Connected, cost-effective and clever

Through having focused recent developments on connectivity and value, Bedford is now emerging as a place of exciting opportunities to both live and do business, explains Paul Vann

Major public sector investment committed prior to the recession has put Bedford in a very useful position to grow strongly as the economy picks up. Transport improvements and industrial and commercial development progress have been key elements of this and demonstrate admirably Bedford’s ‘connected, cost-effective, clever’ approach to business and culture.

Bedford has continued to see delivery of major connectivity improvements. The larger section of Bedford’s western bypass, from the A421 south of Bedford to the A428 west of Bedford, was completed in December and has proved a great success. The final section of the bypass, from the A428 to the A6 north of Bedford, has now achieved reserve list status in the Homes and Communities Agency’s Kickstart 2 programme, which bodes well for its early development. If successful, this will bring permission and funding for a significant amount of new housing development, which this new road would ably serve.

Meanwhile, dualling of the A421 between Bedford and Junction 13 of the M1 remains on schedule for completion in December this year. Mirroring Bedford’s excellent dual carriageway connection with the Black Cat roundabout on the A1, this first rate connection to the M1 will give spectacular views of the Marston Vale and its developing forest just south of Bedford. This will be a huge boost to the area, with major investment decisions already reflecting this.

On the rail side too there has been significant progress with the design of a new main Bedford railway station well on the way and plans for a 2010 start on its construction. The works will also include provision of new and longer platforms as part of Network Rail’s multi-billion pound investment in Thameslink delivering a 70 percent increase in capacity. Future proofing for East-West rail development is also a feature.

Colworth Science Park
Colworth Science Park just north of Bedford, which is being developed by Unilever and global property group Goodman, is set to become a regional enterprise hub by bringing together academia, SMEs and other life science companies to drive technology transfer and support economic growth.

The Park provides a supportive open innovation environment where networking and collaboration are central to the campus culture. A new innovation and amenity centre, known as “The Exchange” and due for completion in January 2011, will enhance this culture further by providing modern laboratory and office suites, a café-restaurant, and state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities for up to 200 people open to businesses both on and off site.

Support by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) will enable Cranfield University and the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) to establish a presence at Colworth Science Park in the 21,000 sq ft amenity centre. They will be based alongside one of Unilever’s global research facilities and 16 SME companies, which undertake cutting-edge research, prototyping and product development.

This will be complemented by the 35,000 sq ft Innovation Centre, which will provide a research facility for IFR Extra Ltd, part of the Institute for Food Research, and will offer flexible laboratory and office suites designed to accommodate growing businesses and academics in a collaborative environment. Goodman and Unilever, who formed a 50:50 joint venture to develop the 1,200 acre site, hope the Innovation Centre will help address a shortage of scientific lab space in the region with an ‘easy in / easy out’ leasing policy, in addition to supporting the growth of knowledge firms in the food, health and wellness sector.

Commenting on the project, Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, Goodman’s Director of Science Parks said: “Our vision is to develop Colworth as an open innovation science park, which will draw academia, large corporates and SMEs together to engage in knowledge transfer and accelerate the commercialisation of research and development.”

Thurleigh Airfield Business Park
Thurleigh Airfield Business Park, similarly just north of Bedford, is owned and operated by St Modwen and is home to a number of significant businesses in the automotive, defence and communications sectors. This includes major industry players such as Paragon, MBDA and Arqiva.

The business park also hosts Bedford Autodrome, now owned by Motorsport Vision, and is a centre for Formula 2 racing.

A major 18 hectare expansion of the business park has outline planning consent (B1/B2) and in addition to this, there is detailed consent for a 20,000 sq ft small unit industrial scheme (B1/B2/B8).

The site as a whole, with its 24 hour security and automotive, communication and wider knowledge sector focus, is a classic example of the varied and important components of Bedford’s industrial and commercial property portfolio which will all benefit from the substantial connectivity improvements recently completed, under construction or starting soon.

Marston Vale Innovation Park
David Lock Associates has been selected to prepare the master plan and landscaping plan for a new high profile Marston Vale Innovation Park just south of Bedford and beside the soon to be completed, dualled A421 link between Bedford and Junction 13 of the M1.

The master planning work has some interesting issues to address including provision for a section of a new Bedford to Milton Keynes waterway and waterway park and for part of the SUSTRANS national cycle network.

A quality eight to nine hectare business park, built to high environmental standards (in respect of design, greenspace, energy, transport and waste) is envisaged for this gateway to Bedford’s A421 Innovation Corridor, providing sub 10 minute access to both the A1 and M1.

Implementation of structural landscaping is planned for later this year with the first buildings intended to be underway in 2011

The Wixams Island Site
Just south of Bedford, off the dualled A421and central to Bedford’s Innovation Corridor (again with under 10 minute access to both the A1 and M1), is a prominent, prestigious and exclusive three hectare site for B1/R&D premises as well as other possible uses subject to planning.

This site, with outline consent and available immediately on freehold terms, lies at the north-eastern edge of a major new settlement, ‘The Wixams’, a significant housing development which is well underway and will have substantial environmental credentials as well as its own railway station for access.

Bedford is clearly a hive of activity. With new communities and ever-improving transport links, it’s the perfect place for businesses and families.

For more information: Visit: investinbedford.com, Tel: 0123 422 8064 or email: paul.vann@bedford.gov.u