| Wixams | |
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Wixams
Wixams shown within Bedfordshire |
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| OS grid reference | TL046443 |
|---|---|
| Parish | Wilshamstead |
| Unitary authority | Bedford |
| Ceremonial county | Bedfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEDFORD |
| Postcode district | MK42 |
| Dialling code | 01234 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Mid Bedfordshire |
| List of places: UK • England • Bedfordshire | |
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.
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The 750 acre (3 km²) brownfield site for the Wixams development is located just to the south of Bedford, 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'[1] 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.[2] The first lower school in Wixams, Lakeview Lower School opened in September 2009.[3]
In late summer 2010, the Wixams Community Group was formed from residents who have moved to the new town.[4] Site preparation works for the Village Two and Village Three areas of Wixams commenced in early 2011.[5] Bedford Borough Council have reported that over 300 homes were occupied in Lakeview by the start of 2011.[6] 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 denominations. However, there is no church building at present.[7]
Village One of the Wixams development (Lakeview) is currently part of the Wilshamstead 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.
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 station 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.[8]
The first lower school for the settlement has been constructed. Lakeview Lower School opened to pupils in September 2009. The school has been controversial, as the first headteacher was appointed months before construction of the school began. The school had seven pupils on its roll when it opened.[9]
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