The Hill Group has completed the purchase of the Whalebones Park site in Barnet, North London, which will pave the way for 115 new homes after the scheme was granted planning permission.
The new neighbourhood, located on land adjoining the Grade II listed Whalebones House, will deliver a sustainable development featuring modern family homes for private sale. As part of the scheme, 54 homes will be delivered as affordable homes in partnership with Sovereign Network Group (SNG). 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, which will feature meadows, 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, commented: “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.”
Whalebones Park will also aim to 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 will 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, said: “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.
