Elstow Garden Villages
Elstow, Bedfordshire
The Wixams is being developed as a sustainable mixed-use new settlement south of Bedford. The core of the development site is Elstow Storage Depot, the 500 acre brownfield site of a former World War II munitions factory.
The overarching concept for this new settlement is a series of four self contained ‘villages’, each with their own local centre, schools, employment, social and community uses. These are linked by linear parks that create a strong sense of place and accommodate water conservation features.
- Conceived as four self contained linking villages
- 4,500 homes for a balanced community of some 12,000 people
- Provision for further planned expansion
- Employment uses, a town centre, schools and social and community facilities
- A movement network emphasising walking, cycling and public transport
- Provision of a new rail station
- Strong landscape with parks, ecological areas and community woodland
- High quality urban design embodying energy and water conservation features