MoD housing in Wiltshire transformed in 1,000-home plan

Wiltshire Council says good progress has been made on three new housing developments as part of a project to create 1,000 additional affordable homes in the county.

This includes work at Brickley Lane and Drakes Avenue in Devizes, Rowden Park in Chippenham, and the village of Rowde.

The Devizes projects will utilise two former MoD housing sites after a first of its kind purchase agreement between Annington Homes and the council for 16 three and four-bedroom homes.

These properties were formerly leased to Armed Forces families and have since undergone major refurbishments.

At Rowden Park, nine affordable rent properties and four shared ownership properties built by Redcliffe Homes will be offered after the acquisition of Section 106 affordable homes.

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A home is delivered in Rowde (Image: Wiltshire Council) These homes feature carbon reducing features such as air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points and will help alleviate the town’s “housing shortage.”

The Rowde development is being carried out by Rollalong and consists of 10 new bungalows, flats, and houses, four of which will be shared ownership and six of which will be social rent.

The homes are built in a factory before being delivered by road and craned onto the site.

Cllr Phil Alford, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for housing, said: “These affordable homes are a mix of new energy efficient properties, existing unused housing and modern methods of construction properties designed to be zero carbon in use.

“They will be available as social and affordable rent and shared ownership housing, demonstrating our innovative approach to provide affordable housing for Wiltshire residents who need it as part of our wider vision for 1,000 affordable homes across the county.”

In total, the council says nearly £200 million is being invested in new energy efficient council homes.

Rowden Park (Image: Wiltshire Council) Cllr Alford added: “We have now delivered 12 low or zero carbon affordable homes, with another 368 in the pipeline as part of our council house build programme which will see over £190million invested in building new, energy efficient council homes.

“We are also making a substantial investment in improving existing council homes to ensure they achieve a minimum energy performance rating of B.

“Affordable housing is a key aim of our business plan, and these schemes are a clear example of significant progress we’re making to deliver the housing that people need.”