Housebuilder The Hill Group has acquired 71 acres of consented land for a significant new settlement in Little Chalfont, Bucks.

The deal involves the acquisition of two landowner companies, Biddulph (Buckinghamshire) and Homestead which were represented by CBRE. The sites are a former golf course and a neighbouring property which will be redeveloped for Little Chalfont Park.

The site has outline permission for up to 380 low carbon properties, a single-form entry primary school, a 100-home retirement village, a 60-unit care home, sports and play facilities, a community centre, a health surgery and a local convenience store, all set within significant green open space. There will also be 15 custom-built plots and the 380 homes includes 152 affordable units.

Sustainability features at the gas-free scheme include air-source heat pumps, solar panels on roofs, and EV charging points for all properties. In addition, all homes will be allowed no more than 100 litres per person per day.

Tree planting, the preservation of nearby ancient woodlands, and the creation of 10 hectares of suitable alternative natural green space (SANG), with pedestrian and cycle paths. There will also be parks, allotments, a multi-use games area (MUGA) together with several play areas throughout the development.

Andy Hill, group chief executive of The Hill Group, said: “At Hill, we’re committed to building not just homes, but thriving communities where people of all ages love to live. The acquisition of this stunning site in Little Chalfont represents a unique opportunity to do just that, creating a vibrant, multi-generational village extension with a comprehensive range of essential community services and amenities woven into the fabric of the local area.

“Little Chalfont already boasts a strong sense of community, and we’re committed to working closely with residents and other local stakeholders to ensure our development complements and enriches the existing landscape. We’re excited to embark on this journey with the Little Chalfont community, and we look forward to bringing this new development vision to life.”

Jasper Masters, executive director of CBRE, said: “Little Chalfont Park is regarded by many in the industry as the best housing development site to transact in the UK in 2023. It’s an exemplar deal which will act as a bellwether of the residential land market, as well as being a testament to the foresight of our landowner clients over many years.”

“After acting for our clients through the successful Planning Appeal, CBRE marketed the site during the summer months to a UK and overseas audience and had substantial interest from housebuilders, developers, funds, and global capital. This transaction is evidence that even in a more challenging market, there remains a flight to quality for top sites.”

Hill plans to create a new pedestrian and cycleway onto nearby Oakington Avenue and there will be a five-minute walking route to Chalfont and Latimer Railway Station.

Hill will submit a series of reserved matters planning applications by Autumn 2024 and plans to start on site in the Spring of 2025. Final completions are expected by Spring/Summer 2031.

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