Hill acquires Little Chalfont development

Housebuilder The Hill Group has acquired 71 acres of land with outline planning for a significant new settlement in Little Chalfont, south-east Buckinghamshire. 

The masterplan for the development includes up to 380 new low-carbon private sale and affordable homes, a single-form entry primary school, a retirement village, a care home, sports and play facilities, a community centre, a health surgery and a local convenience store - all set within significant green open space. 

The acquisition of the former golf club site and neighbouring property was facilitated by the acquisition of two local landowner companies, Biddulph (Buckinghamshire) Ltd. and Homestead (REL) Ltd. The sale was undertaken by CBRE. 

Plans for the development include 152 affordable homes (40%), with 80 for affordable rent, 34 for shared ownership and 38 one-bedroom first homes discounted to 70% of their market value. 

The plans also include allocation for a retirement village of up to 100 homes, a care home for 60 residents and 15 custom-built plots.

Sustainability will be a central focus of the gas-free development, with dwellings designed to reduce operational carbon emissions through energy-efficient and renewable technologies including air-source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels on roofs, and electric vehicle charging points for all properties. 

In addition, all homes will meet a water efficiency standard of no more than 100 litres per person per day.

Hill will actively boost the site’s biodiversity through a programme of new tree planting, the preservation of Stoney Deane and other ancient woodlands, and the creation of 10 hectares of suitable alternative natural green space (SANG), including pedestrian and cycle paths, to promote healthy living. 

This will be further promoted via the inclusion of parks, allotments, a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) together with several play areas throughout the development.

Hill will submit a series of reserved matters planning applications for the development by autumn 2024, starting on site in the spring of 2025. 

The build phase is planned to last six years, with the final completions expected by spring/summer 2031.

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."