Wixams
Encyclopedia
Wixams is a new town
in Bedfordshire
, England
, which has been under construction since early 2007. It is expected to become the third largest settlement in the Borough of Bedford after Bedford
itself and Kempston
, and one of the largest new settlements founded in England since the British new towns movement
of the first twenty five years after World War II. Part of the site is also in Central Bedfordshire
.
, and was formerly known as the Elstow Storage Depot; and in World War II
, as ROF Elstow
. The provisional name of the development during the early planning stages was Elstow Garden Villages, (Elstow
is a nearby village famous for its association with John Bunyan
). The name 'Wixams' derives from Wixamtree
, an ancient hundred near to where the new town
is situated. (It is actually in the ancient hundred of Redbournestoke.)
Wixams is planned to ultimately consist of four "villages", each with its own centre, built around a town centre. It is expected to have 4,500 homes, and is likely to provide housing capacity for people who work in Bedford, Milton Keynes
and London
. In addition, there is an intention to develop employment in Wixams itself.
Facilities which are scheduled to be constructed include:
Gallagher Estates is the master development company
for the whole of Wixams. The first area or village under development is known as Lakeview (previously Village One). Developers include Bloor Homes
, Careys New Homes, Lagan Homes, Leech Homes, Miller Homes and Taylor Wimpey
.
The first residents of Lakeview moved in to the area in early 2009, but construction work has proceeded more slowly than forecast due to the late 2000s recession
and the consequent state of the UK housing market. In August 2009, the first housing association
properties were let to residents in Lakeview, with shared-ownership homes also becoming available. The first lower school in Wixams, Lakeview Lower School opened in September 2009.
In late summer 2010, the Wixams Community Group was formed from residents who have moved to the new town. Site preparation works for the Village Two and Village Three areas of Wixams commenced in early 2011. Bedford Borough Council have reported that over 300 homes were occupied in Lakeview by the start of 2011. In February 2011, the Reverend Tim Jackson was appointed as the ecumenical church minister for the new town. He represents the Anglican
, Baptist, Methodist
and United Reformed
Christian denomination
s. However, there is no church building at present.
civil parish
, with residents entitled to vote in elections for Wilshamstead Parish Council (Wilshamstead is the parish name for the village of Wilstead
, which is located on the other side of the A6 road). However, Wixams is being developed as a separate new town, and is ultimately expected to become a civil parish in its own right. The as yet undeveloped parts of Wixams lie in the Stewartby
and Houghton Conquest
civil parishes.
Wixams forms part of the Mid Bedfordshire constituency
, represented in the House of Commons
of the United Kingdom Parliament
. The current MP
for the Mid Bedfordshire constituency is Nadine Dorries
, who is a member of the Conservative Party
.
is a planned new railway station to be built in Wixams, which will be an intermediate stop on the Midland Main Line
between Bedford railway station and Flitwick railway station
. The station is due to be built by 2015.
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which has been under construction since early 2007. It is expected to become the third largest settlement in the Borough of Bedford after Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
itself and Kempston
Kempston
Kempston is a town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. Once known as the largest village in England, Kempston is now a town with its own town council. It has a population of about 20,000, and together with Bedford, it forms an urban area with around 100,000 inhabitants, which is the...
, and one of the largest new settlements founded in England since the British new towns movement
New towns in the United Kingdom
Below is a list of some of the new towns in the United Kingdom created under the various New Town Acts of the 20th century. Some earlier towns were developed as Garden Cities or overspill estates early in the twentieth century. The New Towns proper were planned to disperse population following the...
of the first twenty five years after World War II. Part of the site is also in Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. It was created from the merger of Bedfordshire County Council, Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire on 1 April 2009...
.
History
The 750 acre (3 km²) brownfield site for the Wixams development is located just to the south of BedfordBedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, and was formerly known as the Elstow Storage Depot; and in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as ROF Elstow
ROF Elstow
Royal Ordnance Factory Elstow was one of sixteen UK Ministry of Supply, World War II, Filling Factories. It was a medium-sized filling factory, , which filled and packed munitions. It was located south of the town of Bedford, between the villages of Elstow and Wilstead in Bedfordshire...
. The provisional name of the development during the early planning stages was Elstow Garden Villages, (Elstow
Elstow
Elstow is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. John Bunyan, was born here - at Bunyan's End, which lay approximately halfway between the hamlet of Harrowden and Elstow's High Street.-History:...
is a nearby village famous for its association with John Bunyan
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
). The name 'Wixams' derives from Wixamtree
Wixamtree
Wixamtree is the name of an ancient hundred located in Bedfordshire, England.Wixamtree was one of the hundreds of Bedfordshire, with its council being the primary form of local government in its area from the Anglo-Saxon times to the nineteenth century....
, an ancient hundred near to where the new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
is situated. (It is actually in the ancient hundred of Redbournestoke.)
Wixams is planned to ultimately consist of four "villages", each with its own centre, built around a town centre. It is expected to have 4,500 homes, and is likely to provide housing capacity for people who work in Bedford, Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In addition, there is an intention to develop employment in Wixams itself.
Facilities which are scheduled to be constructed include:
- Over a million square feet of office space
- Three lower schools (ages 5–9), two middle schoolMiddle schoolMiddle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s (9-13) and one upper schoolUpper schoolUpper Schools tend to be schools within secondary education. Outside England, the term normally refers to a section of a larger school. There is some variation in the use of the term in England.-State Maintained Schools:...
(13-18) - A primary healthcare centre
- A town park
- A range of shops
- A library
- A sports hall
- Over 300 acres (1.2 km²) of parkland and public open space, featuring a series of lakes, water bodies and wetland areas. These are a legacy of the former open cast mineral extraction on the site, which lies within the Forest of Marston ValeForest of Marston ValeThe Forest of Marston Vale is an evolving community forest in Marston Vale, which runs south west from the towns of Bedford and Kempston in Bedfordshire, England towards the M1 motorway. It is operated by a registered charity called the Marston Vale Trust....
, a brickmaking and gravel extraction area with many exhausted pits.
Gallagher Estates is the master development company
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
for the whole of Wixams. The first area or village under development is known as Lakeview (previously Village One). Developers include Bloor Homes
John Bloor
John Stuart Bloor OBE, is an English business magnate.Having built Derbyshire based Bloor Holdings into a leading housebuilding organisation, Bloor bought and revived Triumph Motorcycles.-Early life:...
, Careys New Homes, Lagan Homes, Leech Homes, Miller Homes and Taylor Wimpey
Taylor Wimpey
Taylor Wimpey plc is one of the largest British based housebuilding companies. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...
.
The first residents of Lakeview moved in to the area in early 2009, but construction work has proceeded more slowly than forecast due to the late 2000s recession
Late 2000s recession in Europe
While the recession of the late 2000s began in the United States, the crisis spread to Europe rapidly and has affected much of the region with several countries already in recession as of February 2009, and most others suffering marked economic setbacks...
and the consequent state of the UK housing market. In August 2009, the first housing association
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
properties were let to residents in Lakeview, with shared-ownership homes also becoming available. The first lower school in Wixams, Lakeview Lower School opened in September 2009.
In late summer 2010, the Wixams Community Group was formed from residents who have moved to the new town. Site preparation works for the Village Two and Village Three areas of Wixams commenced in early 2011. Bedford Borough Council have reported that over 300 homes were occupied in Lakeview by the start of 2011. In February 2011, the Reverend Tim Jackson was appointed as the ecumenical church minister for the new town. He represents the Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
, Baptist, Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
and United Reformed
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
s. However, there is no church building at present.
Governance
Village One of the Wixams development (Lakeview) is currently part of the WilshamsteadWilstead
.Wilstead is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, just off the A6 Bedford to Luton road, about five miles south of Bedford town centre, and within the Borough of Bedford. The name of the village has been spelled in many different ways, including Wilshamstead, Wylhamstead, and...
civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
, with residents entitled to vote in elections for Wilshamstead Parish Council (Wilshamstead is the parish name for the village of Wilstead
Wilstead
.Wilstead is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, just off the A6 Bedford to Luton road, about five miles south of Bedford town centre, and within the Borough of Bedford. The name of the village has been spelled in many different ways, including Wilshamstead, Wylhamstead, and...
, which is located on the other side of the A6 road). However, Wixams is being developed as a separate new town, and is ultimately expected to become a civil parish in its own right. The as yet undeveloped parts of Wixams lie in the Stewartby
Stewartby
Stewartby is a model village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, originally built for the workers of The London Brick Company. The village housing and town community centre was designed by the noted neo-Georgian architect Sir Albert Richardson a later and more modern development than such...
and Houghton Conquest
Houghton Conquest
Houghton Conquest is a village and civil parish located in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. The parish also includes the hamlet of How End.-History:...
civil parishes.
Wixams forms part of the Mid Bedfordshire constituency
Mid Bedfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Bedfordshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, represented in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the United Kingdom Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. The current MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Mid Bedfordshire constituency is Nadine Dorries
Nadine Dorries
Nadine Vanessa Dorries is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Mid Bedfordshire since 2005. She has been involved in parliamentary attempts to change the laws on abortion....
, who is a member of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
Transport
Wixams is adjacent to the A6 trunk road, part of which was diverted to a new section of dual carriageway in 2007/08 to make space for the development. Wixams railway stationWixams railway station
Wixams railway station is a proposed railway station on the Midland Main Line for the Wixams new town development in Bedfordshire. The station will be between Bedford and Flitwick.-References:...
is a planned new railway station to be built in Wixams, which will be an intermediate stop on the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
between Bedford railway station and Flitwick railway station
Flitwick railway station
Flitwick railway station is in the centre of Flitwick, in Bedfordshire, England. The station is situated on the Midland Main Line. The station is managed by First Capital Connect, and is served by the Thameslink line service...
. The station is due to be built by 2015.