Project history

2010
At the beginning of January, work started on the first stage of the new Eastern Relief Road. This will serve the first phase of new homes that are scheduled to be completed and occupied by the Autumn.

2009
In April the responsibilities of Mid Beds District Council were assumed by the new unitary authority Central Bedfordshire Council. In their new role, the Council granted detailed consent for the first phase of 222 dwellings.

In December the first infrastructure contract was awarded in anticipation of starting on site in January 2010.

2007
In November 2007, Mid Beds District Council granted outline planning permission for the King’s Reach Masterplan, Design Strategy and Design Codes. This will lay the foundations for the construction of more than 2,000 new homes along with other community facilities.

2006
Agreement on the provision of funding for additional community facilities was reached on 13 November 2006 between the homebuilders and Mid Bedfordshire District Council. This will see Biggleswade benefiting from almost £40 million worth of infrastructure and developers' contributions. The package of benefits will include:

• A new Eastern Relief Road
• Funding for a new lower school
• Improvements to the A1 Biggleswade south junction
• A new Local Community Centre
• Significant financial contributions towards schooling, Biggleswade library, new health care facilties and a
new bus service
• Improvements to local footway/cycleway networks
• Improvements to Biggleswade town centre
• Improvement to local sporting facilities

2004
In May 2004, Mid Bedfordshire District Council resolved to grant planning permission for King’s Reach subject to agreement on levels of funding towards additional community facilities

2003
Taylor Woodrow Developments Ltd and Martin Grant Homes Ltd submitted an outline planning application to Mid Bedfordshire District Council for the building of 1,450 homes on the eastern edge of Biggleswade as part of a new development known as King’s Reach.

In June 2003, the homebuilders carried out a public consultation exercise culminating in an exhibition at Stratton Upper School where plans for King’s Reach were put on display. The development team was on hand to answer questions from the public and the plans were favourably received by local residents. A detailed list of the questions asked at the event and the answers given can be found in the Community Zone.