The proposal outlines plans for land on the existing development and will comprise a mixture of one to five bedroom homes, of which 40 per cent will be affordable. In addition to the dedicated children’s play area, the plans include measures that will continue to strengthen the biodiversity of the site, exceeding the statutory requirement of 10 per cent. Traffic calming measures have also been integrated, which will enforce reduced speed limits.

Residents will also benefit from new sports facilities, which will be built and managed by the Parish Council using land provided by This Land. As part of the plans, This Land is supporting the Council with the delivery of the pitches and infrastructure.

The East Cambridgeshire Local Plan, which was adopted in 2015 and amended in 2022, outlines the District Council’s plan to improve the infrastructure of the region and provide new housing to meet the needs of villages such as Burwell. The new phase of the development will support this commitment. In line with the Council’s environmental and sustainability goals, the proposed new homes will be fitted with water-saving devices to reduce water consumption while sustainable construction techniques and renewable energy technologies will be used onsite, where possible.

Commenting on the proposed plans, Rob Williams, Interim CEO, This Land, said: “Creating places that people can be proud to call home is our priority. In response to the success of our past plans, we are looking forward to being able to provide Burwell with more high-quality new homes and spaces where people can enjoy being outdoors in the beautiful setting that the village offers.”

Rob Williams, Interim CEO, said: “Our charity initiatives allow us to make an important contribution to our community and we are proud to support the local Foodbank, which works hard to meet an ever-increasing need in Cambridge. Unfortunately, children are disproportionately supported by food banks across the UK and, as many of our team are parents, it is a cause close to our hearts.

“Our staff have shown a great deal of enthusiasm for supporting their local community already this year and we look forward to continuing to support the Foodbank and our charity partners moving forward.”  

To donate to Cambridge City Foodbank, visit: https://cambridgecity.foodbank.org.uk/donate

The site was identified for residential development in the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan and will deliver 350 much-needed new houses including 61 affordable houses and 18 self-build plots in addition to open and green spaces and play areas.

Using its experience as a land promoter and master developer, This Land secured outline planning consent for the land at Newmarket Road and delivered the supporting infrastructure for the site to enable Vistry East Anglia to acquire the fully serviced land parcel.

Commenting on the groundbreaking event, Tom Kershaw, Senior Land and Development Manager at This Land said: “We are pleased to see construction begin on a site that represents years of careful planning and collaboration to unlock the land’s potential and support the delivery of high-quality development across the region.

“This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when we work in partnership with organisations that share our vision for sustainable, well-connected communities. As the site promoter and masterplanner, we are delighted to have played a key role in bringing this site forward and look forward to seeing the first new homes being built.”

To learn more about the homes, please contact: hello@this-land.co.uk.

Image credit: Vistry East Anglia

Like many other developers, This Land’s operations have been affected by the pandemic and challenging market conditions, including rising interest rates, inflation, and increased construction costs. These challenges were compounded by the original arrangements of the loan provided by the Council, resulting in high initial interest repayments. However, under the approved plan, This Land will return to the Council at least the equivalent of the original cash investment over the loan’s lifetime, through a combination of loan repayments and interest payments, ensuring that Council taxpayers have not lost money.

Since 2016, This Land has paid over £42 million in loan interest to the Council. Under the approved plan, This Land will pay at least an additional £21 million in interest by 2029, alongside £60 million of principal repayments, generating a further £81 million of positive cashflow for the Council by 2030.

Rob Williams joins as Interim CEO, bringing extensive experience to the executive team, having previously held leadership roles in publicly owned businesses, under private equity ownership and in joint venture with local government. Williams brings more than 30 years of experience to This Land, across the civil engineering, construction and real estate development sectors from working with businesses like Taylor Woodrow, St Modwen Properties and Blackstone Real Estate.

In addition, the This Land Board welcomes the appointment of three new Non-Executive Directors:

• Barbara Richardson: Barbara joins as the new Chair of the Board. She is a chartered surveyor, accredited in planning and development. Throughout her career she has worked extensively in bringing forward both private and public sector land, through individual acquisitions or joint venture partnerships for residential development.
• Ian Piper: Ian is the current Chief Executive of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC), where he is leading on the delivery of a new Garden City for the region, comprising up to 15,000 new homes and thousands of new jobs. Prior to joining EDC, Ian was Head of Land at Homes England, where he had responsibility for all the Agency’s central land activities.
• Jason Green: Jason has 30 years of financial markets experience and is Managing Partner of Liverpool Street Capital Advisors, a City-based corporate finance advisory firm. Previous roles include Family Office and Housebuilder CEO, PwC Corporate Finance Partner, Head of Financing Advisory at Investec Investment Bank and Global Structured Finance at Natwest Markets and National Australia Bank.

Speaking on the appointments, Williams said: “It is a pivotal time for the company and I am looking forward to working with Barbara, Ian, Jason and the rest of the Board to advance our strategic priorities. Their appointment represents a significant strengthening of our board’s expertise and strategic capability. Their diverse backgrounds and proven track records will be invaluable as we continue to grow and evolve the business and we will benefit from their sector knowledge and fresh perspectives on the opportunities ahead.

“Our focus remains on creating sustainable, high-quality developments that deliver value for all our stakeholders – from local communities to our partners and shareholders. I look forward to working with the board and the entire This Land team to drive the next phase of our growth and continue making a positive impact.”

This Land remains committed to delivering value for customers, partners and its shareholder and its leadership changes will provide both operational continuity and renewed strategic direction.

This Land remains committed to creating developments that respond to local needs and the delivery of all 61 homes as affordable goes beyond its planning obligations. It reflects its ongoing efforts to provide greater social value and housing affordability, where possible.

To learn more about the homes, please contact: hello@this-land.co.uk

As part of its commitment to creating a high-quality, community-led residential environment, five artists were invited to submit an ‘Expression of Interest’ for the project. A selection of these artists’ work was presented to two community groups at the Nightingale Pavilion and St. James Church, where residents were invited to vote for their preferred artist. They chose the work of David Mackie.

Following the presentation, a shortlist of three artists was created. After a panel interview with representatives from the local community including the parish curate and a neighbour of the site, David Mackie was chosen for the commission. With extensive experience in creating beautiful spaces across the UK, David will now spend time with  members of the wider community to develop the artwork for the site, ensuring it is rooted in the history and heritage of the site.

For more information about the development, please contact hello@this-land.co.uk

The approval of 18 self-build homes will offer families the opportunity to create homes that reflect their aspirations, providing real choice and a stronger sense of belonging. As the master developer, This Land is delivering the surrounding infrastructure and the landscaping as it continues to create a balanced and inclusive community in Burwell.

To learn more about the self-build plots or to express your interest, please contact: hello@this-land.co.uk

2024 marked a year of transformational change for This Land with significant restructuring and improvements in the company’s leadership, governance, risk management and controls. This was led by our Interim Chief Executive, David Meek. 

As this milestone in the company’s development has now been achieved, David will be stepping down as Interim Chief Executive at the end of this financial year – 31st March 2025. David became Interim Chief Executive in November 2023, prior to which he was the Chairperson of This Land. 

Julia Gregory, the Interim Chairperson of This Land, said: “David has been instrumental in leading and transforming the company, which has seen us now with strengthened risk and governance oversight, improved Board effectiveness, quality management information provision and improved stakeholder engagement. We wish David, the very best for the future and thank him for his passion and energy to deliver these changes in a short period of time, which see us ready for the future.”

This Land Board has commenced the process to recruit a new CEO for This Land, to ensure a smooth transition between David and the new CEO, who will lead us into the next phase of the company. 

Annual report and financial position

In December 2024, the board of directors of This Land (Board) approved the company’s annual report and accounts for the period ended 31 March 2024. The annual report and accounts were prepared on a going concern basis and, as part of that approval process, the Board considered This Land’s financial position and viability. The Board concluded This Land would be in a position to continue in business for the foreseeable future from the date on which the report and externally audited accounts were approved.

Julia Gregory, the Interim Chairperson of This Land, said: “to date, This Land has built (or facilitated the building of through planning) 967 new homes, including c.300 affordable homes. During the period since This Land’s inception, Cambridgeshire County Council has received £43 million unrestricted interest income and £78 million capital receipts. The directors are confident the company can continue to deliver benefits for its shareholder and local residents, in line with its shareholder’s aspirations.”

However, the current state of mortgage rates and housing affordability—while fluctuating—still allows room for people to enter the market, even if it’s later in life. Overall, while mortgage rates are highly unlikely to reach the pre-COVID19 levels, the market has innovative products designed to help buyers consider their options. It remains a difficult environment for young buyers and part of the broader landscape of affordability issues that need to be addressed over time to ensure that the UK housing industry is in a position to deliver on the government’s ambitious targets for housing.

-David Meek, CEO