Hill Group and L&Q Estates have announced their maiden joint venture to promote Westley Green, a new garden city community, to the east of Cambridge. The extensive site spans 550 hectares and is located beyond the green belt to the east of Cambridge.

The Hill Group and L&Q Estates were both selected to promote this scheme by the land-owner due to their focus and expertise in development and place-making. If successful, the two promoters will subsequently deliver strategic infrastructure, employment uses, and multiple phases of residential development.

The residential aspect of the new community has the potential to deliver up to 8,500 homes. There is a collective focus among involved parties on imaginative architectural design with an emphasis on affordability and low carbon emissions.

Building on the region’s green credentials, this new community could also provide a comprehensive green infrastructure network, with net biodiversity gains that use zero-carbon and energy-positive technology alongside potential on-site energy generation. The supporting community facilities would also seek to include schools, sporting facilities, playgrounds, shops and supermarkets, and a wealth of public parkland and green open spaces.

All involved parties also intend to include significant on-site employment facilities, as well as flexible co-working spaces. This aims to focus on Cambridge’s already established science, technology and agri-tech industries. The partnership is also exploring the possibility of connecting the community to the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM) system as well as autonomous vehicle travel between the neighbourhoods in order to reduce car use.

Andy Hill, CEO of the Hill Group, commented: “Westley Green is one of the largest strategic land opportunities to come to market in recent times and we are delighted to have been entrusted to progress it by the landowner. It has the opportunity to become a blueprint for sustainable living, providing low carbon, high quality housing and state-of-the-art infrastructure, whilst generating a wealth of vital employment and investment opportunities. We are very much looking forward to working with L&Q Estates, the Cambridge local authorities and surrounding communities to shape Westley Green into a positive legacy for the region.”

Ian Hardwick, managing director at L&Q Estates, said: “We have vast experience in steering projects of this nature through from conception to completion. Westley Green is unique by virtue of it being in one single ownership, which will serve to simplify delivery and enable us to create a truly exceptional new settlement. Key to our success is our willing and pro-active attitude to engaging with the communities in which we operate, and this will be no different. This is our first joint venture with Hill and Westley Green has the potential to be an exceptional development for residents and businesses.”

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