219 homes at Wh Smith Headquarters Wh Smith Site, Stratton St Margaret

What is proposed

The application seeks reserved matters approval for 219 homes, including houses, flats, open space, play space, landscaping and footpath links.

“Summary of Recommendation: That reserved matters consent be GRANTED subject to the conditions laid out in this report. The Proposal: This application seeks approval for the reserved matters of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale at the WH Smiths Headquarters site on Greenbridge Road, Swindon.”

“The application proposes a total of 219 dwellings in a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced housing (totalling 170) plus three blocks of flats (49 flats in total). The proposals include a central area of open space with a Locally Equipped Area of Play (LEAP) and a linear soft landscaping strip with associated footpath running from the northern boundary from Greenbridge Roundabout up to it.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The roughly six-hectare site contains a warehouse, offices and parking, and is surrounded by roads, housing, flats, open space and retail uses.

“The surrounding area is mixed in character and includes a relatively new housing estate to the south/south east, flats and open space to the east, a car dealership to the north east and Greenbridge Retail Park to the west. The adjacent housing estate noted above was previously part of the wider WH Smiths site formerly accommodating associated offices and parking.”

Officer report

Earlier planning decisions

Outline permission for up to 228 homes and access was granted in 2022, followed by a variation changing condition triggers and removing the design-code requirement.

“Site History: As detailed in the background section above outline planning permission for up to 228 dwellings was granted, plus the means of access to the site in 2022. The application (reference S/OUT/20/1390) was granted under delegated powers.”

“A variation of condition (Section 73) application under reference S/OUT/25/1187 was granted last year. This amended trigger points in relation to a number of the previous conditions and removed the need for the submission of a design code and resulted in a new outline permission.”

Officer report

Responses to the proposal

Two public responses raised questions, while consultees generally raised no objections after revisions, with some comments about affordable housing, play space and ecology.

“Representations: Public: A total of 2 representations received as a result of the public consultation exercise, both being neither in support nor against the proposals but raising queries/comments about them including the suggestion of a mini-roundabout on Greenbridge Road, whether any places of worship will be included, whether any homes are planned for asylum seekers, how many will be affordable, will there be risk of subsidence and how the development will take to…”

“Parish Council: No objections however members commented about exiting the estate onto Greenbridge Road will become busier during peak hours. Relevant Planning Policy and Guidance: Adopted Local Plan 2026 20. The Swindon Borough Local Plan (SBLP) 2026 was adopted on 26th March 2015.”

Officer report

Questions from the public

The scheme includes 22 affordable homes, a LEAP and no worship or asylum-seeker accommodation; completion timing was not known.

“With regard to the comments made within the representations section that have not already been addressed above, the following is noted: - No places of worship are proposed within the scheme.”

“- The access was approved under the outline permission and the type consented therefore deemed appropriate and safe. There is therefore no ability to propose/secure other junction types such as a mini-roundabout. - The scheme proposes a mixture or market and affordable housing (22 affordable units equating to 10% as viability tested under the outline permission and secured through the S106 agreement with these being located in several different location across the site).”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent supported the application, and a ward councillor thanked the applicant for its public consultation and community engagement.

Members’ discussion

Members received answers about education contributions, building heights, parking, site management, materials, affordable housing, access and flooding.

“The responses provided by officers to questions raised as part of the Members only discussion can be broadly summarised as follows:”

“The accessibility of the site is such that, despite the Council’s parking standards not being met, officers do not envision a detrimental overspill of cars from the site. • Whether the costs of site management, including the management of SUDs, will sit with the residents via a management company or another arrangement, this formed part of the S106 agreement, and the housebuilder will be responsible for accurately advertising these costs to residents.”

Minutes

The committee vote

A councillor proposed granting permission subject to the conditions in the case officer’s report, and all councillors supported the proposal.

“Councillor Jake Chandler proposed that planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report.”

“All Councillors were in favour of the proposal to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to the conditions set out in the case officer’s report.

“Resolved – That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report. 64.”

Minutes