Wiltshire's biggest development estate gets the go-ahead
A massive new neighbourhood of 2,500-homes will be built in Wiltshire, after councillors signed off plans
A massive new neighbourhood of 2,500-homes will be built in Wiltshire, after councillors signed off plans yesterday (Tuesday, July 29).
Ashton Park, to the south east of Trowbridge, will be the county’s biggest new housing development.
It will have 14 hectares of employment land, two primary schools, and allocation for a secondary school.
The development will be built in four phases, with phase one – the part closest to Trowbridge – consisting of 350 homes, 375 in phase two, 725 in phase 3, and 750 in phase 4.
Twenty six per cent of the homes – 650 in total – will be designated as affordable housing.
The developer – Ashton Park Trowbridge Ltd & Persimmon Homes Ltd – are paying over £25 million to provide vital services including early years provision and schools (£14 million), bus routes – one bus an hour after occupation of the 51st home, and one every 30 minutes after completion of the 401st (£1.1 million) – and health care and NHS dental provision (£3.4 million).
They are being billed £250,000 towards waste collection and recycling, nearly £225,000 towards the cost of a refuse collection vehicle, and £150,000 for public arts.
They are also footing the bill for a new £35.5 million relief road, which will see the A350 diverted away from the village of West Ashton and closer to the new houses.
The plans were first debated by Wiltshire Council in 2018, but legal issues have led to long delays.
During a marathon two-and-a-half hour discussion at the council’s strategic planning committee meeting, members were assured that legal agreements between the developers, landowners, and council are ready to be signed.
Councillors were told that although house-builders Persimmon and Barratt Redrow – who have agreed a 50/50 development contract on the site – want to start work as soon as possible, it could be ten or even 15 years before the new neighbourhood is completely finished.
Many of the infrastructure projects – including the new relief road – will only be started once a certain number of houses are occupied.
The development includes space for early years provision and two primary schools, which will not only serve Ashton Park but the smaller nearby developments at Elm Grove (248 houses) and Elizabeth Way (200 homes) in Trowbridge.
There is also provision for a new secondary school with power, water and broadband infrastructure included, although the school itself may never be built.
The committee was told that due to Wiltshire’s declining birthrate, both John of Gaunt and Clarendon secondary schools have a surplus of places, meaning children living in Ashton Park will need to cross Trowbridge for their education.
That news was met with “frustration” by Cllr Stewart Palmén (Lib Dem, Trowbridge Central) portfolio holder for schools, and by committee chairman Ernie Clark (Independent, Hilperton) who lamented “no school for villages east of Trowbridge.”
Concerns were also expressed about the relief road. Although they will take traffic away from West Ashton it was unclear whether they would reduce congestion at the busy Yarnbrook Roundabout.
Officers also explained why there was an apparent shortfall in affordable housing. Twenty per cent of the first 500 houses will be designated affordable, with 25 per cent of the next 500, and 30 per cent of the remainder, bringing the scheme total to 26 per cent.
Although Wiltshire Council has a target of 30 per cent affordable, the applicant will pay an extra £5.4 million towards ‘offsite’ provision – meaning affordable or social housing can be built in other parts of the Trowbridge area.
John Gantlett, land and planning director Persimmon Homes Wessex, said: “This planning application brings enormous benefits to Trowbridge with land for schools, 30 acres for employment, hundreds of new affordable homes helping to tackle wiltshire’s housing waiting list, as well as a new £36.5 million relief road.”
Cllr Adrian Foster (Lib Dem, Chippenham Sheldon) cabinet member for strategic planning, said: “This is one of the most complicated applications we’ve had to consider, but is strategically important to this council.
“Unlike many applications it is well thought out and includes active travel, schools, local centres, and buses, as well as delivering much-needed housing.”
Outline planning permission – the broad concept of the development – was granted. The developers will need to return to the council with their plans for specific details like building design, access, and landscaping.