What is your view on Wichelstow?

[thedollshouse]

I grew up in Swindon but left 20 years ago. I have been looking online at the housing development at Wichelstowe which looks really nice and very affordable.

Anyone live there? What is it it like? I see that the primary school opens next year, does anyone know if there is likely to be places for latecomers? Also what is Old Town like for young families as I guess that would be our nearest central point. I'm not keen on Swindon town centre and never thought I would move back but there is something about this development which is making me think that moving back might be a good idea.

Also I guess Commonweal would be the local secondary school, does anyone have any views on it?

Have you looked on the Wichelstowe community website? because I think schools are a potential problem at the moment. I am not sure that Commonweal and Ridgeway will have spaces - both are good schools, although they are building a primary I am not sure if a secondary is due as well?

Some of the houses are really close to the M4. I don't like the way it is sandwiched between Wroughton and Old Town, yet not really part of either. I suppose it is still early days though as it looks like a huge development.

Swindon town centre is still a dump, but is supposedly being regenerated. I personally don't rate old town much, but that said, I live the other side of town so have little to do with it.

I am not much help really

Thanks wilts that is helpful. I suppose they will have to build a new senior school at some point if the existing schools can't cope with the influx.

I will have to go and have a look at as I can't really picture the exact location. I didn't realise it was near the M4.

If you were heading from Old Town to Wroughton it is just before the fly over into Wroughton.

I commute to work so am on the M4 everyday, and they are building so close to the motorway, although I suppose it could be the school/ shops etc rather than more houses that will be there.

I think, although could be wrong on this that there were concerns about the houses being built on a flood plain?

Go and have nose, you may love it! Good luck

I've just seen a nice house on Right Move in Wootton Bassett. Anyone have any views on Bassett? Are the primary schools oversubscribed?

We have put an offer on a house at Wichelstowe, I love it... It has a real villagey feel. The position of our potential house means that we can't really hear the motorway (well no more than I can hear the a419 from Covingham) I am really looking forward to it growing as a community. I'm sure I read on some of the minutes from the meetings that Ridgeway was going to be the secondary school for the area. When the whole development is finished there are going to be 3 schools however I am not sure what ages they will all be for. We did loads of research into the area and it appears that the development as a whole has been well thought out including the issues regarding flooding.

Wichelstow is right bang next to the M4, and noisy. It looks like quite a nice development as new developments go, but is too far to walk to either Old Town or Wroughton.

A few good schools in the area - Royal Wootton Bassett Academy have a bus which picks up from Wichelstowe, and it's also near Ridgeway in Wroughton and Commonweal in Old Town.

thedollshouse see my post above - Secondary school in Wootton Bassett is fantastic. Also three good primary schools - Longleaze, St Bartholomew's C of E, and County Infants/Noremarsh. All primaries are at capacity though I believe, but the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy has plenty of places in all years. It's judged Outstanding by Ofsted.

There has been some negative publicity about Wichelstowe saying it's a large development built without adequate facilities/infrastructure. There was a whole programme on it on BBC Inside Out West last year - I doubt it is still viewable now, but the gist was the development is only partially finished, commitments to infrastructure have not been honoured and it is a bit of a ghost town in places. I don't know what the truth is personally but there's a lot of discussion about it here

We went to have a look at some houses over there and one of the first things we asked was about flooding. They had to do a lot to the land and put in a lot of flood defences before they were allowed to build - I guess the recent weather would have tested them, they seemed to have held up.
However, we decided against moving there as my concern is that its a massive planned development but future developments do seemed to have been put on the back burner a little due, I guess to the current economic climate. When I visited there still weren't even any local shops there and it just seemed like a bit of a ghost town; my worry was, is there a chance it might stay like that?
Having said that, the houses do seem nice and I like that they're not all the same as each other - they're also very affordable.

Sometimes these forums really bug me. I live in Wichelstowe for over a year now. It is a beautiful, quiet place to live. There are no floods (even in the recent flood warnings!) and it is not noisy. There is a real sense of community and people are nice to eachother. I wake up to the sound of ducks quacking on the canal outside my house. I chat to my neighbours and I go to the community meetings. I find it incredible that all this 'negative press' is always from people who do not live in the area! It is very easy to be a sheep and follow others, unless you live here or have done more than simply read about it, please don't bother making assumptions!

I have lived in Wichelstowe for over a year now with my husband and children. It is a beautiful place to live with so much countryside all around and stunning views and yet within a mile or 2 all the shops and entertainment you could possibly ask for. Yes it is near the M4 but this suits our commuting needs well and we don't hear it despite being close. Lovely local walks around lakes and canals, mountain bike trails, play park, community centre, family pub, excellent primary school and a Waitrose - We are very happy here. I've walked into Oldtown and Wroughton with a double pram on occasion with ease. Having relocated here and knowing absolutely nobody we have made so many friends and everyone on the whole is very friendly. I particularly like buying country market cakes from the local co-op and chatting to people as if I'd known them all my life. The houses in Wichelstowe are an architectural delight. Our house was the main attraction to us and we are overjoyed with it. Although the development is not fully completed yet I can say it hasn't ever been a concern and with the final parcel now well underway East Wichel will be complete soon!

I like Wichelstowe. The houses are pretty, you're close to open space, and it is walkable to Old Town where the best restaurants and bars are in Swindon. The only downside is the proximity to the M4, but apart from that it's great.

What about Croft school? That's supposed to be very good.

Hi All

I know this tread is old but I was hoping if for those who live in Wichelstowe , you could give me your feedback update, in regards to community, primary schools etc . We are relocating from London to Swindon because hubby has a business there now, we came over to the David Wilson homes to view the 4 beds and we absolutely loved it and also really like the area, nice shops, pub and I see there is a few primary schools within walking distance which is great. Can someone please updated me with your views please ? Is it easy to get a place on the local schools my girls are in nursery and year 4.

Many thanks 🙏🏻

This is great ! So do you mind to share how you getting on, I know your post is a few years back , we are planing to move into one of the David Wilson homes and I’m looking for some feedback. Thank you 🙏🏻