Homebuilder Durkan has today announced the exchange of contracts for a 14.37 acre site in Wintringham which forms the gateway of a major new urban extension to the east of St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
The parcel of land forms a key part of Urban & Civic’s Wintringham development of 2,800 homes, which was granted outline planning permission in 2018. Durkan’s parcel of land is strategically located adjacent to the first Primary school on the development and a landscaped civic square which will form the heart of the development. It will provide 285 high quality new homes, 85 of which will be affordable. Durkan will now guide the development through the detailed planning process, then on to construction and sales.
Thanks to funding from Homes England, Wintringham will also deliver vital infrastructure upgrades to serve homes and businesses in the area. The wider development, designed to provide attractive spaces and important amenities for residents, will become a thriving new community in the region, and is a key part of St Neots eastern expansion.
Bill Beyzade, Managing Director, Durkan, said: “This is a very exciting time for us as a business. Last summer we announced a five-year business plan which put land acquisition at its forefront. This deal demonstrates the fantastic progress we’re already making in achieving that.
“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with Urban & Civic as part of the vital new Wintringham development. Durkan has always prided itself on building homes of the highest quality supported by exemplary customer service. We will bring that focus to Wintringham, working to provide the best possible environment for new residents and the wider area to enjoy community life.”
Tim Leathes, Development Director for Urban & Civic added:
“Quality of design and delivery and a commitment to working with communities and customers is at the heart of our vision for Wintringham, and Durkan are a great addition to the development alongside Morris Homes and Cala. They will be taking forward a key gateway parcel, which complements the heart of the community with the school and civic square and sits opposite the business area, which is a key part of St Neots growth plans. We look forward to continuing to work with them to bring forward a great place for people to work and live.”
Durkan’s next step will be to submit a detailed planning application this spring, with the aim of starting work on site later this year.
This latest deal is a clear signal of Durkan’s commitment to building a strong pipeline of land acquisitions to support its objective of increasing output of its housebuilding division to 400 new homes per year. It also marks the expansion of Durkan’s geographical reach beyond London and the South East.