Tilia Homes secures major land deal for new homes in Bedfordshire

Housebuilder Tilia Homes, part of the untypical group, has exchanged contracts with Master Developer Urban&Civic to buy a parcel of land within the new town of Wixams, Bedfordshire, which will deliver 168 homes.

This is the third parcel of land bought by the housebuilder at this new sustainable community, with its most recent homes at the site completed in 2022.

This land deals marks a major milestone for untypical, the newly launched group company that unites Tilia Homes with Hopkins Homes, as it provides the first opportunity to dual brand a new site. This collaboration will enable untypical to offer a range of homes from entry-level to premium properties that people want, need and are proud of.

The deal also follows Tilia Homes’ recent announcement that it has secured £125m in strategic sustainability-linked debt funding with HSBC UK and Homes England.

The new loan facility will enable Tilia Homes to expand its immediate land pipeline and deliver more than 1,250 quality homes each year. It also aligns with its long-term sustainability targets and reinforces the developer’s commitment to reduce its carbon impact, create a better workplace for its people and make a positive difference to the communities in which it builds.

The parcel of land at Wixams benefits from outline planning permission, and Tilia Homes is due to submit a Reserved Matters application to Central Bedfordshire Council later this year. Construction is likely to begin in April 2025, subject to planning approval with the first homes ready for customers in late 2025.

The proposals will include a mix of properties ranging from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom houses and includes 25 percent affordable housing provision that will be available through a Registered Provider.

The development parcel will also incorporate a central garden providing open green space for residents, which will form part of the wider Wixams social infrastructure, much of which is already in place provided by Urban&Civic.

Gareth Jacob, Regional Managing Director of untypical’s Eastern region, said: “The purchase of this land from L&Q Estates, now part of Urban&Civic, is the latest demonstration of Tilia’s commitment to completing significant land deals, increasing our portfolio, and delivering much-needed new homes.

“Land is the lifeblood of our business, and it has been a real collaboration to unlock this scheme, which will deliver 168 homes. The business has been successful in building and selling from the Wixams development previously and our strong relationship with the Master Developer has again proved helpful in ensuring this acquisition progressed in a successful manner.”

James Mooney, Project Director at Urban&Civic, said: “We have been Master Developers at Wixams for over 15 years, investing more than £100m in community facilities, schools, infrastructure and making environmental improvements.

"We're looking forward to these latest high-quality homes being built by Tilia Homes bringing more families to the area. What’s also exciting is the potential involvement of Hopkins Homes, which will add another layer of anticipation to our growing community. This collaborative effort is set to make our community an even more desirable place to call home.”

The Wixams development has been under construction since early 2007 and is expected to become the third largest settlement in the Borough of Bedford. The wider site has outline planning permission for 4,500 new homes, with a mix of housing, employment, education, retail, health and leisure facilities.