Member Article

Next step for major 1,700 homes plan in Nuneaton

A major development which will provide up to 1,700 homes, new schools and community facilities in Nuneaton has taken its next step forward.

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has received final outline planning permission for its scheme at Top Farm, Weddington. Develop Warwickshire, a joint venture between WCC, Warwickshire Property and Development Group (WPDG) and Countryside Partnerships, the UK’s leading mixed-tenure developer, will be delivering the development.

The scheme was initially approved by Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council’s planning committee in May subject to Section 106 contributions, which have now been agreed with the help of Leamington lawyers Wright Hassall.

It will see Develop Warwickshire contribute more than £25 million worth of funding to enhance the local community infrastructure, including £10.5m towards education, and £6.7m towards highways improvements – incorporating significant junction improvements on the A444 Leicester Road/A47 Hinckley Road.

A reserved matters application for the first phase of works is expected to be approved later this year, and construction could follow in the autumn.

The landmark scheme will provide around 1,700 new homes, a primary and secondary school, and a leisure facility along with a mixed-use local centre.

Top Farm contributes to the 2,000 homes that Develop Warwickshire will be bringing forward county wide. WPDG is the property arm of Warwickshire County Council.

John Gregory, Partner and Head of Planning at Wright Hassall, which is based on Olympus Avenue in Leamington Spa, said: “This is a really important outcome for Develop Warwickshire and Nuneaton.

“It not only secures much needed housing for the area, 25 per cent of which will be in the form of affordable housing, but also the provision of land for the development of new leisure and education facilities for the community.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .