Land specialist Terra has secured Outline Planning Permission at Appeal for 50 affordable homes with extensive landscaping and play facilities, located in close proximity to the market town of Melksham, Wiltshire.

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. Terra’s most recent planning application for this site was submitted to Wiltshire Council in September 2020 and it was refused in April 2021. With Outline Planning now secured, a Reserved Matters submission is being prepared in conjunction with affordable housing specialist Living Space – a sister company to Terra.

Richard Pitt, Strategic Planning Director for Terra, said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded Outline Planning approval for this much-needed affordable housing scheme, which is in such a popular and sustainable location, on the edge of the attractive market town of Melksham.

“Delivering this scheme will provide quality new homes to the immediate area, 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 the Melksham Town Centre.”

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 Council 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 suggested tenure split for the 50 new homes is for 60% to be designated for affordable rent and 40% for 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. The market town of Melksham has been earmarked as a key growth spot, due to its highly sustainable combination of excellent public transport, quality amenities and schooling provision. Melksham is 12 miles from Bath and eight miles from Chippenham. The 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 Tetlow King Planning, Pegasus, and Abley Letchford Partnership providing support during the Appeal process.

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.

Terra 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.