% | 1.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10% | 16.4% | 6.4% | 16.9% | -0.5% |
| Degree or Similar | 19.3% | 27% | 7.7% | 33.8% | -6.8% |
| Other | 7.8% | 4.9% | -2.9% | 2.8% | 2.1% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 66.1% of the residents identify as white, which is lower than the UK average of 81.4%, there are significant representations of other ethnic groups.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | -0.2% |
| Indian | 16.1% | 13.5% | -2.6% | 3.1% | 10.4% |
| Pakistani | 3% | 0% | -3.0% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Other Asian | 2.7% | 1.8% | -0.9% | 1.6% | 0.2% |
| Black African | 2.2% | 2.6% | 0.4% | 2.5% | 0.1% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.2% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 1.0% | 2.1% |
| Other Black | 0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.5% | 1.8% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.2% | 0% | -0.2% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.7% | 2.8% | 0.1% | 0.9% | 1.9% |
| Mixed Other | 0.5% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| White | 70.8% | 66.1% | -4.7% | 81.4% | -15.3% |
| Roma | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Other | 0.2% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 1.6% | 2.0% |
In this area, 74% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is lower than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 84.4% | 74% | -10.4% | 83.2% | -9.2% |
| European Union | 2.2% | 9.6% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 3.5% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Africa | 4.2% | 4.7% | 0.5% | 2.7% | 2.0% |
| Middle East and Asia | 8.2% | 7.3% | -0.9% | 5.6% | 1.7% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1% | 2.1% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Oceania | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 83.9% | 73.8% | -10.1% | 83.2% | -9.4% |
| 10+ Years | 1.5% | 15.1% | 13.6% | 9.8% | 5.3% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.5% | 5.5% | 3.0% | 2.9% | 2.6% |
| 2-5 Years | 4.2% | 3.1% | -1.1% | 2.2% | 0.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 7.9% | 2.6% | -5.3% | 1.9% | 0.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 67.5% | 76.7% | -9.2% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Italy | 1.8% | 0.6% | 1.2% |
| Portugal | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Spain | 1% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Lithuania | 1.3% | 0.3% | 1.0% |
| Poland | 3.4% | 1.3% | 2.1% |
| Romania | 4.7% | 0.9% | 3.8% |
| Other EU countries | 0.3% | 1.5% | -1.2% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Southern Asia | 3.9% | 1.2% | 2.7% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 13% | 13.5% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 28.6% | 37.2% | -8.6% |
| Christian | 49.7% | 46.2% | 3.5% |
| Hindu | 4.9% | 1.7% | 3.2% |
| Muslim | 0.5% | 6.5% | -6.0% |
| Sikh | 8.9% | 0.9% | 8.0% |
| Other religion | 3.4% | 0.6% | 2.8% |
| Not answered | 3.9% | 6.0% | -2.1% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around The Planes was 50.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 60.3% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
The Planes has the 19th lowest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 235th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 27.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have remained broadly unchanged year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -46.2%.

Households in this area have a similar level level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 59% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £228,000 | 2021-08-27 | £265,286 |
| 5 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £170,000 | 2020-03-04 | £220,185 |
| 18 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £170,000 | 2018-12-14 | £213,361 |
| 2 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £225,000 | 2018-05-14 | £284,083 |
| 32 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £205,000 | 2017-06-09 | £271,187 |
MK42 7JT area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 120 |
| Retired | 55 |
| Part-Time Employee | 42 |
| Self-Employed | 24 |
| Looking after home or family | 15 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 13 |
| Other | 12 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 12 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 9 |
| Unemployed | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 46 |
| Human health and social work activities | 26 |
| Construction | 21 |
| Manufacturing | 19 |
| Education | 18 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 14 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 13 |
| Transport and storage | 12 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 11 |
| Other | 11 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 8 |
| Information and communication | 7 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 2,167 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,593 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,666 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | - not rated | 545 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 605 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | - not rated | 672 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 3out of 4 | 672 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 674 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 732 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,168 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | - not rated | 1,168 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,756 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 3,065 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 727 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 727 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Middle School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 732 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 2,438 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Gregory's Catholic Middle School Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT | - not rated | 3,003 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 3,084 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College Green Lane , Stewartby MK43 9LY | - not rated | 5,443 yd | Free schools 16 to 19 | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 598 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 598 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys House Residential School Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 712 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys House Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 712 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Student Support Centre Greys House , Manor Drive MK42 7AB | - not rated | 712 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caprinos Pizza | 44-46 Bunyan Road | 373 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 445 yd | |
| D Gelato | 71 High Street | 515 yd | |
| DG Grill | 71 High Street | 515 yd | |
| Cafe Mar-Chelles | 243 Bedford Road | 622 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 117 yd | |
| Royal Oak | The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road | 325 yd | |
| The Mulberry Bush | The Mulberry Bush, Springfield Centre | 618 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 627 yd | |
| King William IV | King William Iv, 56 High Street | 642 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| G's Takeaway | 10 St Johns Street | 362 yd | |
| Oriental Chef | 10b St Johns Street | 362 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 232 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 445 yd | |
| The Café Grill | 14 Bunyan Road | 506 yd | |
| The Pearl | 12 Bunyan Road | 530 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 362 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 445 yd | |
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 807 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 403 yd |
| Balliol Lower School BALLIOL ROAD | grass pitches, swimming pool | 676 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 691 yd | |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 713 yd |
| Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 732 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 994 yd |
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 1,014 yd |
| Bedfordshire Police Hq (Closed) Woburn Road | grass pitches | 1,050 yd |
| Kempston Hammers Sports And Social Club HIGH STREET | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 1,068 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Median download speed | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 161.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 19.3 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.