McBains has secured planning approval, on behalf of Bellway Homes, for 153 new dwellings within Parcel 3 of the Houghton Regis North 1 (HRN1) development site in Central Bedfordshire.
Known as Linmere, the full HRN1 site is a new, mixed-use, urban extension to Houghton Regis which will deliver up to 5,150 dwellings, three primary schools, a mixed-use neighbourhood centre, a health centre and multi-functional green infrastructure.
The McBains masterplan proposal for Parcel 3, comprising 153 residential units ranging from 1-bedroom flats to 4-bedroom detached properties within the tenures of market and affordable, was approved by Central Bedfordshire Council on July 3, 2020.
Parcel 3 is located at the centre of the Phase 1 development area. It comprises three principal development blocks and is bounded to the north by the future ‘Main Street’ which runs east to west through the heart of the development area. To the east, it interfaces with further residential development parcels, located in part across a north-south ‘Green Corridor’.
Peter O’Rourke, Director at McBains commented: “As the first fully-granted parcel of development at Linmere, this approval represents a great milestone for the contemporary new settlement”.
You might be interested in...
ESTATES GAZETTE: Simplifying BNG for sheds
In an article for Estates Gazette, Matthew Baldwin, Project Director at McBains, explores how brownfield sites are grappling with BNG requirements and how proposed reforms in the upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill could make compliance simpler and more strategic.
New Urgent Treatment Centre opens at Worthing Hospital
A significant part of Worthing Hospital’s multi-million-pound improvement programme to expand its Emergency Department (ED) reached completion recently, with the handover and official opening of a new, purpose-built urgent treatment centre (UTC) on August 29, 2025
RIBA JOURNAL: An unconventional north London community gets a people-focused new heart
McBains is featured in RIBA Journal for our role as structural engineers on Highgate Newtown Community Centre in Camden.
Tamworth College welcomes new students
The construction of South Staffordshire College’s new Tamworth College campus reached completion at the end of August, with the college welcoming students for the start of the new academic year in September.
McBains Secures Multi-Lot Appointment on £175m National Framework
McBains is proud to announce its successful appointment to four lots on the Fusion21 Construction Consultancy Services Framework.
Steve Brooker joins judging panel for prestigious Building Better Healthcare Awards 2025
Director of London Project Management, Steve Brooker, recently served as a judge for the Building Better Healthcare Awards 2025, helping to review entries in the Building Class group, which spans nine categories, including the coveted Best Healthcare Development over £75 million.