Abbey Farm residents in Swindon face estimated £170,000 bill for estate works

Residents of the Abbey Farm development in Swindon were facing an estimated £170,000 bill for work on their estate, Swindon24 reported on 25 March 2026. The estate has around 350 properties.

Residents said they believed the work should have been finished by the developers before the estate was handed over. The sum came on top of annual management charges of about £2,000 per household, according to the report.

The development was built by Redrow and Vistry. The report said Gateway was understood to manage the estate.

What was the money for?

The £170,000 reportedly related to landscaping, design quality, and drainage and flood-related infrastructure. Documents seen by Swindon24 referred to incomplete planting and areas needing remedial work. Whether the landscaping issues were linked to drainage was disputed.

Residents had raised concerns at a public meeting the month before. Councillor Jake Chandler, who represents St Andrews ward, said: "The consensus from residents is clear." He said residents "want transparency, accountability and value for money."

What did residents ask for?

• A detailed breakdown of current and projected costs
• Copies of contracts for services such as landscaping and maintenance, and whether they were competitively tendered
• Clarity on who controlled the estate and when responsibility would pass to a Residents' Management Company
• A published timetable for handing control to homeowners

Residents had written to the management company and Swindon Borough Council and were awaiting replies. It was unclear how or when the sum would be formally allocated.

Source: Swindon24.