A landmark acquisition by award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group and Homes England with its National Housing Bank, has been announced.
The acquisition will deliver one of the UK’s largest urban extension projects.
Cambridge East is a strategic acquisition that will support the delivery of more than 10,000 new homes, thousands of jobs and a thriving new community.
The land has been acquired from Marshall Group, who were advised by Savills, marking a pivotal transition after more than a century of stewardship.
Set to become an extraordinary new urban quarter for the city, this transformative development will drive long-term economic growth while creating a sustainable, vibrant new community for the region.
The site is expected to deliver more than 10,000 homes and at least 3 million sq. ft. of commercial space, supporting around 9,000 jobs. A dedicated regional training hub will be established 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.
The new urban extension will be supported by the proposed Cambridge East station, improving connectivity to central Cambridge, London and extending onwards to Bedford and Oxford, establishing a vital link within the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.
After careful, deliberate and long-term consideration, Marshall Group, a long-standing custodian of the land – advised throughout by Savills – selected Hill and Homes England as those best placed to bring forward the next chapter of Cambridge East. Delivery is a core focus of the new collaboration, building on the successful community engagement already undertaken by Marshall.
The Cambridge Growth Company, a subsidiary of Homes England, will work in collaboration with Homes England and Hill to deliver the project. 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.
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. 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.”
Roger Hardy, Chairman of Marshall Group, said: “We are delighted to have secured a bright future for Cambridge East through its sale to Homes England and The Hill Group, two organisations with outstanding track records of delivering high-quality, award-winning developments in Cambridge and across the UK.
“Marshall is a family-owned business with roots in Cambridge dating back to 1909, and we care deeply about the city and its future. Following careful, long-term consideration, supported by Savills, we have passed the mantle for this development to partners best placed to ensure the site thrives.”
Richard Rees, UK Managing Director, Savills, said: "As a company with deep connections to Cambridge, Marshall Group cared deeply about unlocking the potential and bringing forward the next stage of Cambridge East and we were delighted to have worked closely with them with through this process. This public and private sector collaboration demonstrates what can be done, even in a challenging market. It’s a clear sign that activity continues despite wider economic headwinds, and it is possible to structure deals that unlock new homes, essential infrastructure and make a positive contribution to the UK economy as a whole."
