Hopkins Homes has marked the beginning of its expansion into new areas by acquiring a 16-acre site in Chelmsford, Essex.
The site is the first major flagship acquisition for Hopkins Homes since it was acquired by private equity firm Terra Firma in January 2022.
A planning application is expected to be submitted in the coming months to create approximately 260 homes in a range of styles to suit all buyers, from one-bedroom apartments through to five-bedroom detached houses. Almost a third of the proposed homes will be much-needed affordable housing to support local people, made available through shared ownership and social rented schemes. It will also establish a small local retail centre at the heart of the community.
Lee Barnard, Managing Director of Hopkins Homes, said: “We are incredibly excited by this site, which gives us the perfect opportunity to deliver the homes we are renowned for beyond our core East Anglian roots.
“Our reputation has been built around creating distinction in everything that we do – taking the time and care to build beautiful, high-quality homes that complement their surroundings, creating places that people are proud to call home.
“We are pleased that our new partnership with Terra Firma is allowing us to embed our passion into new and wider areas across our region. Their ongoing support will enable the company to grow from strength to strength.”
The new development will be located at the new Beaulieu community. The Beaulieu masterplan will create a 3,600-home community for Chelmsford.
The new development is expected to generate a gross development value (GDV) in excess of £100m. The site was acquired from Countryside Zest, a joint venture between Countryside Partnerships and L&Q, the developers of Beaulieu.
