Swindon gives green light to 3,000 home development

Swindon Borough Council has granted full planning permission to its joint venture company to begin its first phase of delivering 3,000 new homes to Wichelstowe.

Work on the first phase of homes, named Canalside after its location next to the canal in the new residential development, will begin in late spring 2019.

It’s predicted that the range of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes will be ready for their first residents to move into next year.

Cllr Gary Sumner, Swindon borough council’s cabinet member for strategic planning, said: ‘Full planning approval marks a significant step forward for the development at Wichelstowe and enables work on the first phase to get underway and provide much-needed housing in the borough.

‘I am personally delighted that this important scheme has been approved demonstrating the effectiveness of the public and private sectors working together.’

The joint venture company tasked with delivering Canalside is a 50/50 partnership between the council and property developers Barrett Developments PLC.

The scheme, covering a 250-hectare area of land in Wichelstowe, is expected to deliver 3,000 new homes over the next 20 years.

Over 1,000 jobs will be supported during the initial stages of the scheme, it is claimed, which also includes two primary schools, a secondary school and a large area of open space.

Chris Burton, Wichelstowe Joint Venture Board Chair, said: ‘The joint venture is delighted with the news of Swindon Borough Council’s decision. Getting to this stage is the result of a huge amount of commitment and hard work by a large amount of people.

‘We can now get on and deliver what we believe will be an outstanding community where people will want to make their home.’

Wichelstowe has been under construction since 2006, having started as a collaboration between the council and housebuilders Taylor Wimpey.

Once complete, the urban extension at Swindon’s southern edge will comprise of over 4,000 homes along with businesses and community facilities.

The council is overseeing the delivery of two of the development’s three neighbourhoods, West and Middle Wichel.

The development’s eastern quarter, East Wichel, is owned by Taylor Wimpey who now operate independently with the council’s support.