HCR Law advises The Hill Group on 10,000+ Cambridge homes site

Award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group and Homes England, with its National Housing Bank, have completed the acquisition of Cambridge East, which will deliver one of the UK’s largest urban extension projects.

The Hill Group was advised by HCR Law’s specialist Residential Development and Strategic Land team, led by Partners James Simpson, Head of Development and Strategic Land in Cambridge, and Claire Howard-Amos, Head of Real Estate in our Central England office. James and Claire were supported by members of HCR Law’s wider Real Estate team, reflecting the firm’s depth of expertise in large-scale residential development and strategic land transactions.

The land was acquired from Marshall Group.

The Cambridge Growth Company, a subsidiary of Homes England, will work with Hill to deliver the project, which is expected to deliver more than 10,000 homes and at least three million sq ft of commercial space, supporting around 9,000 jobs. Hill and the Cambridge Growth Company will consider options for a regional training hub to develop local skills and promote long-term careers in construction and related industries. Plans also include supporting infrastructure, community facilities such as schools and healthcare provision, and extensive public green space.

The acquisition includes Cambridge City Airport and adjacent land, extending to approximately 700 acres. Marshall will relocate its operations by mid-2029 to enable the development.

James said: “This is a transformational project for Cambridge, and we were delighted to play our part in the transaction through the provision of expert legal support to The Hill Group.

“Drawing on the strength of our dedicated Residential Development and Strategic Land team, together with the wider resources of our Real Estate practice, we provided The Hill Group with the specialist, comprehensive advice that a project of this scale demands.

“This will be a new urban quarter for the city and will help to drive the sustainable economic growth that Cambridge needs.”

Andy Hill, OBE, founder and Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said: “We are immensely proud to be collaborating with Homes England as the master developer of Cambridge East – one of the UK’s largest urban extensions. Cambridge is my home city, and this project reflects both my personal interest and Hill’s long-term commitment to the region.”