NEV development areas
The New Eastern Villages (NEV) will include several new and expanded communities to the east of Swindon.
Each area will have its own character, facilities, transport links and access to green spaces.
Great Stall East
Great Stall East will cover about 50 hectares. It will be south of the railway and the A420.
An express bus route will run from east to west through the development. It will connect the park and ride site with Swindon through Great Stall Bridge.
The bus route will form a central transport link through Great Stall. It will connect homes with key services and facilities across the development.
Great Stall East will play an important role in connecting the New Eastern Villages with the wider Swindon urban area.
The area will include an education campus for primary, secondary and 16 to 18 education. Direct and accessible routes must connect the campus with the other villages.
Great Stall East is near one of the main routes into Swindon. Its design should reflect this prominent location and the surrounding rural landscape.
The River Cole corridor should form a central recreation and wildlife area that:
- provides an enjoyable space for people who live and work in the New Eastern Villages
- protects and improves local biodiversity
- benefits the wider community
The river corridor should influence the layout and design of the development.
Great Stall West
Great Stall West will cover about 78 hectares, making it one of the largest villages.
It will include the district centre and its shops, leisure services and health facilities.
District centre
The district centre will be immediately south of the A420 and next to the A419.
It will provide a central location for communities across the New Eastern Villages. It should be appropriately sized and have an exemplary design.
Great Stall is near one of the main routes into Swindon. The design should reflect the importance of this location.
The district centre will include 2.5 hectares of land for Class B1a office use.
Symmetry Park
The New Eastern Villages can make a significant contribution to Swindon’s economy.
Symmetry Park will provide the main employment area and will be part of Great Stall West.
In line with Local Plan Policy NC3, employment land will include about:
- 30 hectares for Class B8 storage or distribution
- 7.5 hectares for Class B1b or B1c business use, or Class B2 general industrial use
Foxbridge
Foxbridge will mark the southern edge of the New Eastern Villages. It will cover less than 27 hectares, making it one of the smaller villages.
The Local Plan Policies Map shows a possible route for the Wilts and Berks Canal through the village.
The canal could give the development a strong identity. It could also improve connections with neighbouring areas to the north and south.
Upper Lotmead
Upper Lotmead will cover about 20 hectares.
It will be next to the A419 and the historic Roman settlement of Durocornovium, which is a Scheduled Monument.
The village will be mainly residential. It will have links to the district centre and the existing Swindon urban area.
The design should take account of views east from Upper Lotmead. Buildings along the most visible edges should have a strong and distinctive design.
This approach will help strengthen the village’s character and give it a clear identity.
Lower Lotmead
Strategic green spaces will surround Lower Lotmead. This will give the village a close relationship with the surrounding natural and rural landscape.
Development along the eastern edge will need careful design and landscaping. It should create a gentle transition between the village and the open countryside.
The village will include a centrally located primary school and local centre. These facilities will help meet residents’ needs.
Lower Lotmead will have road connections and direct, attractive walking and cycling routes to neighbouring villages.
These routes should encourage people to walk and cycle.
The design must reflect the surrounding landscape and rural character. It should include development gaps and substantial landscaping.
The Local Plan Policies Map shows a possible route for the Wilts and Berks Canal through the village.
The canal could give the development a strong identity. It could also improve connections with neighbouring areas to the north and south.
Lotmead
Lotmead will be between Upper Lotmead and Lower Lotmead. It will include a village centre and primary school.
Roads will provide strong north-to-south and east-to-west connections through the surrounding green spaces.
Durocornovium and the historic route of the Roman road are south-west of Lotmead. Durocornovium is a Scheduled Monument.
Wanborough Road runs to the south and connects Wanborough with Swindon.
The village layout will centre on the primary school and village centre, which will be located together.
Redlands
Development at Redlands Airfield must be high quality and respect the character and setting of the area.
The design should create a gradual transition between buildings and the surrounding countryside.
Landscaping should soften the edge of the development beside the non-coalescence area.
Local Plan Policy NC3 defines this area to protect the character and separate identities of Wanborough, Bishopstone and Bourton.
Redlands will include a primary school and other facilities needed to support a sustainable community.
Rowborough
Rowborough will be a new community east of the expanded South Marston village.
It will have its own identity, supported by strong landscaping and clear physical separation from South Marston.
A new neighbourhood centre will provide facilities that complement those in South Marston.
Housing density will vary between the village centre and the rural edge.
Development along the north-eastern edge should respond to the natural setting and Nightingale Wood.
Green routes will connect the village with Nightingale Wood to the north and east.
The woodland will become part of the village setting and strengthen its rural character.
To the south and west, the open stream valley should extend into the village through green spaces and grass-verged streets.
Additional trees and woodland should provide visual separation from South Marston. Prominent green routes should also cross the A420.
South Marston expansion
South Marston is next to the northern boundary of the New Eastern Villages.
Local Plan Policy NC3 identifies an expansion of the village. This will include 500 homes as part of the wider New Eastern Villages development.
Development must help create an integrated village.
South Marston should retain an identity that is separate from Swindon and the wider New Eastern Villages.
The layout and design of new development should build on the village’s existing character.
It should also improve links with the surrounding countryside.
Local Plan Policy RA3 for South Marston supports this approach.
The South Marston Neighbourhood Plan, formally adopted or ‘made’ on 9 November 2017, also supports it.