Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP), a partnership between Cambridge City Council and Hill Investment Partnerships, part of The Hill Group, is delivering 150 homes while This Land is delivering the remaining 80.

From the outset, sustainability was central to the design of the development, which includes green roofs, electric vehicle charging points for all homes with parking, cycle storage and air source heat pumps. This Land was one of the first developers in the region to introduce air source heat pumps (ASHPs) as a standard across all of its developments, including Eddeva Park.

In the original design, photovoltaic (PV) panels were central to the low-carbon energy strategy. Following changes to building regulations in 2023, and an increase in the renewable mix within the national grid, This Land evolved the energy strategy for the scheme to reduce energy demand through improved fabric performance. The revised scheme significantly improved on the original, with thermal elements performing 30 to 50 per cent above the minimum requirements and reducing rates of air permeability approximately 40 per cent. The Eddeva Park Housing design specification exceeds Building Regulations Part L 2022, improving the U value of external walls, floors and roofs by approximately 33 per cent and air-tightness by up to 50 per cent, delivering significantly lower heat loss and energy demand, with a corresponding reduction in each property’s operating carbon footprint.

The scheme, developed by This Land, has provided a blueprint for sustainable living in the heart of Cambridge.

To work with This Land, get in touch.

As master developer, This Land successfully delivered essential infrastructure to enable serviced parcels including new site access, a spine road, emergency access, drainage and all utilities . This Land has also reserved land and provided support to the parish council to assist with the creation of a new sports hub for the village, a facility that directly responds to the need for new infrastructure in the local area. 

This Land undertook a phased disposal strategy of the serviced land parcels. Vistry Group will deliver 271 residential units, and Minster Housing Group will deliver 61 affordable units for the community. An additional 60 homes were approved at planning committee in August 2026, taking the whole site to 410 new dwellings (including 18 self-build parcels) to provide the district with much-needed housing and optimise land that was allocated for residential development.

To facilitate the delivery of affordable housing on the site, This Land paused its phase 3 planning application process for the site, reengaged its planning consultants and revised the submission on behalf of the affordable housing provider to avoid it having to pursue a section 73 agreement or non-material amendment (NMA). The site now delivers above policy-compliant affordable housing.

To work with This Land, get in touch.

In line with the Council’s environmental and sustainability goals, the 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, wherever possible. Air-source heat pumps will provide a 54 per cent reduction in regulated carbon emissions from the proposed development. As part of its commitment to enhancing infrastructure for the local community, This Land is supporting the Council with the delivery of sports pitches to benefit current and future residents.

Commenting on the approved plans, Rob Williams, Interim CEO, This Land, said: “We’re delighted that the Council has approved our plans to provide a further 60 new homes in Burwell. It’s a natural next step, building on the strong foundations of our existing Millstone Park community, with the development delivering much-needed housing, including 40 per cent affordable homes, in a sustainable location. The site already benefits from excellent local amenities, infrastructure and community facilities, making it a great fit for new homes and a real boost in helping meet local housing needs.”

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