Hayfield has entered the Wiltshire new homes market, by securing a 16-acre development site in the historic village of Blunsdon.
The site was purchased with an Outline consent in place. Hayfield has worked with A2 Architecture to submit a Reserved Matters Application to Swindon Borough Council for 70 luxury homes, a new community shop and café. 21 plots have been designated for affordable housing, which will be constructed for Greensquare Housing Association.
Mark Booth, Managing Director of Hayfield said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to develop this scheme, which will be our first development in Wiltshire – a county that we have actively targeted. Blunsdon is a beautiful sought-after village that was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The outstanding quality of Hayfield’s homes and our credentials for building community facilities put us out front in the bidding for this 16-acre site.
“2019 was the year that Hayfield really got noticed nationally. Being crowned the UK’s Best Small Housebuilder has made us stand out in the bidding wars for prime residential land. It is only the start of 2020 and we are already securing sites that will help to meet our development pipeline for the next few years. Having recently secured an £85m equity and debt facility, we are now activity seeking land opportunities.”
Located off Sams Lane, the development area is enclosed by mature trees, which has inspired its name – Hayfield Wood. The density of the development will be much lower than typical new build schemes, with mature trees, wide open spaces, balancing ponds and landscaping features all incorporated into the masterplan.
Following thorough analysis of the existing high-quality architectural vernacular of Blunsdon, Hayfield has proposed a selection of house designs to be constructed in a mix of red brick and reconstituted stone, taking inspiration from traditional properties in the village. Subject to planning approval, Hayfield intends to commence work on the site this spring.
Blunsdon Village Shop, which is a vital asset to the local community, will be re-sited to a purpose-built facility at the Hayfield Wood development. Hayfield is working closely with the management and volunteers who run the shop to design the new building, which will also include a café.
Mark Gay, Planning Director for Hayfield said: “As soon as we acquired this site, we sought to comprehensively understand the key design characteristics and architectural features which make Blunsdon so attractive and appealing. A Reserved Matters Application has been submitted to Swindon Borough Council and we are currently working with all consultees to progress a high-quality and well considered detailed design for this fantastic development opportunity. The mix of red brick and reconstituted stone we have proposed here will complement existing properties in the village and create exceptional new family homes.”
Blunsdon lies four miles north of the centre of Swindon, with the A419 forming the village’s southern boundary.
Hayfield’s other live sites include the flagship Hayfields site in Southmoor, Oxfordshire, which comprises 74 luxury homes. Also under construction in Oxfordshire is Hayfield Green, where 66 luxury houses and bungalows are being developed on a 21-acre disused RAF WWII Airfield in this historic village of Stanton Harcourt. In the small market town of Southam in Warwickshire, the final phase of Hayfield Grange has just been released. The popular development comprises 51 family houses and bungalows.
In Bedfordshire, Hayfield is under construction with 105 luxury homes close to English Heritage’s Grade I listed Wrest Park Estate, which is in the sought-after village of Silsoe. Seven miles away, in the village of Clifton, the Hayfield Gate development is preparing to be launched, which comprises 95 luxury homes.
