Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has acquired a new site on Gray's Lane in Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, with plans to deliver a high-quality residential development comprising 47 new homes, including 40% affordable housing.

Located immediately south of Hill's adjacent development on Lucas Lane, where construction commenced in Summer 2025, the Gray's Lane development will further enhance the neighbouring collection of nine executive four and five-bedroom family houses. The two land parcels, acquired from separate landowners, will share a joint access from Gray's Lane.

The newly acquired land benefits from full planning permission for 47 homes, including a mix of private sale and affordable homes designed to meet a wide range of local housing needs.

• Private homes will consist of two to five-bedroom houses.
• Affordable homes will comprise one-bedroom apartments and two to four-bedroom houses, available through affordable rent, social rent, and shared ownership.
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In line with Hill's design-led approach, all homes will be traditionally designed to complement the surrounding residential character and will be built to high environmental standards, incorporating air-source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points, and sustainable construction principles. The development is surrounded by mature woodland, providing residents with attractive views of the adjacent countryside and easy access to local green spaces.

This acquisition strengthens Hill's growing presence in North Hertfordshire, following its recent purchase of nearby Ickleford Mill, where the company plans to deliver a further 56 new homes.

Andy Hill OBE, Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, comments:

“The acquisition of this site in Hitchin bolsters Hill's presence in the local area, and we look forward to delivering a thoughtfully designed, sustainable development that complements our neighbouring project on Lucas Lane. With its attractive setting, the purchase reinforces our continued commitment to providing high-quality homes across North Hertfordshire and will make a valuable contribution to the town's growing community.”

The development will benefit from excellent transport links and local amenities. Hitchin railway station offers direct services to London King's Cross in under 40 minutes, while the A1(M) provides excellent road connections. The nearby market town of Hitchin has a vibrant town centre with a variety of independent shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions, as well as excellent local schools and community facilities, making it an ideal location for families and professionals alike.

The new homes are expected to launch in Summer 2026 with the first occupations planned for the end of 2026.

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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.

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram @HillGroupUK

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

*The Hill Group was listed within the top 10 of the Top 150 UK Contractors and Housebuilders published by Building.co.uk in December 2024