Homes England, with its National Housing Bank, and The Hill Group have completed the acquisition of Cambridge East, a strategic site that will support the delivery of more than 10,000 new homes, thousands of jobs and a new community.

The site, purchased from Marshall Group and extending to approximately 700 acres, includes Cambridge City Airport and surrounding land. Marshall will relocate its operations by mid-2029. 

The Cambridge Growth Company, a subsidiary of Homes England, will work in collaboration with Hill to deliver the site. Together they will draw on their experience of unlocking complex sites and delivering large-scale regeneration, with a focus on accelerating housing delivery and supporting long-term economic growth. Hill will act as delivery partner, bringing experience of delivering large mixed-use communities at pace.

Cambridge East is allocated for development within the local plan and represents a major opportunity to support sustainable growth in Cambridge. The site 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 development is expected to benefit from the proposed Cambridge East station.

Subject to planning consent and the provision of funding, the station could improve connectivity to central Cambridge and London, as well as extending onwards to Bedford and Oxford – strengthening links within the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.

Andy Hill, 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. 

“Cambridge East is a unique opportunity to create a thriving, sustainable new neighbourhood. We will make sure the masterplan for this site is informed by local residents and delivers what the community wants – much-needed infrastructure improvements, amenities, new homes and employment creation, while setting a new benchmark for placemaking.”