Ridge and Partners on Bicester Motion Masterplan at our Milton Keynes forum
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Future Cities Forum is very pleased that architect Michael Mitchell of Ridge & Partners will be joining our 'New towns, innovations clusters and the Growth Corridor' discussion hosted by Milton Keynes City Council at the civic offices in Saxon Gate East this week. Michael has been working on the master-plan to develop Bicester Motion at the Oxfordshire end of the Growth Corridor.
Bicester Motion Masterplan is a landmark development located at the 444-acre former RAF station. This is a site of national historic importance as it is the most complete and best-preserved bomber base in the country predating 1945. Its existing structures are mainly Grade II Listed and some are Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
The vision is to provide a vibrant and sustainable future for the former RAF Bicester and offer a collection of inclusive visitor experiences to celebrate the past, present and future of automotive and aviation culture. The project will ensure that the historic airfield location it calls home will fulfil its original and continued purpose as a focal point for cutting edge technology.
Ridge has been working with Bicester Motion and Bicester Heritage since 2015, to help develop the masterplan for this former MOD site into the UK’s first automotive resort in a setting of a “collection of Quarters” which are connected through community, innovation and experience.
According to Ridge, the site-wide regeneration framework has been produced looking towards an exciting and sustainable future of becoming a centre of excellence for the restoration, preservation, storage and trade of historic automobiles, and a national destination for leisure & skills, automotive innovation & technology, exhibitions, cultural events & experience centres.
The new development focuses on new architectural interpretations which showcase the progression of building technologies in the same way the existing heritage buildings on site did in their prime. The planned low-density development will be dedicated to driving experience and the demonstration of high-tech engineering, as well as health, wellbeing, events, accommodation, and aviation.
Ridge has completed a branding, masterplan, and conceptual design exercise to produce a strategic briefing and vision document, which illustrated the master planning principles for all future developments within this special site. Ridge has successfully designed and supported the submissions of outline planning applications for the Experience Quarter and Innovation Quarter, and will continue to support delivering the rest of the site, utilising collaborative approaches with the client and other consultants, including Edgars Ltd, Worlledge Associates and Driven International.
Experience Quarter is planned for leading international automotive and leisure brands to create unique and memorable lifestyle experiences. It offers driver experiences on both road and off-road courses with restaurants and cafes. Close to the brand centre, the aim is to transform the dilapidated quarry and former industrial areas into the Bicester Reserve. This ecology-led health and wellbeing zone aspires to utilise the site’s currently inaccessible natural areas and offer access to a new country park, complete with footpaths, cycle paths and lakeside lodges ideal for family breaks.
Innovation Quarter (previous Future Automotive Speed Technology hub, or F.A.S.T. Zone) is a new centre of excellence and aims to be a thriving home for automotive ‘tech’ development, demonstration, and education.
The Command Works has been completed and is now fully operational. The first new build development within this historic site has won multiple awards, and has already set the pace for the exciting future of Bicester Motion.
Image: CGI of part of the Bicester Motion master-plan
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