Linmere is on the hunt for a community minded bike shop

Linmere is looking for a business-minded bike enthusiast to develop a cycle business in the heart of the development.

The shop will be one of several outdoor-living focused retail units due to open at Linmere’s community hub, The Farmstead in the spring. The outlets all reflect the development’s vision of creating a happy, healthy place which promotes outdoor living and enables residents to take part in daily activities.

The 52 sq m unit, which will be shell and core ready, will be nestled between a café serving produce partly prepared from vegetables grown on its on-site allotment, some shared office spaces and a dog groomer catering for the many canine owners likely to make their homes at Linmere. The village, next to Houghton Regis, will eventually accommodate more than 5,000 households as it grows over the coming 15 years.

The Farmstead is arranged around a central leafy courtyard and will also include a nature-themed play area with plenty of outdoor seating and bike storage. It is also home to a large community hall which will host activities for groups in the local and wider areas.

In addition to catering for residents, the Farmstead is expected to be a ‘destination’ for 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 a new 24,500sq ft Lidl shop which opens in early November.

National Cycle Route 6 runs adjacent to the site and will link directly to the Farmstead, making it an ideal location for those who love cycling. Commuters will be able to cycle from Linmere to nearby Leagrave station which provides a direct train link to London.

A pump track, which is in the process of being constructed at Linmere, will offer a very different cycle-focused pastime and broaden the bike user demographic.

In addition to the emphasis on the outdoors and cycling throughout Linmere, the café sits on the gateway to the wider country road network beyond.

The Linmere consortium is happy to workwith  a community-minded bike enthusiast who may or may not already own or run a similar operation elsewhere to build up and deliver a thriving shop and cycling facility.

Linmere development director Nigel Reid said: “Outdoor living is a key feature of Linmere. Opportunities range from refreshing walks and wildlife havens to more vigorous ways of enjoying the fresh air through a range of sport and play facilities. The bike shop will not only enable residents to enjoy the countryside beyond Linmere, but will also provide invaluable services in terms of maintenance, repairs and education about exploring the world on two wheels.”

For more information about opening your own bike shop at Linmere please contact the Estate Manager at info@linmere.com