Back to news

Peabody and The Hill Group exchange contracts on affordable homes in rural Essex village

Street Scene View Finchingfield

Peabody and The Hill Group have entered a partnership to provide 20 brand new high-quality homes in the beautiful Essex village of Finchingfield.

Published: 13/06/2023


The not-for-profit housing association has today announced the official exchange of contracts with Hill to take ownership of 20 homes on Bardfield Road – which it will provide on an affordable basis as part of the section 106 agreement. 14 will be for affordable rent and 6 for shared ownership.

Located in the picturesque village of Finchingfield - so idyllic it’s been named the most photographed village in Essex - Bardfield Road sits in the heart of Northwest Essex, just a 6-minute walk to the village centre. Finchingfield boasts quaint shops, local cafes and cosy country pubs with waterside views.

The village is well-connected, with a local bus service to nearby Braintree taking 20 minutes.  Commuters can then catch the train from Braintree to London Liverpool Street. For those travelling further afield, Bardfield Road is just a 30-minute drive to London Stansted Airport.

The village, which has a quiet green at its centre, is surrounded by natural landscape. The development will increase biodiversity by 26 percent, with wildflowers left to bloom and more than 130 new trees planted to complement the existing landscape, which already benefits from large, park-land style trees.

The homes, a mix of one to five bedrooms, will be built to the national space standard and will have at least one parking space each. They will also be well insulated and sustainable, with low-carbon air source heat pumps, energy efficient lighting and electrical vehicle charging points.

Hill is set to begin construction on Peabody’s homes this Summer, with completion expected by February 2024.

David Foster, Land and Partnerships Director at Peabody, said: “These new affordable homes, built with our friends at Hill, are great news for Finchingfield. With beautiful green spaces on doorsteps and great transport links, residents will have the best of both worlds. Building sustainably and encouraging sustainable living are part of our core values, and we look forward to welcoming new residents to the neighbourhood next year.”

Jon Thistlethwaite, Regional Director at The Hill Group, said: "We are thrilled to be working with Peabody to provide much-needed affordable housing in Finchingfield. Our collaboration reflects our shared commitment to building inclusive and sustainable communities. The development on Bardfield Road not only meets the area’s demand for affordable housing, it also embraces Finchingfield's distinct character. We're looking forward to starting construction of the homes this Summer and playing a part in enhancing this vibrant and thriving village neighbourhood."

Contact us

Got specific questions about Peabody? We’re always happy to help.