THE creation of one thousand new homes in a new garden village and riverside park to the south of Chippenham could soon begin.

Called Rowden Park, the large development on fields between Patterdown and the River Avon by Crest Nicholson and Redcliffe Homes would include 300 affordable homes. The developers will be making financial contributions of around of £16m and providing land for an additional primary school, allotments and the creation of a network of country and riverside walks.

At a meeting of Chippenham Town Council's planning, environment and transport committee on Wednesday last week (January 3), members raised no objections to reserved matters - the details of on-site infrastructure, such as the creation of a spine road entrance, drainage and utilities.

Redliffe say their first phase of 114 dwellings - to be called Rowden Brook - will commence building in the spring. Subsequent phases, which will include a primary school and neighbourhood centre, to start on site later in 2019.