Persimmon and Primegate Properties granted planning permission for 1,500-home Swindon scheme

Persimmon Homes Wessex and real estate company Primegate Properties have been granted outline planning permission to build up to 1,552 homes between Blunsdon and Kingsdown, north east of Swindon.

The planning application, which was first submitted in November 2017, has now been approved by Swindon Borough Council, and will see the formation of a “new village”, with a new primary school, nursery, village centre and sports facilities.

A vehicular bridge will also be built across the A419 to connect the site to Swindon.

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Persimmon and Primegate’s development will deliver 264 affordable homes. The council had calculated that with up to 1,552 dwellings, the scheme would generate 466 affordable homes, as per the 30% affordable housing requirement.

A financial viability assessment conducted by White Land Strategies consultancy stated that the target residual land value would not be met unless a reduced affordable housing scheme was considered.

The viability assessment therefore recommended a 17% affordable housing offer, of 264 affordable homes.

The site will not use gas, and homes will be powered by air source heat pumps and solar panels, supported by electric vehicle charging points, making them zero carbon ready. 

Once the national grid decarbonises and converts from predominantly fossil fuel energy to fully renewable, the homes would then be considered zero carbon.

The site is located between the villages of Blunsdon and Kingsdown and was allocated for a new mixed-use development in the Swindon Local Plan, which outlines the local authority’s development strategy up to 2026.

On the scheme’s project team are Pegasus Urban Design, Cole Easdon Consultants, who produced the flood risk assessment and drainage strategy and environmental planning consultancy EDP.

Persimmon Wessex’s managing director, Julian Roper said: “The zero-carbon ready scheme not only provides an opportunity for local residents to enter the housing market but also brings numerous community benefits, including job opportunities and significant infrastructure developments such as a new primary school and an access bridge over the A419.

“Throughout the planning process for Kingsdown, we have worked closely with stakeholders at Swindon Borough Council, National Highways and Natural England. This collaboration ensures that the scheme not only delivers quality homes but also creates a sense of place with distinct character areas, while addressing key local priorities such as the early delivery of essential new infrastructure.”