The Unex Group and sustainable housebuilder, Greencore Homes, have agreed a joint venture to develop up to 123 new homes at Fitzroy Paddocks in Newmarket.
The 3.6-hectare site is located to the east of the town centre in a highly sustainable location and will be the first new-build development of scale in Newmarket for many years. The development will also be Greencore’s largest to date, marking a significant milestone towards its goal of building 10,000 Better Than Net Zero homes by 2035.
The joint venture will develop a mixed-use scheme in accordance with the existing outline planning consent comprising up to 123 homes, a convenience store and stable facilities. The scheme will deliver a tenure blind, policy-compliant housing provision, ensuring the development meets the acute housing needs of the local community.
The homes will be constructed using Greencore’s closed timber frame panel system, ensuring better than net zero carbon emissions, high energy efficiency and lower bills for residents. Landscape design, nature and wildlife will also form a key part of the detailed plans.
Adjacent to the new homes, Unex will undertake the refurbishment of historic buildings, including the Queensbury Lodge, cottage and stables and the former White Lion public house, to support the revitalisation of the high street.
Sustainable architect, Gbolade Design Studio, has been appointed to lead the reserved matters planning application on behalf of the joint venture, which will be submitted to West Suffolk Council in the coming months.
Unex and Greencore have agreed an innovative structure as the basis for the joint venture, with Unex retaining the newly developed convenience store and some of the new homes, such that the partners have a shared interest in the overall success of the development. The joint approach combines Unex’s development capabilities with Greencore’s focus on delivering climate-positive places, allowing for the creation of a development that both enhances the local area, contributes positively to the environment and creates a blueprint for best-practice, sensitive redevelopment for the area.
Adrian Morris, managing director of The Unex Group, commented: “Having worked with Jon Di-Stefano previously, I am delighted that Unex has been able to partner with Greencore Homes on this development which is particularly important to Unex given that we are a Newmarket-based company with strong connections to the town.”
Jon Di-Stefano, CEO of Greencore Homes, said: “Fitzroy Paddocks is an excellent addition to Greencore’s growing development pipeline and I am delighted to be working with The Unex Group once again. This joint venture has enabled us to align our ambitions to create a high-quality, climate-positive development which will be a wonderful addition to Newmarket’s thriving town centre. We look forward to working with our partners and the local community to progress the detailed plans over the coming months.”
