Landowners advised by Carter Jonas have completed a development agreement with St Modwen to take forward the delivery of a 227 acre strategic development site at Crab Hill in Wantage, South Oxfordshire. 

In 2012 Carter Jonas negotiated a promotion agreement with Lands Improvement Holdings and then, acting as lead planning consultant, obtained outline planning permission in July 2015 for a scheme of up to 1,500 homes, a new primary school, a neighbourhood centre including pub/restaurant and local retail accommodation, sports pitches, employment space and community amenities set around a central park.  Carter Jonas subsequently offered the site for sale on the open market before identifying St Modwen as a development partner for the landowners and negotiating the development agreement.

St. Modwen will now implement the infrastructure works associated with this extensive project and deliver up to half of the 1,500 new homes through its housebuilding arm, St. Modwen Homes. The rest of the development plots will be sold on the open market to other housebuilders. 

Carter Jonas, on behalf of St. Modwen Homes has now submitted a detailed planning application for the first phase of housing comprising 150 homes which will sit in an attractive setting, adjacent to the Charlton Village cricket grounds.

Crab Hill is one of the South-East’s most significant strategic housing projects. Due to the location, scale and the inherent qualities of the site it represents a great opportunity to develop a high quality, mixed-use scheme. This is an extensive project that will take around 10 to 15 years to complete and necessitates a phased approach to delivery. 

James Bainbridge, head of Planning & Development at Carter Jonas, commented: “This is the next chapter in a journey for the landowners that started many years ago.  Having guided them to the milestone of achieving planning permission for the scheme and procuring a development partner, we will continue to enjoy guiding them as the development project is delivered over the longer term.”

Carter Jonas and Kemp & Kemp, now part of the Carter Jonas Group acted as joint advisers and agents for the landowners throughout.