Award-winning developer Crest Nicholson has launched its new £600 million Garden Village scheme, Arborfield Green; the regeneration of the former Arborfield Garrison in Berkshire into a significant new community of 2,000 homes. Crest Nicholson was appointed as the Development Manager for the former Arborfield Garrison site by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the estates arm of the Ministry of Defence, in April 2013.
As long term custodian of the development, Crest Nicholson will be responsible for delivering the Arborfield Green vision over the next 12-15 years on behalf of the DIO. Once complete, the development will provide all of the associated facilities and infrastructure required to support a high quality, sustainable and thriving new community. This will include 2,000 new homes, 62 ha of new public space, new primary and secondary schools, a library, gym, retail and hospitality units and a new community centre. The off-plan sales launch of Arborfield Green took place on 21st May at Haslams Estate Agents in Reading.
The Arborfield Green site was Crest Nicholson’s first partnership with the DIO, following which the developer secured a second partnership with its appointment to the £1 billion Wyton Airfield site in November 2014. The development of the former Arborfield Garrison site also includes the restoration of two former military buildings, the Horse Infirmary and Moat House for community use and value.
The regeneration scheme secures more than £66million of external investment into the Arborfield community, including around £26million for highway improvements on and around the former Garrison site. Once finalised the Arborfield Green development will provide Wokingham Borough Council with a £7 million new primary school, and a £30 million new secondary school, with 3 further community building assets of up to £5 million, and increased council tax from 2,000 new homes.
Arborfield Green already enjoys a rich and established landscape which is being embraced as part of the new Garden Village development. Crest Nicholson has committed to creating new areas of country parkland to encourage biodiversity as well as providing open spaces for residents. Plans include the creation of a brand new Linear Park running the whole length of the site, while the newly created Hazebrook Meadow will be open in time for the first property completions in Autumn 2016.
When complete the site will include over 2.5km of new bridleways and 5km of new footpaths, alongside 3 acres of new play areas and 4km of new cycle-paths. As part of the development process Crest Nicholson is working closely with both Parish Councils and key local stakeholders to ensure the local community is engaged. A Community Liaison Group has been established to ensure the local community is kept abreast of construction activity and to allow a two-way conversation between Crest Nicholson and the local community.
Chris Tinker, Board Director at Crest Nicholson, commented: “We are excited to be launching our latest regeneration project, a multimillion pound 2,000-unit scheme on the site of a former garrison. The development will create much needed new homes and community space for the local area, as well as new jobs, retail and hospitality units to boost the local economy. Arborfield Green will follow the design and community philosophies of the Garden City movement, however tailored to a more rural village scale and character.”
“The project is a long-term partnership and we are working closely with the DIO, Wokingham Borough Council and key local stakeholders to ensure a smooth delivery on site, allowing early investment in infrastructure and ultimately increasing land value and best value for taxpayers.”
The development includes a host of local road and junction improvements, including an extension to the Nine Mile Ride and contributions to enable the delivery of the Arborfield Relief Road. The Nine Mile Ride extension will enable the planned new Secondary School, being delivered by Wokingham Council, to open in time for the first property completions in September 2016.