Homes England is bringing forward plans for the former Pirbright Institute for Animal Health in Compton.
A hybrid planning permission for up to 160 new homes, employment space and green areas including the former cricket pitch, and a wildlife area on the northern end of the site exists currently. Works have already taken place to demolish the buildings that were
previously located on the site and extensive remediation has been carried out.
The current hybrid planning permission will lapse in March 2026, so we are planning to submit a new outline planning application to preserve a permission on the site for
an additional three years.
We propose the same number of dwellings, and are looking at improvements to the proposed wildlife area, and the drainage on site.
You will find more details below about the site and recent engagement events that were held on the project below.
BACKGROUND
Homes England acquired the site in November 2016, and has since been seeking to create an attractive, sustainable neighbourhood which integrates well with the local landscape and the existing village of Compton.
The site already has a hybrid planning permission for up to 160 homes, employment space, green areas including the former cricket pitch, and a wildlife area on the northern end. You can view the Design and Access Statement for the extant planning permission by clicking here.
The project team are working on updated proposals that will keep the numbers as they are, whilst improving drainage and updating the plans in line with current policy and legislation.
THE SITE
The former Pirbright Institute site, which covers an area of 15.8 hectares (ha), is located on the outskirts of the village of Compton. It lies just to the north of the High Street in Compton, and was formerly used as a research facility for viruses in farm animals by the previous occupier, the Pirbright Institute.
It is set within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape area and therefore any development needs to be sensitive to that. Due to its past use, the land was heavily contaminated, but Homes England has now completed an extensive demolition and cleanup programme to prepare it for redevelopment.
The image below shows how the site looks now that demolition and cleanup work has been undertaken. This view is taken from the northern end of the site, looking south towards the village of Compton.
SUMMARY
The updated masterplan will consist of the same number of home and employment land. Further updates will be made to respond to current legislation but at it's heart we are proposing:
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Up to 160 new homes
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Provision of at least 1.75 ha of employment land
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Retention of the former cricket pitch and community buildings
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A wildlife habitat area, that we have hosted workshops on in April and May 2025
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Enhanced and integrated drainage and landscape designs
The project team are continuing to work on proposals and have consulted the community on them ahead of the submission of a new outline planning application in Summer 2025.
ENGAGEMENT EVENTS
Homes England has been engaging with the local community ahead of submitting a planning application. As a part of this, we have organised the following activity:
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Two co-design workshops on 30th April and 6th May to discuss the proposals for the wildlife area at the northern end of the site.
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A public drop-in session was organised on 17th June to present information about the project, collect feedback and answer any questions that you had.
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A co-design workshop with the Eco Club at The Downs School in Compton on 17th June.
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A co-design workshop with the Compton Guides group on 23rd June.
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A webinar on the proposals was held on 24th June.
All sessions were well attended and provided valuable feedback—thank you to all who participated. The feedback we have received has been shared with the entire project team who are working on the new hybrid application.
Information boards presented at the public drop-in can be viewed here:
We hosted a webinar on 24th June 2025 between 6.30pm to 7.30pm. You can view a recording by clicking below.
CONTACT US
Please sign up to our mailing list for regular updates on the proposals and future engagement activities including details on the forthcoming public consultation events.
For more information and to give your feedback, please see project team contact details below:
Email: ComptonHE@engagecf.co.uk
Phone: 07542 016586
Write to: Compton-HE Project Team, C/O ECF, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND