Page 9 - link magazine

9
Abbey Meads, the first year

Twelve months ago on 21 October, the first families moved into Swindon 's newest housing area.

Nearly a year ago the Scotford Apart from the experience of opers that they would build all cycle routes and footpaths.
family were ready to make his- living on a building site, the the roads and sewers and also the First on site were Bovis, selling
tory. They were packing up their Scotfords were the first residents community facilities to serve the 20 houses between October and
house in Sherford Road, Haydon to move into Britain's largest pri- people who were to live in the Christmas 1994.
Wick to move to a brand new vate housing development. houses. By June this year the various
Bovis Home at Abbey Meads, Swin- Swindon's 'northern develop- Plummeting house prices in the building companies had sold 100
don's latest housing expansion. ment' had been planned and ar- recession of the late 1980s, from houses, many unseen, 'off plan.'
It may have been just down the gued over since it was first pro- which the housing market is strug- Considering the present reluctance
road, but they were moving into posed at the beginning of 1969. gling to get out of now, threat- to buy houses, Abbey Meads is off
a whole new era for Swindon. The building of West Swindon ened the northern expansion un- to a good start.
History making family: David and had not even started at the time, til land owners Crest Nicholson 1994 Mayor of Thamesdown David
Ann Scotford with their sons Daniel but the germ of an idea started to Ltd. decided to go ahead and Glaholm at the launch of the Abbey
and Alex outside their new Bovis develop amongst land owners and develop its holdings. Meads development in July last war
borne at The Chase housing housing developers. Agreement was reached with with developer Crest Homes chief
development -21 October 1994 The housing boom of the 1980s Thamesdown planners and com- executive John Callcutt
and with the end of the building mitments to infrastructure costs
to the west of the town in sight, were thrashed out. The first part
the focus of attention on the north of a 10,000 home expansion cost-
to become much sharper. ing around £650 million over a
But building company optimism fifteen year development
that they could rapidly build on timeframe came into view.
the 1,500 acres of land in their Abbey Meads was launched in
ownership was dashed as August 1994 when a consortium
Thamesdown Council refused to of companies launched their plans
contemplate piecemeal building to build the first 3,200 houses,
which had blighted earlier hous- together with a village centre in-
ing areas in the town. Not only cluding shops and a community
did the council want an inte- centre with sports hall. Ninety
grated master plan for any expan- acres of land has been set aside
sion, they also demanded ad- for open space, and the whole
vance commitments from devel- area will he linked by traffic-free

"Blunsdon Ridge"
Abbey Meads -.Swindon and
'The Chase," Abbey Meads - Swindon
2, 3, and 4 bedroom homes from J52,750 to £128,000
HOMES
Two great places to Discover the Difference of a Bovis Home.
Telephone: 01793 706883.
A
Company
Bovis Homes Liiniled, South West Region, Bovis House, Lagsdown Road, Cheltenham Glos GL50 2JA. Tel: 01242 222211 Fax: 01242 232943.
The hsuselypeu ahoy, star be built in orange of ,l,satiorsaj finishes The pholognpb shows one example A,r lasrdxoaping show, is merely so Create as impression
Pets,s correct at time of going to press and parchaseer should enquire about asailabillb external finishes and prim of specific peope,ltes