5 Oct 2021
Farmstead Community Hub - Linmere developers in Houghton Regis on the hunt for caretakers
Linmere developers are hiring - and are looking for two caretakers for the soon-to-be-opened Farmstead.
A new urban village being created next to Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire is creating jobs for local people - and has announced opportunities for two people to look after its soon-to-be-opened community hub, The Farmstead.
Key attributes for the roles of weekday and weekend caretaker will be be a passion to be part of a team, an enthusiastic outlook and the ability to look after the safety, security and cleanliness of what will become the focal point at Linmere.
The Farmstead, due to open in the New Year, will boast a café, many of whose dishes will be prepared using ingredients grown on its own allotment at Linmere or at a nearby farm, a dog grooming parlour and other outdoor-focused retailers.
The Farmstead will also have an outdoor playground, rooms for hire for community events such as yoga, and co-working facilities.
The two new roles will also require the successful applicants to manage hall bookings, assist with the many community events planned for the Farmstead, respond to out-of-hours alarm calls and carry out small repairs when required.
Linmere development director Nigel Reid said, "The Farmstead is the focal point of Linmere - the centre of many community events and definitely a ‘destination' for the residents of Linmere and Houghton Regis and also for other people across Bedfordshire. Its café, for example, with its focus on ethically sourced and interesting meals, is likely to prove quite a draw and the new dog groomer already has a strong following at her current premises - which is only likely to grow.
"With a children's playground and a Lidl just next door it really will be a go to destination for many. So the two new caretakers will be playing a pivotal role in helping support this new facility. We expect strong interest from people living in Houghton Regis and the surrounding area looking for a new challenge."
Anyone interested should go to https://linmere.com/we-are-hiring/
Weekday caretaker up to £22568 per annum / £10.85 per hour.
8 Nov 2021
Local café and bakery coming to the Farmstead at Linmere
A local independent café with its own in-house bakery has become the first business to take premises at the soon-to-be-opened Farmstead at new urban village Linmere, next to Houghton Regis.
Café in the Park, which will use ingredients from local farms and suppliers, will open its doors in the New Year, offering residents of Linmere, Houghton Regis and the surrounding towns and villages a ‘destination' meeting place.
The family-friendly cafe will be the focal point at the Farmstead, the new village's community hub, which will also offer a hall available for a range of activities, an adventure playground, dog grooming parlour and other outdoor-related retail outlets.
Café in the Park's philosophy of serving wholesome homemade food created from locally sourced ingredients has proven very popular at its owners' similar ventures in Hertfordshire and Greater London. They own and run successful outlets in Rickmansworth, Pinner and Radlett.
The café, which will be employing local staff, will be decorated in an eclectic style of both vintage and modern furniture and tableware. It will have an outside terrace seating and a natural adventure playground for children.
10 Jan 2022
Timelapse - Building the Farmstead at Houghton Regis' Linmere Site
LIH Linmere time-lapse Apr-Nov 2021 from Aeroviews on Vimeo.
The Farmstead will be the heart and soul of Linmere; a lively destination where residents, locals and visitors are welcome. Set adjacent to beautifully landscaped grounds and Linmere Park, The Farmstead consists of three barns arranged around a central courtyard and a nature-inspired children’s adventure playground.
The premises will be overseen by a dedicated Estate Manager who will also organise events, activities, workshops and gatherings for – and with – the local community.
An independent café with its own in-house bakery has become the first business to set up shop at the soon-to-be-opened Farmstead at new urban village Linmere, next to Houghton Regis.
Café in the Park, which will use ingredients from local farms and suppliers, will open its doors in the New Year.
The family-friendly cafe will be the focal point at the Farmstead, the new village's community hub, which will also offer a hall available for a range of activities, an adventure playground, dog grooming parlour and other outdoor-related retail outlets.
Cafe in the Park
Café in the Park's philosophy of serving wholesome homemade food created from locally sourced ingredients has proven very popular at its owners' similar ventures in Hertfordshire and Greater London. They own and run successful outlets in Rickmansworth, Pinner and Radlett.
The café, which will be employing local staff, will be decorated in an eclectic style of both vintage and modern furniture and tableware. It will have an outside terrace seating and a natural adventure playground for children.
Café in the Park produces plenty of its fresh ingredients at its farm in Radlett, Wild Farm, and will be taking an allotment at Linmere. Other food will be sourced from ethical regional suppliers. At other Café in the Park venues fruit and veg is delivered daily by a family run business in Covent Garden, dairy, eggs and meat come from local farms and merchants, craft beer is from a microbrewery in Watford, wines are from Berkshire and soft drinks from Cambridge.
As well as offering a range of beverages, its lunch menu is likely to include unusual homemade dishes such as London burrata with focaccia, and pea and sorrel soup alongside more traditional lunches, snacks and breakfasts. To complement the café there is also a bakery with delicious fresh breads, cakes and pastries baked daily to eat in or to take away.
The cafe will source locally produced food
Owner Julie Wright said: "We're very much looking forward to becoming part of the new Linmere community and are passionate about replicating the spirit and vibe created at our other cafes. We're one happy family and our aim is to make sure people feel welcome, can meet friends and enjoy a relaxing time enjoying our food and drinks. A sense of belonging is very important to us, not just among the staff and customers, but with the wider community providing the ingredients for all our dishes."
- Further reading at Linmere.com
29 Jan 2022
Dog groomer with royal pedigree poised to move into Linmere's Farmstead community hub
- A dog groomer who offers ‘royal ‘treatments to many loved pooches in Houghton Regis, Dunstable and the surrounding area is the second business owner to lease premises in the soon-to-be-opened Farmstead at new village Linmere.
Sarah King, who has been pampering pets for the past three years from a purpose-built cabin in her garden in Houghton Regis, says the move to the community hub in February will enable her to expand her services to the area's new canine residents.
Royal's Dog Grooming fits in perfectly with Linmere's wholesome outdoor vibe and its focus on encouraging residents to get out and about and engage in a healthy lifestyle. Customers will be able to pop into the neighbouring café for coffee, cake or a nutritious meal, many of which are created from produce grown on its own allotment.
The developers, who are encouraging local businesses to move in and employ staff living on their doorstep, hope other enterprises will be among the stores to open their doors later in the year.
The Farmstead will also have rooms available for hire for community-focused events like yoga and children's clubs, as well as co-working facilities.
Cycle paths and cycle-friendly roads will crisscross the development and Linmere will also link in with the national cycle network. Walking routes will connect it with the surrounding countryside and villages and the site will offer a combination of parkland, wildlife corridors, allotments, sports pitches and play areas.
A third of the overall 650-acre site will not be developed and will be managed in a way that allows natural habitats to thrive.
Sarah King, who is offering a 20 per cent discount to new customers, said: "I love treating the dogs in my care like royalty and their owners tell me their pets enjoy the experience too. My business has grown over the years and I currently have around 200 canine clients. With my move to the Farmstead, I'll be able to cater for even more. Plus, there'll be a café next door so the owners can enjoy a coffee or snack while they wait and the playground will offer somewhere safe for the children to play. A trip to the dog groomer will probably become something of a social event and I'm so looking forward to moving in and looking after the many dogs who are going to make Linmere their home."
Linmere development director Nigel Reid said: "The focus of the Farmstead, and of Linmere as a whole, is very much on enjoying the great outdoors. With cycle tracks and footpaths across the village, there will be plenty of opportunities for people to get out and about on foot, on two wheels and with their four-legged friends. No resident will be further than a five-minute walk from green space so it is ideal for those looking for a healthy lifestyle - and that includes dog owners!"
In total around 5,150 homes will be built over the next 15 years by the Linmere consortium which comprises master planners Lands Improvement, Aviva Investors, and the Diocese of St Albans.
The development will also see the creation of two new state of the art primary schools and an extension to Houghton Regis' existing Thornhill Primary school. A ten-form secondary school will open in 2022/3.
1 Feb 2022
Building Work at the Farmstead in Linmere, Houghton Regis, Has Completed
Building work is completed at Linmere's community hub, the Farmstead.
Work on The Farmstead - the community hub at the new Linmere village being created near Houghton Regis - has been completed, with the internal fit-out now underway in preparation for its imminent opening.
Parts of the Farmstead will be open for visitors from the beginning of February, with its new café, dog groomer and nature-inspired play park poised to open their doors.
Work on the Farmstead was project managed by Gardiner & Theobald LLP and supervised by Ingleton Wood, with Ashe carrying out the design and build and play equipment created by TouchWood Play and Davis White who worked with the Duchess of Cambridge on her Chelsea Flower show garden. All three companies are working on other key elements of the wider Linmere development.
The three buildings making up the Farmstead are arranged around a central leafy courtyard with a nature-themed play area, outdoor seating and bike storage.
The large community hall, which can be divided into two, will be available for hire by local groups and those in the wider area for activities such as yoga, local interest societies and children's clubs.
The second building will consist of three retail units. The first to be signed for is a dog grooming parlour, Royals Dog Grooming, which has outgrown its garden cabin in Houghton Regis and is offering expanded service to new Linmere residents and existing clients.
The second will provide office space offering flexible co-working opportunities for residents and those living nearby. The other retail outlet will also reflect Linmere's vision of creating a happy, healthy place that promotes loving outdoor living and enables residents to take part in daily activities.
The third building is a café selling coffees and freshly prepared meals, many of which are created from locally grown produce, some on Linmere's own allotments. Café in the Park also runs a bakery and will be baking fresh bread and cakes in its kitchen at Linmere.
A third of the overall 650-acre Linmere site will not be developed and will be managed in a way that allows natural habitats to thrive.
The Farmstead is expected to be a ‘destination' for local people and visitors from the surrounding area, thanks to its easy access from Junction 11A of the M1 and the A5-M1 link and its proximity to the new 24,500sq ft Lidl shop which opened late last year.
Linmere development director Nigel Reid said: "Linmere's focus is on the great outdoors. The Farmstead reflects this ethos, with everything from the rustic style of the architecture to the fact that the café serves locally grown food, to the services offered to our four-legged friends."
Andrew Morris, business development director at building contractors Ashe said: "We're delighted to be providing this fantastic new community facility. Using sustainably sourced timber and offsite methods of construction we have ensured the most sustainable of buildings that fit with the aspirations of all parties involved. We hope it plays a central part in building a caring and diverse community."
Peter Webb, director at property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood, which provided design services for the project, said, "We used our expertise within the commercial and public sector to support the development of the sustainable community hub and create a lasting legacy for the Linmere Estate. Residents and local businesses will benefit from a range of high-quality community spaces for generations to come."
Urban design director Vaughan Anderson from planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore, added, "We are extremely proud of the collaborative efforts across our master planners, landscape designers and architects to create the Farmstead, a jewel in the crown and gateway into Linmere. The Farmstead is a great example of HRMC's commitment and vision for delivering high-quality facilities and creating a sense of place early in the project, really helping to unite and galvanise the new and existing communities. Its distinctive architecture and use of enduring natural materials on the building and also in the public realm reflects the agricultural aesthetic and connects with the historic context of the site. The building creates a landmark on the Sundon roundabout. As the community grows and the parklands mature, there is no doubt that the Farmstead will provide a welcoming destination and be a fantastic meeting place for all to enjoy."
The village, which will eventually accommodate more than 5,000 households as it grows over the coming 15 years, is being created by the Linmere consortium which comprises master planners Lands Improvement, Aviva Investors, and the Diocese of St Albans.
It will also see the creation of two new state of the art primary schools and an extension to Houghton Regis' existing Thornhill Primary school. A ten-form secondary school will open in 2022/3.
An official opening is planned in the spring.
8 March 2022
Farmstead Dog Groomer says “turnout has been really good”
The first business to open at Linmere's new community hub is settling in well at The Farmstead - with the owner saying customers are very impressed with her new premises.
Sarah King and are team are seeing huge interest in the new Royals Dog Grooming parlour which recently opened at Linmere's Farmstead community hub, with photos of the canine clients proving very popular!
Sarah King, who relocated her already popular Royals Dog Grooming from her garden in Houghton Regis to a swanky new parlour at the flagship site, says the reaction from her clientele has been "just wow!"
"The turnout has been really good. I'm getting new customers every day," she said. "People are saying they think it's amazing. They like the area and are all very impressed with my self-service dog baths, which will soon be up and running. Many of them are keen to try out the new café and bring their children to the park here too."
Customers are particularly enjoying one special feature of Royals Dog Grooming - photos of their fragrant, coiffed pooches wearing crowns sitting on thrones Sarah has installed at the salon.
"I'm now expanding that side as people love them so much. I've just ordered some crowns for humans so I can offer photos with them and their dogs together. My husband thinks I'm crazy.
"I'm really enjoying it here. It's a better location as it's so much easier for people to find me - and they can combine it with a trip to Lidl and the other facilities here as they start to open up. We're very busy already - and looking forward to creating more custom as word gets around and as the Farmstead becomes better known."
Royal's Dog Grooming, which is offering 20 per cent off for new customers, fits in perfectly with Linmere's wholesome outdoor vibe and its focus on encouraging residents to get out and about and engage in a healthy lifestyle.
The Farmstead also has rooms available for hire for community-focused events like yoga and children's clubs, as well as co-working facilities.
Linmere development director Ben Phillips added, "It's hugely rewarding for all who've been involved in this incredible project to watch this new heart of the community burst into life. Over the coming weeks and months, more and more activities will be taking place here at the Farmstead. The opening of the café and the first party to be booked at the community hall are just two of the exciting happenings on the very near horizon."
23 Mar 2022
NGDANCE Farmstead Community Centre
C O M E J O I N N G D A N C E
Join our Musical Theatre classes from Summer term from 20th April 2022
Classes at…
• Lyons Communtiy Centre, Caddington Village
• Farmstead Community Centre, Houghton Regis
Classes available for ages…
• Minis 3-5 YRS
• Juniors 6-8 YRS
• Pre Inters 9+ YRS
Would you like to join our MT classes, where our students build confidence, have lots of fun and develop new skills in dancing, singing and acting!
Spaces are limited, contact Alicia to book a FREE trial class after Easter at www.ngdancecollective.co.uk
