A key milestone has been reached at the major Wellington Gate development near Wantage, as Persimmon Homes Wessex and registered housing provider Pinnacle Group marked the exchange of contracts on 35 affordable homes in the latest phase of the project.

The agreement, which forms part of Phase Seven of the development on the former Grove Airfield site, was celebrated with representatives from Persimmon, CBRE Investment Management (CBRE IM), project management consultancy Airey Miller, and Pinnacle Group. They were joined by Cllr Emily Smith, Cabinet Member for Planning at Vale of White Horse District Council.

All 35 homes in this phase will be available for affordable rent. The deal represents CBRE IM and Pinnacle’s fourth acquisition at Wellington Gate, contributing to a broader commitment to deliver 158 affordable homes across the site in partnership with Persimmon.

The agreement comes shortly after Persimmon submitted an outline planning application for up to 624 new homes adjacent to the current development. The housebuilder already holds outline planning permission for up to 1,500 homes on the old airfield.

-- Advertisement --

Wellington Gate is a growing new community, with key infrastructure already in place. A primary school has been delivered, sports pitches are due for handover later this year, and construction has begun on a new secondary school. The development also features a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom homes, with prices starting from £284,995.

As part of its long-term plans, Persimmon is also progressing proposals for a new local hub and has been engaging with the community through consultations to shape its future. The developer is seeking further planning approvals to expand housing delivery on-site.

Cllr Emily Smith praised the project’s focus on affordability and sustainability, said: "These modern homes to be made available at affordable rent and built with sustainability in mind, making a good contribution to improving housing availability in the Vale, which is a huge focus of our work. Their eco features, such as solar panels and air source heat pumps, will also help to keep energy bills as low as possible for the new residents."

Seb Spiller, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Wessex, added: "We're delighted to have finalised the latest agreement with CBRE IM and Pinnacle to deliver the latest tranche of affordable homes at our site in Wantage. Wellington Gate is a major scheme that is delivering homes for many local families, and the latest proportion reserved for housing associations is a key part of our broader goal to create a positive and lasting legacy wherever we build. Persimmon looks forward to building on our partnership with CBRE IM and Pinnacle as well as high-quality homes for local people."