Latest plans revealed for 1,000-home scheme in Wiltshire

In October, Bellway Homes and Redcliffe Homes lodged revised plans for the construction of 134 dwellings off Patterdown Road in Chippenham.

The scheme is phase five of the major Rowden Park Garden Village development, which could see the construction of up to 1,000 homes in the area and has outline planning permission.

Several other stages of the scheme are already coming to fruition but the plans for phase five were amended after the plot was purchased by Bellway.

But Chippenham Town Council’s planning committee has urged Wiltshire Council to reject these fresh proposals after a comprehensive report by its planning officer raised multiple issues.

In particular, councillors were concerned at the lack of appropriate pedestrian and cycle routes in the plans which could mean greater vehicle traffic heading into the town centre and using major roads in the area.

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The latest Rowden Park site (Image: Bellway Homes) Cllr David Poole said: “I firmly support the objection, we’ve seen the first few phases linked to Chippenham town centre superbly by cycle paths and pedestrian links.

“That’s why I’m concerned this application falls short… there doesn’t seem to be any joined up links which is rather disappointing.”

Cllr Matthew Short added: “Hopefully the developers will work with the cycle network to try and iron out those things.”

Bellway and Redcliffe insist the latest proposal would create a more integrated relationship to Riverside Park and would be an “enjoyable and safe place to live”.

In the design and access statement, a spokesperson said: “The reserved matters proposal will have streets and spaces that are safe, easy to use, and buildings that will be immediately recognised by residents and visitors as being part of the area

“The proposed development will be an enjoyable and safe place to live with a distinctive hierarchy of streets and lanes.

The latest Rowden Park site (Image: Bellway Homes) “The design will create key open spaces, key note buildings, active frontages and enclosure.

“(There is) opportunity for providing more integrated relationship with the proposed landscape and easy access to formal and informal recreational facilities within the Riverside Park to the east.”

Construction on the Rowden Park development has been ongoing since 2019 and the project is primarily being delivered by Crest Nicholson and Redcliffe Homes.

Multiple phases have since been launched by the housebuilders.