Detailed planning permission has been granted by Swindon Borough Council for 3,000 new homes at Wichelstowe, south of Swindon.

The homes will be delivered by a joint venture company between Swindon Borough Council and Barratt Developments PLC in a 50:50 partnership.

The scheme, on a 250-hectare area of land, will deliver the new homes over the next 20 years and includes two primary schools, a secondary school and an extensive area of open space.

Cllr Gary Sumner, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “Full planning approval marks a significant step forward for the development at Wichelstowe and enables work on the first phase to get underway and provide much needed housing in the Borough. I am personally delighted that this important scheme has been approved demonstrating the effectiveness of the public and private sectors working together.”

Work on the first phase of homes will begin in late spring located next to the canal and adjacent to Waitrose supermarket and the new Deanery CE academy secondary school. The phase, named Canalside, will feature a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes.

Chris Burton, Wichelstowe, Joint Venture Board Chair, said: “The joint venture is delighted with the news of Swindon Borough Council’s decision. Getting to this stage is the result of a huge amount of commitment and hard work by a large amount of people. We can now get on and deliver what we believe will be an outstanding community where people will want to make their home.”

More than 1,000 jobs will be supported by the scheme in the initial stages and the first residents will be able to move in next year.