House hunters in Swindon are being told not to hang about, as the final phase of homes at Orchards Rise in Wichelstowe begins to edge onto the market.
Developers behind the scheme — Barratt Homes Bristol and David Wilson Redrow — have released the first two properties ahead of the wider phase launch, citing continued demand for homes in the area.
The development, part of the wider Wichelstowe expansion, will eventually deliver 184 homes in its final phase, ranging from two to five bedrooms. For now, just two four-bedroom properties are available, both expected to be ready for occupation this summer.
They won’t be around for long, if previous sales are anything to go by. Since its launch in 2022, Orchards Rise has quietly become one of the town’s more reliable sellers — the sort of place where buyers keep a close eye on new releases.
Louise Ware, sales director for David Wilson Redrow South West, says interest has remained steady throughout. Her advice is simple enough: register early or risk missing out.
The homes themselves come with a degree of reassurance on build quality. Construction is being overseen by site manager Clyde Cocking, a two-time NHBC Pride in the Job Award winner — a detail that developers are understandably keen to highlight.
The two properties currently on offer — the Wichelstray and the Willesley — are priced at £450,000 and £400,000 respectively. Both are three-storey, four-bedroom semi-detached homes, aimed squarely at families looking for space without leaving the town altogether.
Zoom out a little, and the wider picture is what continues to draw buyers in. The Wichelstowe scheme, delivered in partnership with Swindon Borough Council, is set to bring around 3,000 homes to the southern edge of Swindon over the next two decades.
It’s not just about housing numbers. Plans include schools, green space and community facilities, alongside 12km of walking routes, allotments and access to the Wilts & Berks Canal. For commuters, the practicalities are covered too, with junction 16 of the M4 and Swindon station both within a short drive.
For now, though, the focus is on those first two homes — a small window into the final chapter of a development that’s been steadily building momentum. And if demand holds, that window may not stay open for long.
