News
Permission secured for 2,500 new homes in Swindon
Largest-single expansion of growing Wiltshire town
Acting on behalf of Ainscough Strategic Land (ASL), Turley has secured a resolution to grant planning permission for 2,500 homes at the New Eastern Villages extension to Swindon in Wiltshire.
We provided expert Planning and Development Viability services for the project which ASL has been working on for over five years and is now seeking an early conclusion to the S106 agreement with Swindon Borough Council.
“Our application went before the planning committee with an officer’s recommendation to approve and we’re delighted with the outcome,” said John Brooks, ASL’s planning director.
“The first phase will bring 200 units to the market and we hope to be inviting bids for this shortly, subject to concluding the S106 and a full market review. There’s already been plenty of interest from house-builders which is very promising,” said Brooks.
ASL’s part of the New Eastern Villages extension covers 400 acres and has the benefit of a Local Plan allocation, although it still required concerted effort by both ASL’s professional team and the council to successfully navigate through the planning process, concedes Jeff Richards, Head of Planning South West.
“It’s taken us a number of years to reach this point and a great deal of discussion and refinement of the proposals to achieve a scheme that all parties are happy with,” he said. “There’s a lot of credit due to the officers at Swindon Borough Council, members and key stakeholders, all of whom worked with us to craft a truly mixed-use, sustainable community.”
The scheme will deliver 2,500 much needed new homes, including 500 affordable units; 2 primary schools; 2 local centres; a substantial sports hub and pavilion; significant further areas of open space; the retention of Lotmead Business Park and creation of new business space.
Homes England has provided funding for a new Southern Connector road for the rapidly-growing town. Beyond the site, the proposals will also contribute to wider road infrastructure improvements and public transport provision, and considerable attention has been paid to the site’s environmental design and performance.
“The village design has been intuitively led by the green infrastructure assets on site and proposes large areas of green space including formal sports pitches, children’s play space, a nature park, large areas of woodland, village greens and substantial areas for ecological enhancement,” says ASL managing director Rachael Ainscough. “We want to provide a development to be proud of and I’m pleased that these proposals will deliver just that” she concluded.
The professional team on the project included Avison Young (Bristol), Stantec on transport and drainage, with EDP advising on ecology, landscape and heritage.
16 June 2020