Thursday, January 15, 2026
Vistry Group confirmed the purchase of a new land lot at Kingsgrove in Wantage, Oxfordshire, which would result in the construction of 129 new homes, as part of a deliberate effort to improve the provision of affordable housing in the area. The project is a significant step forward for Vistry’s partner-led delivery strategy and demonstrates the company’s dedication to collaborating closely with registered providers to meet housing needs throughout the United Kingdom.
Under the agreed structure, Vistry has partnered with housing provider Abri to forward sell the homes, with the entire scheme being delivered as 100% affordable housing. Abri will fund the development through a combination of its own investment and grant support secured via its Strategic Partnership with Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency. This approach enables long-term affordability while ensuring delivery certainty and quality.
The Kingsgrove scheme builds on an established and successful relationship between Vistry and Abri. The two organisations have already worked together to deliver several hundred homes across the South of England, creating a track record of collaboration focused on high-quality, sustainable, and community-led residential development. This latest project further strengthens that partnership and aligns with both organisations’ strategic priorities.
Planning progress is already well advanced. The site received Reserved Matters consent in December 2025, clearing the way for construction to begin. Works are expected to start in spring, allowing homes to be delivered at pace to meet ongoing demand for affordable housing in Wantage and the wider Oxfordshire area.
A key feature of the development is the use of modern methods of construction (MMC). All 129 homes will be built using timber frame systems manufactured by Vistry Works, the Group’s in-house manufacturing arm. By using offsite manufacturing techniques, Vistry aims to accelerate build times, improve quality consistency, and reduce environmental impact. Timber-frame construction also supports lower embodied carbon compared with traditional building methods, aligning with wider sustainability goals across the housing sector.
Supriya Ray, Regional Managing Director of Vistry Cotswolds, said, “The Kingsgrove development demonstrates the strength of the Group’s partnership approach.” She highlighted, “Delivering the scheme as a fully affordable development will make a meaningful contribution to local housing needs, while the use of Vistry Works showcases how the Group integrates manufacturing and development expertise to deliver homes efficiently and sustainably.”
Ross Heriot, Senior Land Manager at Abri, noted, “The partnership with Vistry continues to deliver tangible results for communities.” He described the Kingsgrove phase as a strong example of what can be achieved through collaboration with trusted development partners. He also pointed to Abri’s upcoming corporate strategy for 2026–2031, describing the project as an important step in building momentum ahead of a wider programme of affordable and sustainable housing delivery.
As pressure on affordable housing supply continues across the UK, developments such as Kingsgrove highlight how mixed-tenure specialists, housing associations, and public funding bodies can work together to deliver high-quality homes at scale. With construction set to begin shortly, the Wantage scheme is expected to play a vital role in meeting local housing demand while supporting long-term community growth.
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Tags: Abri Housing Association, affordable housing Wantage, Homes England Funding, Modern Methods of Construction, timber frame housing, UK affordable homes
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