Castle Lane
Bedford, England
Reality check: Affordable entry at £166,997 with hot market liquidity. Strong 21% growth over 5 years supports the investment case. However, car dependency limits the tenant pool and long-term upside.
Who Is This Street For?
Scored by profile based on what matters most to each group.
Strong case: liquid market (score 90), 21% 5-year growth, affordable entry (£166,997). But transport (20) may limit tenant pool.
Safety score of 15 is the main barrier. School proximity doesn't compensate for high crime.
How this is calculated
Safety 30%, Schools 30%, Environment 20%, Amenities 10%, Energy 10%
Decent connectivity, but transport (20) could be better.
How this is calculated
Transport 35%, Walkability 30%, Amenities 25%, Market 10%
Strong case: liquid market (score 90), 21% 5-year growth, affordable entry (£166,997). But transport (20) may limit tenant pool.
How this is calculated
Liquidity 35%, Market 35%, Price trend bonus up to +30
Good with limitations — good daily access, walkable. But environment (35) suggests noise or density, car dependency reduces independence.
How this is calculated
Safety 25%, Environment 25%, Amenities 20%, Energy 15%, Walkability 15%
Good entry point at £166,997, but transport (20) means car needed and safety (15) needs consideration and environment (35) is below average.
How this is calculated
Affordability 40%, Transport 25%, Amenities 20%, Safety 15%
Things You Should Know
Safety score 15/100 — crime rates are well above average. Exercise caution, especially at night.
Transport score 20/100. Daily tasks likely require a car. Limited public transit options within walking distance.
Transport score 20/100 with no significant infrastructure planned. Car dependency limits property appeal and constrains future value growth.
How Life Works Here
Castle Lane is located in Bedford. Crime is a significant concern, with 968 incidents recorded in 12 months — well above the national average. Violence and sexual offences dominates reports. 509 violent offences were recorded (53% of total). This level of crime reflects a high-footfall transit area rather than a typical residential street. Daily amenities are excellent, with 11 facilities within walking distance, including cafe (3), hairdresser (3), and restaurant (3). Public transport options are limited. A car is recommended for commuting and longer journeys. The median property price is £166,997, with strong growth of 21% over five years. Based on 72 transactions recorded since 2014. The market is highly active with frequent sales. Rented accommodation predominates. There are 10 schools within 2 km, 10 rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. 4 are rated Outstanding. Both primary and secondary options are available locally. The nearest school is just 392m away. However, high crime rates and a dense urban environment significantly undermine family suitability despite the school provision. This street may particularly suit property investors. Overall, this street scores 48 out of 100 for liveability, placing it in the top 19% within its district. Note that the composite score masks a serious safety concern that may outweigh other strengths for many residents.
Score Breakdown
Each dimension scored 0-100 from open government data. Hover or tap for data source.
police.uk crime data (12-month rolling)
OpenStreetMap amenities within 2km
DfT NaPTAN + TfL stops
DEFRA noise & air quality, OS green space
HM Land Registry price paid data
GIAS schools + Ofsted ratings
OSM footpath density + connectivity
EPC certificates + estimated efficiency
Environment Agency flood zones
Property Market
Flat/Maisonette | Leasehold | Market: hot
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (Open Government Licence v3.0)
Nearby Amenities
Similar Streets
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Horne Lane — Bedford45
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Tavistock Street — Bedford49
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Bunyan Road — Bedford48
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Harpur Street — Bedford45
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Midland Road — Bedford49
Data Transparency
View all data sources
- OS Open Roads — Crown copyright and database right
- HM Land Registry Price Paid Data — Crown copyright
- police.uk crime data — Open Government Licence v3.0
- OpenStreetMap — ODbL licence
- DfT NaPTAN — Open Government Licence v3.0
- GIAS schools data — Crown copyright
- Environment Agency flood data — OGL v3.0
- DEFRA noise and air quality — OGL v3.0
- ONS Census 2021 — Open Government Licence v3.0
All scores are computed from publicly available government and open data. No proprietary data is used. Scores reflect statistical patterns, not guarantees.