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A NEW TOWN FOR BEDFORDSHIRE
The former Elstow industrial and Storage Depot, south of Bedford, was first identified as the potential site for a new settlement back in 1996. After almost ten years' planning and consultation, our vision for the new community of The Wixams is moving closer to realisation.
Working with Joint Venture partners, RWEnpower, we have worked in close consultation with three local authorities to plan this completely new community, which meets the Government's sustainable development objectives.
As The Wixams development site straddles the border between Bedford Borough Council and Mid Beds District Council, a Joint Development Control Committee was formed, with representatives from both authorities.
The new settlement will comprise 4,500 new homes - 25% of which will be affordable, over a million square feet of employment space, a new railway station, up to seven new schools, a town centre, a primary care health centre, sports and leisure facilities and more than 150 acres of parkland and public open space.
By forming a unique partnership with the Borough, District and County councils, we ensured the successful progression of the scheme. The Joint Development Committee has resolved to grant planning consent for the new Wixams development and we are currently finalising the planning obligation agreements and other detailed matters so that the planning permission can be issued.
We expected to start preparing The Wixams site for development in the Spring of 2006.
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