The Larches is in Kempston, Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 7LP 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 Larches, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7LP and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 7LR, MK42 7NA, MK42 7PL, MK42 7LS, MK42 7PJ, MK42 7NB, MK42 7LL, MK42 7PR, MK42 7LH.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK42 7LP has a slightly higher male population, with 51.9% of residents being male. Several factors can contribute to this, including areas with industries or sectors that predominantly employ men, proximity to universities or technical schools with a higher enrollment of male students, presence of all-male or predominantly male institutions (military academies, boarding schools).
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 53.2% | 48.1% | -5.1% | 51.0% | -2.9% |
| Male | 46.8% | 51.9% | 5.1% | 49.0% | 2.9% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 32.5% | 36% | 3.5% | 37.9% | -1.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 50.2% | 47.5% | -2.7% | 44.2% | 3.3% |
| Separated | 3% | 2.5% | -0.5% | 2.2% | 0.3% |
| Divorced | 9.4% | 8.3% | -1.1% | 9.1% | -0.8% |
| Widowed | 4.9% | 5.8% | 0.9% | 6.1% | -0.3% |
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.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (88%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either a younger population or more affluent area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 45.3% | 51.4% | 6.1% | 48.4% | 3.0% |
| Good health | 39.3% | 36.6% | -2.7% | 33.6% | 3.0% |
| Fair health | 10.5% | 9.7% | -0.8% | 12.7% | -3.0% |
| Bad health | 3.9% | 1.7% | -2.2% | 4.0% | -2.3% |
| Very bad health | 0.9% | 0.6% | -0.3% | 1.2% | -0.6% |
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 | 17.4% | 21.7% | 4.3% | 18.2% | 3.5% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 20.4% | 15.9% | -4.5% | 9.6% | 6.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 15.1% | 12.3% | -2.8% | 13.4% | -1.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.4% | 4.7% | -1.7% | 5.3% | -0.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 14% | 18.1% | 4.1% | 16.9% | 1.2% |
| Degree or Similar | 20.8% | 23.6% | 2.8% | 33.8% | -10.2% |
| Other | 6% | 3.6% | -2.4% | 2.8% | 0.8% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 70.9% 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 | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.2% |
| Indian | 13.2% | 19.1% | 5.9% | 3.1% | 16.0% |
| Pakistani | 0.9% | 1.4% | 0.5% | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| Other Asian | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 1.6% | -1.0% |
| Black African | 1.5% | 0.9% | -0.6% | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 1.0% | -1.0% |
| Other Black | 0.9% | 1.1% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.2% | 2% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.8% | 2.6% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 1.7% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| White | 77.5% | 70.9% | -6.6% | 81.4% | -10.5% |
| Other | 1.2% | 0.3% | -0.9% | 1.6% | -1.3% |
In this area, 78.1% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is similar to the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 85.6% | 78.1% | -7.5% | 83.2% | -5.1% |
| European Union | 6.6% | 9.7% | 3.1% | 6.1% | 3.6% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 1.5% | 1.4% | -0.1% | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 5.4% | 10.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 4.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 85% | 78.6% | -6.4% | 83.2% | -4.6% |
| 10+ Years | 0.3% | 12% | 11.7% | 9.8% | 2.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.1% | 4.9% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 2.4% | 2.9% | 0.5% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| Less than 2 years | 10.2% | 1.7% | -8.5% | 1.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 69% | 76.7% | -7.7% |
| Ireland | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Italy | 2.5% | 0.6% | 1.9% |
| Lithuania | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Poland | 2.5% | 1.3% | 1.2% |
| Romania | 1.7% | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Other EU countries | 2% | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 6.2% | 1.2% | 5.0% |
| No passport held | 14.6% | 13.5% | 1.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 27.4% | 37.2% | -9.8% |
| Christian | 44.6% | 46.2% | -1.6% |
| Hindu | 3.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Muslim | 3.7% | 6.5% | -2.8% |
| Sikh | 7.9% | 0.9% | 7.0% |
| Other religion | 2% | 0.6% | 1.4% |
| Not answered | 11.3% | 6.0% | 5.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around The Larches was 105.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 16.5% lower than the Kempston Central & East average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
The Larches has the 21st highest crime rate of 59 local areas in Kempston Central & East and the 134th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 46.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -55.5%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Larches, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £350,000 | 2025-05-16 | £361,948 |
| 3 The Larches, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £248,000 | 2014-10-24 | £404,818 |
| 3 The Larches, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £186,000 | 2014-05-30 | £320,368 |
| 1 The Larches, Bedford, Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £115,000 | 2001-07-25 | £362,232 |
| Full-Time Employee | 94 |
| Retired | 53 |
| Part-Time Employee | 47 |
| Self-Employed | 24 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 12 |
| Looking after home or family | 12 |
| Unemployed | 11 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 9 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 8 |
| Other | 5 |
| Human health and social work activities | 35 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 34 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 19 |
| Transport and storage | 17 |
| Construction | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Education | 14 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 10 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Information and communication | 4 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Other | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 1 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,775 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 2,176 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,192 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | - not rated | 269 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield Primary School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7LJ | 3out of 4 | 269 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Camestone School Jowitt Avenue , Kempston MK42 8NW | 3out of 4 | 458 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | - not rated | 763 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QH | 2out of 4 | 825 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | 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 | 242 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kempston Academy Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | 3out of 4 | 1,663 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College Hill Rise , Kempston MK42 7EB | - not rated | 1,663 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 2,614 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,672 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Middle School Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | - not rated | 242 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 1,036 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Robert Bruce Middle School Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU | - not rated | 1,036 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 1,928 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 2,870 yd | Community school | 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 | 2,721 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grange School Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | - not rated | 1,002 yd | Foundation special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Grange Academy Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU | 3out of 4 | 1,002 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | - not rated | 1,003 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greys Education Centre Manor Drive , Kempston MK42 7AB | 3out of 4 | 1,003 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Rivertree Free School Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QP | - not rated | 1,106 yd | Free schools special | Yes | 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 | 525 yd | |
| Burger King | Burger King, Interchange Retail Park, 3 Polo Field Way | 574 yd | |
| Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service | Bedfordshire And Luton Fire And Rescue Service, Southfields Road | 589 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 234 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 629 yd | |
| The Hen Pen | 2a Cleveland Street | 670 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mulberry Bush | The Mulberry Bush, Springfield Centre | 121 yd | |
| The Duke Inn | The Duke Inn, 10 Woburn Road | 629 yd | |
| The Smiths Arms Public House Ltd | The Smiths Arms, 15 Margetts Road | 671 yd | |
| Kempston Constitutional Club | 196a Bedford Road | 695 yd | |
| Royal Oak | The Royal Oak, 91 Woburn Road | 788 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon | 2 Springfield Centre | 121 yd | |
| Mangal BBQ | 3 Springfield Centre | 121 yd | |
| Kim Hing Takeaway | 7 Springfield Centre | 121 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 232 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 629 yd | |
| The Café Grill | 14 Bunyan Road | 639 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 252-274 Saxon Centre, Bedford Road | 629 yd | |
| Tesco | 203-207 Bedford Road | 766 yd | |
| Co-operative | 12-14 St Johns Street | 847 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 240 yd |
| Southfield Tennis Courts LAUREL WALK | tennis courts | 507 yd |
| Kempston East Methodist Church 227 227 BEDFORD ROAD | 738 yd | |
| Cryselco Sports Field ST. JOHNS AVENUE | grass pitches | 887 yd |
| Grange Academy HALSEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 999 yd |
| Robert Bruce Middle School (Closed) Bedford Road | grass pitches | 1,018 yd |
| Addison Howard Park Bedford Road | grass pitches, tennis courts | 1,035 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% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.