Homes England, working through its National Housing Bank and award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group have completed the acquisition of Cambridge East as it is strategically transforming a 700-acre of Cambridge City Airport into one of the biggest housing projects. 

The land has been acquired from Marshall Group, marking a pivotal transition after more than a century of stewardship, with Marshall committing to relocate its operations by mid-2029 to enable development to begin. The project is more than just a housing development project, the key focus is to integrate inclusivity, social value and sustainability, as a reflection of The Hill Group’s goals. 

Plans include consideration of a regional training hub to develop local skills and promote long-term careers in construction and related industries, underlining the project's commitment to delivering lasting benefits for the wider community well beyond the completion of the homes themselves. 

Cambridge East was identified as a key allocated site in the local planning framework five years ago. A comprehensive programme of public consultation will be undertaken as part of the planning process, with a masterplan submission anticipated in due course and a projected start on-site for an initial phase of up to 500 homes from 2029. 

The acquisition is expected to deliver more than 10,000 new homes, at least 3 million square feet of commercial space and around 9,000 jobs. Plans also include supporting infrastructure, community facilities such as schools and healthcare provision and extensive public green space, setting out an ambitious vision for a thriving and sustainable new neighbourhood on the eastern edge of the city. 

The Cambridge Growth Company, a subsidiary of Homes England, will work in close collaboration with The Hill Group to bring this innovative project forward. Together, the partners 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 across the region. 

Housing Secretary, Steve Reed welcomed the announcement, describing Cambridge East as precisely the kind of new community the country needs. "Cambridge East will become exactly the type of new community this country is crying out for, thousands of new homes to help people get a foot on the housing ladder, backed up with good jobs, modern transport links and beautiful green spaces," he said. "It is a great example of how this government is committed to ending the cycle of homes coming first and services catching up years later." 

Marshall Group, advised throughout by Savills, selected The Hill Group and Homes England following careful and long-term consideration, citing their outstanding track records of delivering high-quality, award-winning developments. Roger Hardy, Chair 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." 

For Hill, the project represents a significant expansion of its role to that of master developer, building on a 26-year track record across the south of England and, in particular, within Cambridge, where the company has delivered a considerable proportion of the city's new homes, including a significant share of affordable housing over the past 6 years. 

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. 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." 

Cambridge East represents a landmark opportunity to address housing demand whilst creating a sustainable, well-connected community designed for future generations. Through close collaboration between Homes England, The Hill Group and local stakeholders, the development aims to deliver lasting social and economic value alongside much-needed homes and infrastructure. As planning progresses, the project has the potential to set a new benchmark for large-scale placemaking, supporting Cambridge's continued growth while putting community needs at its heart.