The Planes is in Kempston, Bedford and in North Bedfordshire district. MK42 7JU 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 7JU and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7JX, MK42 7JT, MK42 7LB, MK42 7LA, MK42 7JS, MK42 8EX, MK42 7JR, MK42 7LD, MK42 7PT.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around MK42 7JU 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 7JU 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 45.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 65.6% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
The Planes has the 14th lowest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 220th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 20.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -29.9%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £255,000 | 2024-02-23 | £273,085 |
| 50 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £240,000 | 2021-10-15 | £276,039 |
| 19 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £205,000 | 2020-12-17 | £255,826 |
| 50 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £219,000 | 2019-10-11 | £279,232 |
| 52 The Planes, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £215,000 | 2019-06-07 | £275,795 |
MK42 7JU 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 | 2,176 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,705 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 | 2out of 4 | 455 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balliol Primary School Balliol Road , Kempston MK42 7ER | 3out of 4 | 631 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 2out of 4 | 777 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 904 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Rural Primary School Martell Drive , MK42 7FJ | 4out of 4 | 1,527 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 | 3out of 4 | 824 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Challenger Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,132 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 2,671 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 3,066 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 3,256 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 3,079 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 479 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 931 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ridgeway School Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,262 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,734 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,616 yd | Other independent school | No | 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 | 337 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 415 yd | |
| D Gelato | 71 High Street | 535 yd | |
| DG Grill | 71 High Street | 535 yd | |
| Cafe Mar-Chelles | 243 Bedford Road | 591 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 159 yd | |
| Royal Oak | The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road | 371 yd | |
| The Mulberry Bush | The Mulberry Bush, Springfield Centre | 585 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 592 yd | |
| King William IV | King William Iv, 56 High Street | 666 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| G's Takeaway | 10 St Johns Street | 384 yd | |
| Oriental Chef | 10b St Johns Street | 384 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 232 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 415 yd | |
| The Café Grill | 14 Bunyan Road | 473 yd | |
| The Pearl | 12 Bunyan Road | 498 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 384 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 415 yd | |
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 769 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 448 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 656 yd | |
| Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 700 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 703 yd |
| Balliol Lower School BALLIOL ROAD | grass pitches, swimming pool | 718 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 960 yd |
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 980 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 | 90 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 114.2 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16.4 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.