Face of Fairfield set to change as housing development, care home and school plans approved

Central Bedfordshire Council planners poured over the Fairfield proposals last week and passed plans to build 116 homes and a 70-bedroom care home at the former pig unit in Fairfield Park, as well as a separate application for a one-form entry lower school on land to the east of Hitchin Road.

The five-hectare dilapidated pig unit was sold with planning permission for mixed use development including a limited amount of housing last November, and Fairfield Parish Council and Fairfield Park Residents’ Association both supported the proposal to build a care home to serve the elderly community.

The original testing station came into use in 1957 as part of an intensive effort by the British pig industry to improve productivity and carcass quality.

The new lower school – which will be built on land owned by the unitary authority – will cater for 150 pupils in a single-storey building providing five classrooms, a hall, staff room and school office, as well as outdoor hard and soft play areas and a car park.

Councillor Mark Versallion, who is the executive member for education and skills at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “The council has already invested significantly to meet the unprecedented demand for lower school places which is currently apparent in Stotfold and Fairfield, as well as the surrounding areas, due to the pace of house building there.

“Fairfield Park Lower has already been expanded by 150 places with work underway to create an additional 225 places in total at Roecroft and St Mary’s Lower schools.

“However, once these expansions are complete the existing lower schools in the area will have reached their capacity.

“So, as part of the council’s long-term planning to meet additional demand locally, and as a result of the housing development which has been agreed on adjoining land off Hitchin Road, a new lower school site is also planned for the area.”