The UK housing industry is taking a giant leap forward, with the country's largest ever “Zero Bills” development launching in Newport, Essex. The result of an innovative, long-term partnership between award-winning five-star housebuilder The Hill Group and Octopus Energy, the development – Hollymead Square – will deliver 89 homes that are so energy efficient they have received the coveted Octopus Zero Bills 'stamp'. As a result, buyers won't receive energy bills for five years, guaranteed through Octopus' world-first smart tariff.

Hollymead Square is a blueprint for future energy-efficient housing developments, showcasing how the homebuilding and energy industries can come together to achieve outstanding results that support the UK's transition to a net zero future with tangible, actionable improvements.

Each property at Hollymead Square features solar panels, storage and smart tech – all optimised by Octopus. Launching Saturday 20th January, the development will provide two-bedroom bungalows and two- to five-bedroom houses, 64 of which will be for private sale. All homes will be kitted out with a heat pump, solar panels and a battery, which enables the Zero Bills accreditation.

Rebecca Littler, Group Sales and Marketing Director at The Hill Group, comments: “We are proud to be showcasing the future of UK housing here at Hollymead Square. As well as supporting families to save thousands of pounds on their energy costs over the next five years, we hope that our progressive work with the energy sector through our partnership with Octopus is something that will inspire people to reduce their carbon footprint.”      

Sustainability has been at the heart of designing the UK's largest Zero Bills development. New build homes have already been recognised for their environmental and cost-saving potential, with the Home Builders Federation's Watt a Save report from July 2023 finding that the average new build homeowner saves £2,200 per year on their energy bills.[1] And, new build owners are also collectively reducing carbon emissions by an impressive 500,000 tonnes.

In addition to the properties' green credentials and lack of energy bills, Hollymead Square is set to delight homebuyers in many ways. The development includes green open space for all owners to enjoy, with selected homes dotted around the boundary, while the lovely gardens of Audley End House & Gardens are a short drive away. Access to local schools is easy too, with Newport Primary and Joyce Frankland Academy both in close proximity.

For commuters, the development provides easy access to Cambridge and London, as well as the North of the UK, with Newport station within walking distance. Additional amenities, which are also within walking distance, include Dorringtons Bakery, Newport Pharmacy and the new Anglian Leisure Joyce Frankland sports centre. The latter provides a gym and fitness suite with Zumba, circuits, HIIT and Boxercise classes, plus AstroTurf and indoor and outdoor courts for badminton, tennis, basketball and more – ideal for an active family lifestyle.

The variety of properties available at Hollymead Square means there is something for everyone, from single buyers and couples to large families seeking plenty of space. The contemporary interiors will suit a range of tastes, while different layouts provide scope for home working among other family-friendly uses. And all with the peace of mind that comes with having zero energy bills for the next five years.

Prices of homes at Hollymead Square start from £489,950 for a detached two-bedroom home. For further information, visit https://www.hill.co.uk/hollymead-square or call 01799 610 831. 

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For further media information, please contact Alice or Emma Holden at The Oracle Group PR Agency: hillsales@oraclepr.co.uk / Tel: 020 8394 2821

About The Hill Group

Hill is an award-winning housebuilder and one of the leading developers in London, the home counties, and the South.

The company is renowned for its partnership ethos, specialising in the building of distinctive new places and communities where people want to live, work, and socialise. It is now in the process of opening new regional offices to facilitate growth in the Midlands.

In its 24th year, this family-owned and operated company has grown to establish itself as the UK's second-largest privately-owned housebuilder, with an impressive and diverse portfolio of projects ranging from landmark, mixed-use regenerations, and inner-city apartment developments to homes in rural communities. 

Employing over 800 staff, the company operates from six strategically located regional offices, with its head office based in Waltham Abbey, Essex. 

Hill anticipates completing over 2,800 homes in 2023 and has a controlled land bank with planning consent for over 8,500 units. Around half of its portfolio is in joint ventures to deliver a range of mixed-tenure developments, reflecting Hill's commitment to partnerships with government, local authorities, housing associations, and private clients. 

Since the company was founded in 1999, Hill has won over 500 industry awards, including the esteemed titles of WhatHouse? Housebuilder of the Year in 2015, 2020, and most recently in 2023, when it also won the Best Large Housebuilder accolade in its first year entering the category. Rubicon, Hill's innovative and beautifully designed development at Knights Park in Eddington, Cambridge, has been recognised with four prestigious WhatHouse? Awards in 2023, including gold awards for Best Development and Best Exterior Design. Rubicon also won Best Design for Four Storeys or More at the 2023 Housebuilder Awards. The Beech, a stunning contemporary home at Marleigh, won the Best Family Home award at the Evening Standard New Homes Awards 2023 and silver in the Best House category at the WhatHouse? Awards in the same year.

In addition, Hill's dedication to delivering the highest quality homes and exceptional customer service has earned the housebuilder its 5-star status in the Home Builders Federation's annual Customer Satisfaction Survey for the past six years. 

The Hill Group is donating 200 fully equipped modular homes to local authorities and homeless charities as part of a £15 million pledge through its Foundation 200 programme, launched in 2019 to mark Hill's 20th anniversary.

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For more information, contact The Oracle Group PR Agency on Tel: 020 8394 2821 or hill@oraclepr.co.uk

About Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting edge energy products to 7.2 million households globally.

Its operations span 18 countries and the entire energy value chain. The group invests in, builds and flexibly manages renewable energy, operating a £6 billion portfolio of projects – one of Europe's largest.

Octopus has licensed its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, to support over 52 million customer accounts worldwide through licensing deals with companies such as EDF, E.ON and Origin Energy.

Kraken enables Octopus to drive the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative cleantech. Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide.

For more information, check out our website.

[1] https://www.hbf.co.uk/newsletter/view/6257?pk_campaign=newsletter_6257