Land specialist Terra has sold a site in Wiltshire — which has Outline Planning Permission for 50 affordable homes — to Sovereign Housing Association for an undisclosed sum.
Located on the outskirts of the historic market town of Melksham, the 2.26 ha (5.6 acres) site is bounded by Semington Road — which is on the 403 National Cycle Network — and the A350 Western Way. A Reserved Matters submission can now be submitted to Wiltshire Council to determine the detailed design of the much-needed affordable homes.
Jordan Langdon-Bates, Land and Development Director for Terra said: “It is very rewarding to see this strategic land project reach this major milestone. Given the high demand for affordable housing in this part of Wiltshire, it has attracted significant market interest and we are pleased to have achieved an efficient land sale to Sovereign Housing Association. Thanks to the hard work of all involved, the legal process has only taken six weeks to reach Exchange.
“The next stage is for a Reserved Matters Application to be lodged with Wiltshire Council. Once this has been reviewed and approved, work will be able to start on site to address the local affordable housing needs, which we identified lacked a sufficient pipeline when first considering this land opportunity. Given the shortage of new homes in the current marketplace, we would urge anyone who is looking to maximise their land value to get in touch with us to explore the opportunities available.”
The Semington Road scheme is designed around extensive landscaping and children’s play facilities. The site is well served by bus routes and it is also within 10 minutes’ walking distance of the Train Station, the picturesque banks of the River Avon, and the High Street and Market Place of Melksham Town Centre.
Terra secured Outline Planning Approval for the scheme at Appeal earlier this year. It was recognised as part of the Appeal process that Wiltshire Council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply. It was also acknowledged that the Inspectorate affords significant weight to the affordable homes provided as part of this proposal, particularly as waiting times for families to access affordable homes across the District currently ranges from 3.1 years to 10.7 years, for two-bedroom or four-bedroom properties respectively.
The tenure split will be determined by Sovereign Housing Association and is likely to comprise homes for both affordable rent and shared ownership. The accommodation mix will comprise one-bedroom apartments and two-, three-, and four-bedroom family houses. The elevation treatment of the homes will incorporate a striking mixture of red, orange and buff brick.
It has been identified that a total of 42,000 new homes are required across the county of Wiltshire by 2026. Melksham has been earmarked as a key growth spot, due to its highly sustainable combination of excellent public transport, quality amenities and schooling provision. The popular market town is 12 miles from Bath and eight miles from Chippenham. Melksham train station provides a direct regular service to Chippenham, with connecting services to Bristol, London, and South Wales.
The masterplan for Terra’s Melksham scheme was designed by architects Banners Gate Ltd, with specialist advice provided by Tetlow King Planning, Pegasus, and Abley Letchford Partnership.
Terra is an experienced land specialist, which enters into agreements with landowners and then pursues, funds and secures an agreeable planning permission. It also has the financial resources to secure land with or without residential planning consent to assist landowners looking for a quick sale process. The organisation has a national reach, having recently secured residential land in Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, The West Midlands, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. Terra currently controls 21 sites, with circa 830 acres of residential land that is capable of delivering 4,300 new homes.
