Second phase of affordable Melksham scheme given approval

Affordable Housing specialist, Living Space, has secured reserved matters planning approval for the second phase of its development in Melksham, Wiltshire.

The 5.8-acre second phase will deliver an additional 53 sustainable, high-quality affordable homes for local residents, on top of the 50 already approved on Phase One. This follows support from Wiltshire Council, with works set to begin immediately to deliver 32 homes for affordable rent and 21 shared ownership properties.

The homes will be a mix of 1-bed maisonettes, 2-bed bungalows and 2, 3 and 4-bedroom family homes, and will be built with brick and render with reconstituted stone sills and brick quoin detailing to complement existing homes in the area.

Sustainability will sit at the heart of the project, with every home in the affordable scheme fitted with an air source heat pump, making it gas-free and helping lower energy bills for residents. Properties in phase two of the development will also have an EV charging point fitted.

The scheme sits within easy reach of local amenities, including shops and a sports centre, as well as the nearby primary school and local railway station. The 403 National Cycle Network runs alongside the development and bus routes connect Melksham to Devizes, Bradford-on-Avon and Bath. Once the development is complete, priority will be given to people with a local connection to the parish through family or work.

“Receiving planning approval to more than double the number of affordable homes we can deliver for Melksham is very welcome,” said Paul Breen, Managing Director of Living Space.

“At a time when national housing shortages are at their highest, it’s encouraging to be able to deliver homes at pace and scale to help alleviate the pressure. We will now look to progress matters with our preferred RP partner for an early 2026 start on site.”

The development off Semington Road, Melksham, is part of Living Space’s drive to scale up affordable housing delivery in partnership with registered providers across the country. Once complete, both phases will significantly boost affordable housing availability in Wiltshire, providing vital support for local families.

Living Space’s pipeline of projects demonstrates the company’s growing capacity to deliver affordable housing at scale, with speed, and with sustainability at its core, at a time when both the housing crisis and climate crisis demand urgent action.