Spitalgate Heath Garden Village

Located to the south-east of Grantham within the arc of the new Southern Relief Road, Spitalgate Heath Garden Village is a residential-led scheme connected to the town centre along the attractive River Witham valley and potentially an Active Travel corridor being envisioned by the County Council. Grantham community’s vision (for relief of the town centre of A52 traffic) has driven the opportunity for this development which should enhance the attractiveness of the town as a whole.

The site was initially promoted by Buckminster as a Sustainable Urban Extension, achieving resolutions to grant permission in 2017 and 2019. Working with the District Council and Central Government it has qualified for Garden Village settlement status. Buckminster as owner and promoter for a neighbouring landowner envisions a contemporary, energy-efficient, electric enabled development characterised by a preponderance of street trees and a new Riverside Park. The accommodation will predominantly be family homes, with a range of designs to enable whole life adaptability. A strong community stake in the careful management of the public realm and social interaction is key, especially as the development period could stretch over 25-30 years. There will be new primary and secondary schools on-site, a local centre offering convenience shopping, and a community hub in the farm buildings sited by the river weir. The employment site at Spitalgate level will consist of a mix in properties to be divided of E, B2 and B8 uses (essentially offices, professional services, r & d, light and general industrial, or storage and distribution).

Buckminster has provided the land for the £100M+ bypass in construction by the County Council, to which it may further contribute by way of a tariff as the houses are built. There is a new junction with the A1 that opened in 2022. The final phase of the relief road construction started in April 2021; and is looking likely to open in 2028, involving an expansive new bridge over the river and railway, and a dedicated roundabout for Spitalgate Heath.

Along the route, water infrastructure is being realigned, and significant archaeology uncovered and recorded. Buckminster has been working in collaboration with adjoining owners and Homes England on the challenge of funding the up-front infrastructure, especially electricity where the local network is at capacity without a major upgrade and a new multi-million-pound primary substation.

When finalising the financial contributions package to the County and Local Authorities, Buckminster is likely to consider interest from development partners to act with it as master developer on at least Phase 1 of the 3 major phases, and could then deliver sales of serviced parcels to housebuilders. There is a detailed strategic and character area design framework, flowing from the vision and set strategic framework. This is to ensure that unlike for ‘standard’ developments there is consistency and a common thread throughout the design, execution and stewardship for the long term. Cycleways and street trees will feature strongly. Buckminster is able to draw on the Woodland Trust (which has its home in Grantham) to help ensure how best to choose, locate and manage trees.

Buckminster has committed to no gas in homes and a well-insulated and all-electric place connected by microgrids including battery storage.