Award winning developer, The Hill Group, has acquired nine acres of land on the south eastern edge of the village of Great Chesterford in Essex. The greenfield site, located on the London Road, will form a new gateway to the village and include a selection of new homes for private sale.
The outline planning consists of 76 homes, as well as public open space, and Hill will also plant around 1.5 acres of new trees to help offset the environmental impact of the scheme. The development will comprise a diverse mixture of 46 private homes, including bungalows and two, three, four and five bedroom family houses. The scheme will also incorporate 30 affordable homes ranging from one to four bedrooms.
The acquisition was brokered during lockdown by the Cheffins Rural & Development team, acting on behalf of the landowners, with unconditional exchange and completion taking just eight weeks. Cheffins also managed the terms for the outline planning Promotion Agreement with AXIS Land, who obtained the contract fot this development.
Andy Hill, Chief Executive, Hill Group, said: “Over the last 20 years we have been very active in this area, creating stunning homes in many of the neighbouring villages and towns – with our Ickleton office also just a few miles down the road. We are a family owned and operated business which prides itself on designing schemes which become part of and enhance the local architectural style and setting. The design and layout of this development will sensitively reflect its prime location, as the south eastern gateway to a thriving and picturesque village, and we look forward to working with Uttlesford District Council and the local community in bringing it to fruition.”
Simon Gooderham, Joint Managing Partner at Cheffins comments: “By advising the landowners on a Promotion Agreement with AXIS Land, we managed to reduce cost and risk on a substantial scale, whilst ensuring the value of the land reached its full potential. There is currently a deficit in the delivery of new homes locally and hopefully this site will help to provide the houses so desperately needed in the area. Hill will be including 30 affordable homes within the scheme and the public open space will ensure an appropriate development at the entrance to this highly popular village. For landowners, it is essential to obtain professional advice to ensure that any sites generate their full value potential ahead of any agreements being signed.”