The New Eastern Villages (NEV) is one of the largest greenfield developments in the country, and we want to keep you updated as work progresses.

This newsletter will drop into your inbox every month and will contain everything you need to know about the development and the accompanying roadworks.

Meet the NEV team

There are 14 people in our dedicated New Eastern Villages team. They have been working on this project for a number of years and are experts in their respective fields.

In each newsletter edition we will introduce you to one of them.

Robert Sweetnam

Project Manager

Robert has worked at the Council for five years as part of the New Eastern Villages Delivery Team.

As project manager for the White Hart Junction scheme, he primarily works with the contractor, Network Rail, Highways England and other stakeholders to deliver the scheme.

What's recently happened?

Additional haul road constructed at White Hart

A new haul road continues to be constructed north of the railway, in addition to one already built to the south.

These haul roads will allow heavy materials to be moved around the White Hart junction site more easily during construction. 

What's happening next?

White Hart roundabout lane closures

As you may have seen, traffic management is now in place at White Hart roundabout. 

The roundabout will be reduced to a single lane on weekdays for seven weeks (from 22 June) to allow Osborne, the contractor carrying out the scheme, to get on site and complete the next phase of the work. This will include the installation of ducting and drainage systems to facilitate the £30m scheme.

We are relaxing the normal peak-hour traffic management restrictions because of the lower levels of traffic on the roads, with schools partially closed and many people working from home. At weekends, Osborne will seek to remove traffic management where possible, providing it is safe to do so. We will continue to monitor traffic flows and will alter the hours of working if need be.

Towards the end of this phase of work, and for approximately one week, there will be single lane running on the A419 southbound off-slip road at night to allow drainage works to take place. These works will be undertaken at night to ensure the safety of the crews and to minimise disruption to motorists.

Should you need it, the emergency number for White Hart junction construction work and traffic management is 07899 751807.

Thank you in advance for your patience and support while this work takes place.

Wanborough traffic calming consultation live next week

As part of the New Eastern Villages (NEV) development, a comprehensive access strategy has been developed to ensure that the surrounding area does not suffer from the effects of additional traffic. One such measure is a traffic calming scheme along Wanborough High Street. From next Monday (6 July), a consultation will be live on our website for six weeks where you will be able to find out more about the proposals and give your views.

Planning updates

Lotmead Farm

At a virtual Planning Committee meeting on 9 June, the committee agreed to grant an outline planning application for the Lotmead site from Ainscough Strategic Land subject to the completion of the legal agreement to secure infrastructure.  

Plans include building up to 2,500 homes, two primary schools and local centres as well as sports pitches, play areas and allotments. The precise details of design and layout will have to be approved later through the submission of reserved matters applications.

Symmetry Park

At the same Planning Committee meeting on 9 June, it was agreed to grant full planning permission for a warehouse at Symmetry Park, near White Hart, subject to the completion of the legal agreement to secure infrastructure.  

This application, which was from developer Panattoni and Luxembourg company LU UK VI Sarl, is a £400m investment in Swindon which would also create 2,000 jobs.

Public Q&A

We expect you have a lot of questions about the NEV. If you submit them via the link below, we will answer three in the next issue.

These were the questions people put to us following last month's newsletter:

Q: How are you considering climate change concerns as part of this development?

A: Every proposal at the NEV will need to accord with the Local Plan. The infrastructure required to support the NEV will ensure comprehensive and sustainable development that is planned to reduce the need to travel and accommodate sustainable modes of transport.

The movement strategy will ensure that the new community will have opportunities to walk and cycle as each village will have inter-connected green infrastructure corridors. 

Q: Why don't you finish other housing developments in the town first?

A: The NEV is a strategic allocation in the adopted Local Plan 2026 to deliver 8,000 homes. This is in accord with the Local Plan’s development strategy which includes other development sites to help meet Swindon’s development needs. As a result, and in order to provide a range of housing, across a number of development sites, some developments will be built out at the same time.

Q: How come you're not building on brownfield sites?

A: As above, development on previously developed land, or brownfield land, should be maximised in the urban area. 

Q: How soon after the houses are constructed will the shops, GPs and schools be built?

A: School sites will be secured early within each of the village locations (before first occupation of the first home) to ensure that the new schools can be opened in a timely way to support the new community that will live there. 

On-site shops are expected to be delivered, to support the local community, in line with the increase in new occupants to generate viable facilities. It is anticipated that shops will be open in the later phases of development at each village.

The Council will work proactively with partner organisations to help deliver the required health provision. As this will serve the whole of the new community at the NEV, it is anticipated that this will come forward in the latter phases of the delivery programme.

Once completed, more than £7m of healthcare facilities will be included in the NEV development, and we are currently working closely with the CCG to ensure the new residents get what they need.

If you have any other queries or if there is anything else relating to the NEV that we can help with, don't hesitate to get in touch.

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