Wixams

Wixams is one of the largest new communities in the UK.

As a team, our masterplan was Village 2 with the development of a new market town made up of 5 villages with a total of 4,500 homes clustered around a major town centre. The project also includes 6schools, a new railway connection to London and an employment area.

Village 2 at Wixams has been developed by the Gallagher’s team, to a completely new masterplan and a new concept of design code by Clague LLP using infrastructure and informal open space in a new way to help raise values in a difficult market.  This new village is arranged around a stunning new village green, a lake and linear parkland.

The village masterplan features a local centre with village shops, primary and secondary schools, play areas and formal sports pitches. 

Detailed character studies were carried out to show how the form and layout of buildings would be used to create intimate pedestrian-friendly spaces and streets in line with best urban design practice.

Once completed, Wixams’ town centre will have a rail connection south to London St Pancras Station (35 minutes) on the Midland mainline London to Nottingham. The new station at Bedford Wixams will be a key park and ride destination for London commuters, in and around Bedford and a convenient link into London for residents of Wixams itself.

We also developed the concept of the public realm design for the new Station Quarter plaza in Village 4 including integration with the local bus network and pedestrian connections to the adjacent High Street, residential areas and parkland.

Detailed plans for the civic and commercial heart of the place were advanced for Village 3 and full planning permission was secured for key components of the village 1 centre including: 

• A new community building

• Food store

• GP surgery

• Creche

• 15 affordable homes