Rutland County Council have approved an application from Bellway to build 62 new homes in Oakham, on land off Braunston Road.

Bellway Eastern Counties has been granted planning permission by Rutland County Council to deliver the properties at Barleywoods, off Braunston Road, with developments scheduled to start in Spring 2023.

The developer is set to build 43 three, four and five-bedroom houses for private sale and 19 affordable properties available for local people through rent or shared ownership.

The housebuilder is to provide a children's play area and other public open space on the 8.3-acre site, which lies to the south west of the town.

Phil Standen, Managing Director of Bellway Eastern Counties, said: "We contacted residents in Oakham about our intention to build these new homes and we worked closely with Rutland County Council to ensure that our detailed plans for these 62 properties meet the needs of local people and the community. 

"With detailed planning permission in place, we aim to start work imminently with a view to opening the development to visitors in spring 2023. 

"We are anticipating a great deal of interest in the development, given its location on the edge of town which is home to regular markets and a host of shops, bars, pubs and restaurants."

Barleywoods will feature energy-efficient homes with charging points for electric vehicles. Bellway is to promote biodiversity on the development by planting trees and hedgerows and installing bird and bat boxes across the site.

Over recent years, Bellway has previously delivered 200 new homes at The Maltings in Barleythorpe, just outside the town, and 61 homes at Huntsman Drive in Oakham, on the former Parks School site.

Phil said: "At Bellway we are proud of our recent track record of building more than 250 new homes in and around the beautiful market town of Oakham. We are well aware of the charming and rural nature of Rutland and see Barleywoods as natural continuation of our ongoing commitment to bring much-needed new homes to the town but to do it a manner which is sympathetic to the local area."

This approval comes as Rutland residents wait to find out of the 500-house application from De Merke Estates will be passed by Rutland County Council.

If successful, this development will take place in Barleythorpe, on land west of the Main Road (B640).

Do you want more homes in Oakham, or is the rise in new housing developments detracting from the appeal of the area?

Get in touch and share your views by emailing [email protected].