Shakespeare Martineau has advised on the recently announced maiden joint venture between client L&Q Estates and The Hill Group, to promote a new community founded on the ‘Garden City’ principles, Westley Green, comprising over 550 hectares (over 1,350 acres) of strategic land beyond the green belt, to the east of Cambridge.
The two leading development and place-making specialists were carefully selected by the landowner to promote this landmark scheme to the emerging Greater Cambridge and East Cambridgeshire Local Plans. If successful, the collaboration will then deliver strategic infrastructure, employment uses and multiple phases of new homes both themselves and through the wider market.
Located close to the hamlet of Six Mile Bottom, between Cambridge and Newmarket, the proposed sustainable new community will seek to build upon the Garden City principles, with an overarching focus on wellbeing, quality of life and placing nature at the heart of design.
Barry Fisher who led the team at Shakespeare Martineau commented, “We are delighted to have worked with L&Q Estates on this joint venture which will undoubtedly be a transformational scheme for the region. Our team played a vital role in structuring the venture and we’re very excited to see the project come to life over the coming months."
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.”
With the potential to deliver up to 8,500 homes, there is a collective ambition to prioritise imaginative and beautiful architectural design, with an emphasis on creating genuinely affordable and low carbon housing. The supporting community facilities would seek to include schools, sporting facilities, playgrounds, shops and supermarkets and a wealth of public parkland and green open spaces.
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.
Joanna Deffley, Partner and Regional Head West Midlands was delighted that the Solihull office has advised L&Q Estates on its recent garden city joint venture.
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For further information please contact Joanna Deffley or another member of the residential development team.
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