Two firms of developers will build the first houses to go up as part of Swindon’s eastern expansion.

Vistry Group and Bellway Homes have agreed to buy the 48-acre Redlands farm site which has planning permission for 370 houses from land promoter Barberry Group.

It is one of the New Eastern Villages sites, which will see up to 8,000 houses built just to the east of the A419.

Martyn Cartwright, group director at Barberry, said: “We are delighted to have brought forward the initial phase of development within the New Eastern Villages urban extension which will bring a much-needed boost to the shortfall in Swindon’s housing supply, delivering a range of affordable and market housing.”

Vistry Group will be building 148 new private homes and 37 affordable homes at the location.

A spokesman said: “We’re delighted to be contributing to this new part of the community in Wanborough.

Our homes will be made up of two, three and four-bedroom properties, with plenty of open space for home buyers.”

Bellway Homes has not responded to a request for comment.

Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for strategic planning, Gary Sumner is responsible for driving forward the expansion scheme.

He said: “I welcome the news of the completion of the sale of Redlands Airfield to the joint venture partners.

"Redlands was one of the first of the New Eastern Villages sites to be approved and I was the planning committee member at the time who proposed approval of the outline planning application.

“We have worked proactively with the site promoters and look forward to detailed plans for the new village which will deliver high quality housing and associated community facilities.

“We also look forward to the associated improvements to the Wanborough Road which will include narrowing of the road, traffic calming and construction of a pavement for the first time between Wanborough and Covingham.

“I am keen to see this site come forward and excited that we have applications on Foxbridge village, Lotmead and Great Stall East at present as well as the approved Rowborough village.

“Over £90m of Highways improvements accompany these developments and those improvements are funded almost in their entirety by Government grants to deliver this much needed housing growth.”

Construction is expected to start on site later this year following the sale for an undisclosed sum, although Bellway announced all its construction work would stop for the coronavirus lockdown.

The development will also deliver a two-form entry primary school, local shop, and a contribution of £5.23 million from the builders towards secondary schooling, health care, community and sports facilities in the new villages. There will be an additional contribution of £3.44 million towards local highways improvements.