PLANS for a new housing development in Highnam are moving forward after Gloucestershire’s largest housing association, Bromford, purchased an 11-acre site on the outskirts of Gloucester.

The development, which is aimed at addressing the area’s pressing need for affordable housing, will feature a total of 95 homes.

The housing association plans to provide 47 homes for affordable rent and 48 homes available through its shared ownership scheme, helping to meet the growing demand for more accessible housing options in the county.

The site has already received outline planning permission, granted by the Planning Inspectorate in December 2023. Bromford now plans to submit detailed proposals to Tewkesbury Borough Council in early 2025.

These proposals will include designs for a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes, as well as green spaces and a play area to benefit the local community.

Adam Frontczak, Bromford’s head of land, emphasised the significance of the project, stating that it will help “benefit local families and foster a thriving community.”

He added that the development would make an important contribution to solving the housing crisis in Gloucestershire.

Housing demand remains a critical issue across Gloucestershire, with thousands of households on waiting lists.

The Highnam development is part of the housing association’s wider push to increase housing stock, as it currently manages over 12,000 properties in the county.

Construction on the Highnam site is expected to start in 2026, adding to the housing association’s growing portfolio of projects. It is already building new homes in Cheltenham, Stroud, and Winchcombe and has secured land for nearly 400 homes in Matson and Cheltenham.

Bromford’s ongoing expansion comes as it prepares for a potential merger with Norwich-based Flagship. If finalised, the merger would create an organisation managing 84,000 homes across the West of England and East Anglia.