Persimmon Homes Wessex Hands Over 84 Affordable Homes at Wellington Gate to Pinnacle Spaces, CBRE Investment Management
Persimmon Homes Wessex has completed the handover of 84 affordable homes at its Wellington Gate development in Grove, near Wantage, Oxfordshire, marking the latest milestone in a multi-phase regeneration of the former Grove Airfield. CBRE Investment Management funded the homes through its UK Affordable Housing Fund, and Pinnacle Spaces will manage the properties on the fund's behalf.
The handover ceremony, held on-site on Sept. 16, 2026, was attended by representatives from Persimmon Homes Wessex, CBRE Investment Management, Pinnacle Spaces, and local parish, district, and county councillor Ron Batstone.
Phase Seven and Phase Eight Transfers
The 84 homes span two tranches: 35 properties in Phase Seven and 49 from the eighth parcel at the Wellington Gate site. As of the handover date, 16 homes from Phase Seven and six from Phase Eight had already been transferred, with the remainder to follow under the existing agreement between the parties.
The current handover represents the fourth acquisition by CBRE Investment Management and Pinnacle Spaces on the Grove Airfield site, bringing the total number of affordable homes committed there through the CBRE UK Affordable Housing Fund to 158.
The Wellington Gate development sits at Liberator Lane, Grove, Wantage, Oxfordshire OX12 0FW, on land that once formed the former Grove Airfield. Persimmon holds outline permission for up to 1,500 homes at the site and is seeking consent for up to 624 additional homes on adjacent land to the northwest of Grove, with 35% of those proposed homes designated as affordable housing.
A Programmatic Affordable Housing Partnership
The Wellington Gate handover is part of a broader programmatic forward-funding and acquisition structure between CBRE Investment Management and Pinnacle Spaces. The two organizations have committed to adding approximately 250 new affordable homes to Pinnacle's portfolio across multiple Persimmon sites, including locations in Burgess Hill in Mid Sussex, Weston in Spalding, Wantage in Oxfordshire, and Exning near Newmarket.
Ann Xu, Portfolio Manager for the CBRE UK Affordable Housing Fund, said the homes would benefit families currently on waiting lists in Grove. "These homes will make a real difference to families on the waiting list in Grove," Xu said. "Through the CBRE UK Affordable Housing Fund, we are committed to delivering high-quality affordable homes in communities where they are most needed — and this development at Wellington Gate is a good example of what that looks like in practice."
Oliver Miller, Divisional Director for Operations at Pinnacle Group, said the organization was focused on service quality for incoming residents. "We're looking forward to expanding our role at Grove," Miller said. "Our focus will be on delivering high standards of service, well-maintained homes, and responsive support that helps residents in this community to thrive."
Infrastructure and Community Delivery
Beyond the residential units, Persimmon Homes Wessex has already delivered a primary school and sports pitches as part of the Wellington Gate development. A secondary school connected to the scheme was due to open the following month, according to the announcement.
John Gantlett, Land and Planning Director of Persimmon Homes Wessex, said the handover reflected the company's broader obligations at the site. "Persimmon is always delighted to mark our handover of housing association properties on our sites as it demonstrates how we are fulfilling on our obligation and objectives to leave a positive and lasting legacy wherever we build," Gantlett said. "Wellington Gate is a major development that delivers a significant proportion of the area's housing requirements, and we are very happy to be working with CBRE IM and Pinnacle as part of our ambitious partnership."
Cllr Ron Batstone, who serves simultaneously as Oxfordshire County Councillor, Vale of White Horse District Councillor, and Grove Parish Councillor, welcomed the transfer. "I am very pleased to know that these new, high-quality properties will soon be home to local people in Grove and the wider area, providing housing security to families and individuals who might otherwise be in a precarious situation," Batstone said. "Developments like these are crucial means of delivering affordable homes."
Wellington Gate Outlook
The broader Grove Airfield masterplan carries outline permission for up to 2,500 homes in total, including around 800 affordable units, alongside obligations for schools, roads, and community facilities. Persimmon's current Wellington Gate scheme accounts for up to 1,500 of those homes, with the proposed expansion targeting an additional 624 units on adjacent land.
Market-rate homes at Wellington Gate are currently available ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, with prices starting from £189,995.
Earlier phases at Wellington Gate have involved additional housing association partners. Green Square Accord participated in a prior phase, delivering nine homes under low-cost homeownership arrangements as part of a broader tranche that included affordable rent and shared ownership units.
Sources
Persimmon Homes — Wantage welcomes new Affordable Homes for local people