Cardington Hangars, Bedfordshire

Client: Frontier Estates

Role: Masterplanning, Urban Design, Town Planning and Environmental Consultantancy

The twelve hectare site sits next to two listed Airship Sheds – two out of only three remaining Sheds that were built in the 1920’s which have survived the World Wars; they are also the only remnants of Britain’s airship history.

At its heart lies Airship Park, celebrating the history of the site and the airship industry’s heritage. Its central location will cater for the recreational needs of the new community and will include children’s play areas, a series of footpaths and information boards celebrating the history of the airship industry. A ‘tree cathedral’, planted as an outline of the R101 airship, replicates the airship’s actual size. It provides the perfect setting for residents and visitors to learn about the R101 and from within the open space, people will be able to experience the story of the R101 from a ‘history line’ which runs from the sheds and the original mooring mast towards the village of Cardington.

Up to 425 dwellings proposed, comprising a mix of houses and flats to meet the housing needs of the area. In addition 30% of the new dwellings are earmarked for affordable housing.

Other features include a series of shallow water bodies and streams running through Airship Park and throughout the scheme, a wildlife corridor for badgers to forage on lands surrounding the site and a series of connected footpaths through the development linking to the surrounding open space network.