Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has submitted a planning application for the Amerind Grove site on Raleigh Road in Bristol, which was once the site of the Wills Tobacco Factory, to develop over 100 high-quality, sustainable new homes. This follows a public exhibition conducted in early June to showcase Hill's proposals and provide a forum for residents to respond.

Hill will deliver three, four, and five-bedroom family houses, as well as one and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom maisonettes, building on its reputation for developing sustainable community-focused residential projects. Approximately one-third (30%) of the homes will be affordable.

Hill's plans will revitalise the 3.5-acre site previously occupied by a care home, significantly increasing housing availability in the popular Southville neighbourhood. Hill has selected a Bristol-based architect to partner with on the design of the homes, drawing on the area's classic terraced vernacular to create well-appointed, high-quality modern homes. The development will link to the surrounding area by two new tree-lined access roads.

Hill has appointed a professional guardian service to provide short-term, affordable accommodation for local people during the planning process. All applicants seeking to be a short-term guardian living at the property will be independently assessed and required to sign a code of conduct. 

Andy Hill OBE, Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, comments: “There is an acute housing shortage in Bristol, particularly for family homes. We have worked with the local Southville community to ensure our planning application for the Amerind Grove site will help address local housing needs. It will provide a sustainable development of over 100 high-quality, energy-efficient family homes, including over 30 much-needed affordable homes for local people, and we look forward to working with Bristol City Council to successfully progress this application.”

Built with sustainability in mind, the homes at Raleigh Road will feature high levels of insulation and airtightness. The properties will exceed energy regulations through the use of low-carbon technology and energy-efficient design, including air-source heat pumps to provide gas-free heating and hot water. Permeable paving, green roofs, rain gardens, and underground water tanks will also be included within the development to minimise surface water run-off; Hill is committed to environmental conservation and aims to achieve over 20% biodiversity net gain on this development. To encourage sustainable transport and reduce the total number of cars, approximately 185 cycle parking spaces will be provided. The construction phase will also provide local residents with employment and training opportunities.

Andy Hill adds: "This recent planning application forms part of our long-term commitment to developing new residential communities in Bristol and the South West, where we have become increasingly active in recent years."

A growing number of successful partnerships has helped Hill build its reputation in the City and surrounding area in recent times, including with Goram Homes on phase one of the Hengrove Park development in South Bristol and the proposed Baltic Wharf development at Bristol's Floating Harbour. Nearby, Hill is also working with The Guinness Partnership to deliver McArthur's Yard, which will form part of the Bristol harbourside regeneration.

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About The Hill Group

Hill is an award-winning housebuilder and one of the leading developers in London and the South East, renowned for its partnership ethos specialising in the building of distinctive new places and communities. It is now in the process of expanding operations both in the South West and the Midlands.

In its 24th year, this family-owned and operated company has grown to establish itself as the UK's second-largest privately-owned housebuilder, with an impressive and diverse portfolio of developments ranging from landmark, mixed-use regeneration projects to homes in rural communities. 

Employing over 800 staff, the company operates from five strategically located regional offices, with its head office based in Waltham Abbey, Essex. 

Hill anticipates completing over 2,600 homes in 2023 and has a controlled land bank with planning consent for over 8,500 units. Around half of the development portfolio is in joint venture to deliver a range of mixed tenure developments, reflecting Hill's commitment to partnerships with government, local authorities, housing associations, and private clients. 

Hill has won over 480 industry awards, including Best Medium Housebuilder at the Housebuilder Awards for the last three years, where in 2022, Hill's commitment to creating exceptional homes and sustainable communities was recognised with the Best Community Initiative and Best Sustainability Initiative. Hill's impressive Cavendish Villas at the highly sustainable Knights Park development in Eddington, Cambridge won Best Family Home at the 2022 Evening Standard New Homes Awards, as well as Best House and Best Exterior Design at the 2022 WhatHouse? Awards. In addition, Hill has been awarded the 5-star status in the Home Builders Federation's annual Customer Satisfaction Survey for the past six years. 

The Hill Group is donating 200 fully equipped modular homes to local authorities and homeless charities as part of a £15 million pledge through its Foundation 200 programme, launched in 2019 to mark Hill's 20th anniversary.

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For media information, contact The Oracle Group PR Agency on Tel: 020 8394 2821 or hill@oraclepr.co.uk