The Hill Group has completed the acquisition of Ickleford Mill, a 9.17-acre brownfield site near Hitchin in North Hertfordshire, with plans to transform the disused flour mill into a high-quality, sustainable residential community.

The land, which has stood vacant for several years, was purchased from a private landowner through Savills Cambridge and carries a gross development value of £33 million. Hill intends to bring forward proposals for 56 new homes, with 40% designated as affordable housing. The affordable element will include one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses available for affordable rent and shared ownership. Private sale homes will range from two to five bedrooms, designed to meet local demand for family housing.

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Reflecting Hill's design-led and sustainability-focused ethos, the development will incorporate air-source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points, cycle storage, and ample green space for community use. The River Oughton, which runs through the site, will form a key feature of the landscape design, with surrounding fields retained as public open space. Extensive new landscaping and planting are planned to deliver a biodiversity net gain of more than 10%.

Hill will undertake public consultation as it refines its proposals, with a planning application expected to be submitted in spring 2026.

Located just north of Hitchin, the site benefits from strong transport connections, including direct rail services to London King's Cross in under 40 minutes and convenient access to the A1(M). The village of Ickleford offers a range of local amenities, while nearby Hitchin provides a vibrant mix of shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities.

Andy Hill OBE, founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said: "This is an important brownfield site for North Hertfordshire which presents an excellent opportunity to deliver much-needed, high-quality homes for the region. Our proposals will transform a redundant and neglected site into a sustainable new community with plenty of accessible green space. This acquisition further strengthens our presence in the county, where we are committed to working in partnership with local authorities to help meet housing demand and enhance the local area."