Buckland Group secures £54 million to complete first phase of new generation sustainable garden village
A thriving community of 6,000 homes on 1,000 acres in Hampshire is set to become the blueprint for future developments
Funding to complete the first phase of the Welborne Garden Village project in Hampshire has been secured, paving the way for 616 new, energy-efficient homes to be built.
The £54 million financing package, provided to Buckland Group for its innovative joint venture partnerships with CG Fry, Pye Homes, and Thakeham, is a sustainable development loan in recognition of the housebuilders’ Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) plans for the development.
Construction of the homes commenced in May 2024. This financing package continues to facilitate the pathway into the next phase and to ultimately create a new community of 6,000 beautifully crafted, connected and energy efficient homes, integrated with extensive, publicly accessible green space.
Sustainable, connected community
The Buckland Group is developing the new generation sustainable garden village on 1,000 acres. From phase one, the Group is focused on creating a thriving place to live, work and play, complete with its own community infrastructure including a primary school and nursery, shops and cafés, business premises, a GP surgery, playgrounds and public transport, along with parks and open space. With heritage design and a mix of traditional styles, Welborne is recreating the architectural characteristics of Hampshire combined with the latest technology for sustainable modern living.
As Welborne grows, residents and the region will benefit from three further primary schools and a secondary school, healthcare, sports and leisure facilities and a range of retailers. A commercial district will be home to a new science and technology park with a range of office space and light industrial units for SMEs. In total, one million square feet of employment space is planned, providing local employment and driving sustainable economic prosperity.
Innovative and leading technology
The project also includes the installation of the UK’s largest water-source low carbon heating and cooling network. The stable temperatures of the ground water drawn via a local reservoir enable this innovative and leading technology to deliver heating, hot water and cooling, more sustainably and economically with 90% lower household CO₂ emissions than gas boilers and 50% less than air source heat pumps.
Mark Thistlethwayte, Chairman of Buckland Group, said: “Lloyds’ backing marks another milestone in delivering on our vision to create a thriving new community where people will still want to live in 100 years’ time. This support enables us to continue to fund the construction of phase one homes, together with our award-winning housebuilder partners. This financing package is part of the ongoing model for delivering Welborne in the years to come.”
Jess Tomlinson, Managing Director, Real Estate & Housing Lloyds, said: "Our investment in this groundbreaking project underscores our commitment to supporting the creation of much-needed housing. Buckland Group has gone a step further and is creating an innovative, sustainable new community. We are proud to support its unified long-term vision."