In partnership with SLC Property, we achieved planning permission for a new railway station at the new town of Wixams in Bedfordshire. The proposals included a 2-platform railway station, station footbridge, a single-storey station building, a 350 space car park and a public transport interchange including an access road, bus stops, taxi bays, cycle storage and public square.
We led on pre-application and ongoing discussions with the local planning authority and other key stakeholders from project outset. We designed and delivered extensive public and stakeholder engagement to inform interested parties about the proposed scheme and to seek to establish ‘in principle’ support.
The site has a complex planning history with a number of planning applications submitted in and around the site, including those for the new town of Wixams. We led engagement with the local planning authority to discuss and agree an appropriate strategy for securing planning consent for the proposed development.
Through the strategic management and delivery of a pre-planning public engagement on proposals for the new station at Wixams. We were able to demonstrate that the support from local residents, businesses and stakeholders was overwhelmingly positive. We authored a Statement of Community Engagement which described the engagement process and outcomes to support the subsequent application for planning permission.
In 2024 we secured consent for a revised scheme, taking into account the requirement for an additional footbridge at the station. As of August 2024, preparatory work to construct the station has commenced.