After years of planning, proposals and no small amount of anticipation, work on one of Wiltshire’s largest housing developments is set to move forward.
Persimmon Homes has secured approval for the first phase of its scheme at Ashton Park, on the southern edge of Trowbridge. The decision clears the way for construction of 161 homes, the opening stage of a much larger project expected to reshape the area over time.
In total, the Ashton Park development is planned to deliver up to 2,500 homes, in partnership with Barratt Redrow. Outline permission for the wider scheme was granted last year, and this latest approval—known as reserved matters—moves the project from concept into something more tangible.
Alongside the housing itself sits a significant package of infrastructure and investment. Developers have committed £25.6 million in capital contributions, as well as £7.5 million through the Community Infrastructure Levy, funding that will be directed towards local services and facilities.
Perhaps the most visible element will be a new £36.5 million relief road, including a fresh section of the A350 designed to bypass the existing West Ashton crossroads—a long-standing pressure point for traffic in the area.
Beyond that, the plans point towards something closer to a self-contained community. New schools, early years provision, local centres and employment land all form part of the long-term vision, alongside an ecology visitor centre intended to reflect the environmental side of the development.
Affordable housing has also been factored in, with 27 per cent of homes on-site allocated for housing association partners. A further £5.4 million has been set aside for off-site provision, giving the council some flexibility in how that need is met.
For Persimmon, which already has a presence across Wiltshire, the approval marks a milestone in a project that has been several years in the making. Managing Director Seb Spiller described it as a significant step forward, pointing to both the housing demand it aims to address and the wider benefits tied to the scheme.
As with developments of this scale, the impact will unfold gradually. For now, the focus shifts from planning documents to groundwork—quite literally—as construction begins.
For Trowbridge, it represents both an opportunity and a change that will be hard to miss.
