More homes for local people in Wiltshire town

The builder behind the Backbridge Farm development in Malmesbury has secured permission to bring 21 more high-quality homes to the area.

Persimmon Homes Wessex will be adding these zero carbon-ready properties – equipped with air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points – to an area adjacent to the existing site, called Punters Farm, in a natural and logical extension there.

The approved plans will see the delivery of biodiversity net gain, tree and hedge retention, animal boxes and refugia, and footpaths. The developer will make financial contributions to the community through the S106 agreement.

A high proportion of properties, eight of the 21, will be transferred to a local affordable housing association, helping to meet local housing need in Wiltshire. New vehicular access for the tennis club will also be constructed as part of the agreement by the developer as it looks to expand.

The scheme has been informed by the Malmesbury Neighbourhood Plan, which in February 2015 became the first Neighbourhood Plan to be ‘made’ in Wiltshire, which allocated Punters Farm for new housing.

The site’s proximity to Backbridge Farm means it will benefit from the new infrastructure and amenities delivered as part of the larger development, including a village green, pocket parks, play areas, attenuation ponds, and a recently opened footbridge into the town itself. A 10% Biodiversity Net Gain will be achieved through onsite features.

As part of its mission to deliver a positive legacy in the areas in which it builds, the five-star developer has donated to local organisations such as Malmesbury Town Carnival, Malmesbury Victoria FC, and Wiltshire Air Ambulance through its Community Champions scheme.

Commenting, Deputy Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Wessex, Seb Spiller, said:

“We’re delighted to have secured permission to deliver new homes for Malmesbury at Punters Farm, complementing our site at Backbridge Farm.

“Persimmon has already delivered significant community assets at Backbridge Farm which will not only benefit people at the existing site but also this new scheme, including a major new footbridge into the town.

“We are very much committed to Malmesbury – not only is our Wessex business based here and we are delivering homes for local people, but we’re proud of the support we’ve given to local organisations and events through our Community Champions scheme.

“We look forward to working with Wiltshire Council to deliver these homes as quickly and with as little disruption as possible as we help meet local housing need and leave a positive and lasting legacy.”