A housing developer is consulting with the local community on its plans to build up to 140 new properties near a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cricklade.
Newland Homes held an exhibition at Cricklade Town Hall on 21 September for interested members of the public to meet the team and find out more about the proposals. Invitations were posted to the local community, but for those that missed the event the details have been put online here.
To meet the government’s targets on housebuilding, Wiltshire Council has identified the need for 385 new homes in Cricklade in the period up to 2036. The Cricklade Town Plan, prepared in 2012 by members of the local community, identified land to the north of Reeds as the preferred location for housing growth, should it be required.
Gloucestershire-based Newland Homes built its first home in Cricklade in 1991 and has a strong connection with the local area. One of its most popular house designs, the ‘Cricklade’ is named in tribute to the town.
It has just finished construction of 25 one, two, three and four bedroom homes off West Mill Lane and over the past three decades the company has created and supported many local communities.
Most recently, Newland Homes made a significant donation to Cricklade Pre-School Playgroup to enable the charity to demolish and replace its prefabricated nursery building, which was unlikely to last another winter. The nursery staff and children moved into their comfortable new nursery this month.
The development proposals by Newland Homes will be in keeping with Cricklade’s local character and the mix of properties will include affordable homes for sale and rent, starter or first homes for the under 40s, custom and/or self-build homes, as well as homes for sale on the open market. Properties will be built to the very latest construction techniques and the provision of solar panels and air source heat pumps means the homes will be zero carbon in terms of energy use.
Newland Homes has undertaken extensive work to ensure the North Meadow, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), is protected through the provision of a new support site. The company has been working with Natural England on these latest proposals, and the Habitat Support Site has been designed around the North Meadow SSSI. This approach is endorsed by Natural England.
Tom Sheppard, Planning Director for Newland Homes commented: “Cricklade has been identified as a location for new homes and we are proposing a climate considerate collection of new homes.
“The Habitat Support Site will include extensive wildflower meadows and woodland planting, with a network of footpaths across the site for people to walk their dog, have a picnic or relax surrounded by nature.
“By encouraging people to make use of this new area for recreational purposes, we can protect and preserve the biodiversity-rich North Meadow in perpetuity.”
Newland Homes is asking for feedback on its plans prior to the submission of a planning application later this year. People are encouraged to email [email protected] or write to Cricklade Consultation, Newland Homes, Brighouse Court, Barnett Way, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3RT.
