Plan to build new homes in Trowbridge's Ashton Park site progress

In November last year, the Wiltshire Times reported that developers Persimmon and Barratt Redrow have finalised a major joint venture in Trowbridge to build thousands of new homes on the huge Ashton Park site.

The agreement between the two national housebuilders marks a significant step towards delivering thousands of new homes to the community.

Persimmon has been collaborating with Wiltshire Council to finalise outline planning permission for up to 2,500 homes off the West Ashton Road.

With the new partnership, half of the land was acquired by Barratt Homes Bristol, marking a major milestone for the scheme.

Now, a spokesperson has said that the partnership was intending to return the plans to a committee “as soon as possible”.

They added that outline planning permission is expected to follow in the coming months, with detailed applications to follow from both housebuilders for each phase of the 177-hectare scheme.

A spokesperson for Persimmon and Barratt Redrow said: “We’re making good progress and are now in the final stages of resolving the outstanding elements of the application.

“These are being actively progressed in close collaboration with Wiltshire Council, including engagement at a senior level.

“We’re determined to deliver a high-quality scheme at Ashton Park and look forward to returning the planning application to committee as soon as possible.”

In addition to the delivery of thousands of new homes, the housebuilder added that the development would also include a major local infrastructure project, the Yarnbrook and West Ashton Relief Road.

The masterplan for the Ashton Park development of 2,500 new homes in Trowbridge. (Image: Persimmon and Barratt Homes) Recommended reading:

• Two Wiltshire villages among the nation’s 'poshest'

• 200 home development in Wiltshire town progresses

• Iconic town centre building with permission for flats on the market

The development also intends to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes alongside a multi-million-pound investment in local infrastructure.

That is due to include new education, healthcare, transport and recycling facilities. It will also provide 68 hectares of public open space, including play areas, sports pitches, green spaces and allotments.

In a statement to the Times in November last year, Seb Spiller, Persimmon Homes and Charles Church’s deputy managing director for Wessex, said: “Persimmon is delighted to have reached an agreement with Barratt Redrow to deliver up to 2,500 high-quality homes in Trowbridge, opening up the dream of homeownership to local families and meeting housing need in Wiltshire.

“Our plans at West Ashton are incredibly exciting with major strategic highway improvements, biodiversity enhancements, environmental features, public services investments, affordable housing, and a sense of place all central parts of the scheme.

“Large-scale projects like this not only serve to meet the goals of national and local governments, but they help in alleviating the housing crisis on both levels, generating wider benefits for the local community and economy.

“The merits of the scheme speak for themselves and we look forward to working closely with Wiltshire Council and Barratt Redrow to make this vision a reality to the benefit of local families and the community.”

The plans for the site were first submitted in 2018 and gained outline planning consent in 2021 including the aforementioned and long-discussed West Ashton/Yarnbrook relief road.

While full planning consents for the different phases of the development are required, the ambition for this 437-acre major urban extension is to see homes that are high-quality and energy efficient.

As reported last November, Wiltshire's Local Plan already covers 2,185 new homes planned for Ashton Park, plus 248 Redrow homes at Elm Grove Farm, 132 on a site close to the White Horse Business Park, 180 at the Southwick Court Fields site bordering North Bradley and Trowbridge, and a further 615 at West Ashton Park.