Published: 28/09/2008 00:00 - Updated: 20/02/2009 01:42

New town a ghost town - for the time being

The planned new town for mid Bedfordshire has virtually ground to a halt.

Wixams will be one of the largest new communities to be built in the UK in recent times with the sustainable new market town eventually providing 4,500 homes, 300 acres of open space, employment opportunities, shopping and community facilities.

A quarter of all homes will be affordable housing, including shared ownership, low cost and rented accommodation.

Six new schools will be built, three lower, two middle and one upper with one of the lower schools being given the go ahead by the schools adjudicator this week.

And all homes will be built to the Eco-Homes very good rating.

Most of the preparatory work has been completed on the old Elstow Storage Depot site, which was once a munitions dump and some houses have been built.

But with house sales virtually at a standstill at the moment, a decision has been taken to drastically cut back on new builds.

A spokesman for Gallaghers said: "We are working with Bedford Pilgrims Housing Association to ensure that the delivery of housing at Wixams is balanced.

"With the slowdown of the private housing market, it also makes sense to review the delivery timetable for the affordable housing in order to ensure that a sustainable community is created, which provides a range of housing types to meet the needs of a new community.

"While the current challenging market conditions inevitably impact on all developments, extensive work is being undertaken to ensure that Wixams remains on track.

"Two house builders are now on site, with a third due to open a show home shortly. Planning applications for the community facilities and for the future phases of Wixams are also being progressed."