Council proposes to build 700 homes on former Highworth golf course
They say it is the best options for both towns
Last updated 28th May 2025
Swindon Borough Council wants to build 700 homes, half of which affordable, on the Highworth Old Golf Course.
This is according to a new report which will be presented to the cabinet at a meeting next Wednesday (4 June).
The development would take up 42% of the site with the remaining land set to be used for open spaces and a nature reserve.
Councillor Kevin Small, cabinet member for finance, said: “It is almost a year since we asked officers to carry out a detailed options appraisal of the former golf course and we’ve taken our time because this is an important decision on a popular Borough-owned asset.”
The proposal is only a recommendation, however, which means that if the cabinet accepts the proposal, it will be up to its members to conduct pre-application discussions to determine whether the scheme can be delivered.
Other options besides the 700 homes include reducing the number to 400 homes or turning the entire site into a country park or nature reserve.
The proposal is expected to be 'unpopular'
“Over the last year we have held workshops and meetings with the Town Council as representatives of the local community, to fully consider its own business proposal and to ensure it was reflected in the first option to turn the land into a nature reserve”, added Councillor Small.
“I know that asking my Cabinet colleagues to support taking the proposal for the larger housing scheme to the next stage will be unpopular for those who regularly use the old golf course, but the Council’s extremely challenging financial position means we have to ensure we make a decision that is in the best interests of all the Borough’s Council taxpayers, while continuing to deliver frontline services to support the most vulnerable residents in Swindon.
“If the housing option can be taken forward, it will also provide hundreds of much-needed homes for local residents, a significant percentage of which would be affordable.”
More than half the site would be open space
The open space would account for 23.8 hectares of land - that is 58% of the entire site.
The largest part of this (18.8 hectares) would be used for a publicly accessible nature reserve with the remaining five hectares set to be turned into playgrounds, allotments and other open spaces, as required around every housing development.
Highworth Town Council has so far been representing its residents and has stuck to a ‘no development’ agenda.
However, it has also highlighted the need for more affordable housing since many of its young people are struggling to afford the high-value properties in the town.
The new estate would be built in a way where its traffic would not impact Highworth’s High Street and despite previous concerns, Swindon Borough Council has determined that the town would not need a new school for the children who will be living in the new homes.
According to Councillor Small the development is not set to impact the site’s biodiversity as the wildlife that has come back since the closure of the golf course is mainly located on the southern side of the course which is not in plans to be used for housing.
All pre-application conversations will, by law, be confidential until a planning application is made.
Details of the proposals are available on the council's website.