Bellway has delivered an initial funding injection of more than £830,000 to support local infrastructure near its Rowden Chase project in Chippenham. This sum is the first of three scheduled payments to Wiltshire Council, which will eventually see the housebuilder contribute a total exceeding £2.78 million throughout the construction of the 225-home site.

These funds are being provided via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). This system allows local authorities to secure financial contributions from developers to help maintain and improve essential services, including transport networks, schools, and healthcare facilities.

Rowden Chase forms a key part of the broader Rowden Park Garden Village, a 1,000-home masterplan situated to the south of the town. Construction is progressing steadily, with the first residents expected to move into their new properties this month. The development offers a variety of two to five-bedroom houses for private sale, alongside 68 affordable units consisting of apartments and houses available through shared ownership or low-cost rent.

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Christel Hawkins, Sales Manager for Bellway South West, said: "Creating sustainable and desirable communities where people want to live is about more than building new homes. It's also about investing in the facilities and services which are important to people's everyday lives.

"The financial contributions we are making through the CIL for Rowden Chase will help to fund vital infrastructure projects such as the building of new schools, upgrades to the highways network and expansion of GP surgeries.

"This investment will therefore benefit not only new residents at Rowden Chase but the wider community. This is also true of the new facilities being created at Rowden Park Garden Village, which include a large public open space featuring a riverside park, a local centre and land for a primary school."

The development, which comprises phases four and five of the wider garden village, features homes designed to complement Wiltshire's traditional architecture. To assist with energy costs and sustainability, the properties include low-carbon features such as electric vehicle charging points and solar panels.

Records show that Wiltshire Council secured over £9.23 million in CIL payments across the 2024-25 financial year. In Chippenham, these funds have been earmarked for significant local improvements, including the expansion of Abbeyfield School, flood mitigation efforts, and works on the River Avon. Transport upgrades are also planned for the A350 Chippenham Bypass, M4 Junction 17, and the A338 Southern Salisbury Junction.

Potential buyers can currently visit two showhomes at the western edge of the site—the three-bedroom Mason and the four-bedroom Goldsmith. Prices for the available two, three, and four-bedroom properties currently start at £315,000.