Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has completed the purchase of the Whalebones Park site in Barnet, North London, and will commence construction this October following planning approval for 115 new homes.

The new neighbourhood, located on land adjoining the Grade II listed Whalebones House, will deliver a carefully designed collection of 115 high quality new homes situated within a desirable scenic environment. Ideal for contemporary living, the sustainable development will feature modern family homes for private sale, offering spacious interiors, versatile layouts that suit contemporary lifestyles and well-proportioned gardens. As part of the development, 54 homes will be delivered in partnership with Sovereign Network Group (SNG) to provide high-quality affordable housing. These will include a range of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, available through shared ownership and affordable rent, helping to ensure a balanced and inclusive community.

Around half the land, approximately two hectares, will be retained as publicly accessible open space. Residents and the wider community will benefit from attractive meadows, healing gardens, ponds, play areas and a new woodland walk. A smallholding will also be provided for the site's long-term agricultural tenant, as well as a new and improved artist and beekeepers' studio, and on-site parking.

Andy Hill OBE, Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, comments: “Whalebones Park is a site of outstanding beauty, and we're proud to be entrusted with its future. Our plans respect the heritage of Whalebones House and the character of Barnet, while delivering a sustainable new neighbourhood. The development will include high-quality, spacious, modern family homes for private sale, designed for open-plan living with generous gardens, alongside much-needed affordable homes delivered in partnership with Sovereign Network Group to support the local community. With planning approval now secured, we look forward to creating a thriving, inclusive community that brings lasting benefits to Barnet.”

The scheme has been designed not only to deliver much needed new homes but also to enhance community life in Barnet. The creation of natural play areas, accessible green routes, and improved cultural facilities ensures the site remains a valued community asset for future generations.

Whalebones Park will also bring significant ecological and environmental benefits. A biodiversity net gain of 10% will be delivered, aided by the plans to plant 200 new trees and 750 metres of new hedgerow. Homes will feature air source heat pumps, solar panels, and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS). Together, these measures ensure the development is low carbon, energy-efficient, and environmentally sensitive, with a long-term management plan in place to protect habitats and green infrastructure.

Matthew Bird, Regional Managing Director at SNG comments: “We are proud to be partnering with The Hill Group at Whalebones Park, a scheme that demonstrates how affordable homes can be integrated into high-quality, sustainable developments. Our 54 homes here will provide much-needed opportunities for local people to access affordable rent and shared ownership in Barnet, supported by the wider benefits of new open space and community facilities.”

Construction will commence in October 2025, with the first homes expected to be completed by summer 2027.

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About The Hill Group

The Hill Group is a top 10 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.

In its 26th year, this family-run 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 950 people, the company operates from five strategically located regional offices including Bristol and Abingdon to help facilitate growth in the South West and the Midlands, with its head office based in Waltham Abbey, Essex.

Hill completed more than 2,800 homes in the last financial year and has a development pipeline of over 32,000 homes, including 10,200 with planning consent. 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 title of WhatHouse? Housebuilder of the Year in 2015, 2020 and 2023. Most recently in 2024, Millside Grange in Croxley Green won The Standard's Homes & Property Award for Best Commuter Home.

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 eight years. Hill is a registered developer with the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) and follows the New Homes Quality Code (NHQC), a new industry standard to ensure high-quality homes and an exceptional customer experience. With a score of 4.8 out of 5, Hill is also ranked as the number one housebuilder on Trustpilot.

In addition, Hill 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.