Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has completed the acquisition of Ickleford Mill, a 9.17-acre brownfield site just north of Hitchin, with plans to transform the long-disused former flour mill into a vibrant new residential community.

The £33 million site, which has stood vacant for several years, was purchased from a private landowner through Savills Cambridge. Hill intends to bring forward proposals for 56 new homes, with 40% set aside as affordable housing — including one and two-bedroom apartments, and two, three and four-bedroom houses for affordable rent and shared ownership. The remainder will be two to five-bedroom homes for private sale, designed to meet strong local housing demand.

As part of Hill's commitment to sustainability, the development will feature air-source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points, cycle storage and generous outdoor spaces. The River Oughton, which runs through the site, will form a natural focal point, with surrounding green fields retained as publicly accessible open space. Landscaping and new planting are expected to achieve a biodiversity net gain of more than 10%.

Hill has pledged to engage closely with the Ickleford and Hitchin community as detailed plans are developed, with a planning application expected in spring 2026.

The location benefits from strong transport links — Hitchin railway station offers direct services to London King's Cross in under 40 minutes, and the nearby A1(M) connects residents easily across Hertfordshire and beyond. The village of Ickleford itself provides local shops, schools and amenities, while Hitchin town centre continues to thrive as a cultural and commercial hub.

Andy Hill OBE, founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said:

"This is an important brownfield site for North Hertfordshire which presents an excellent opportunity to deliver much-needed, high-quality homes for the region. Our proposals will transform a redundant and neglected site into a sustainable new community with plenty of accessible green space. This acquisition further strengthens our presence in the county, where we are committed to working in partnership with local authorities to help meet housing demand and enhance the local area."

The project adds to Hill's growing portfolio across Hertfordshire, following previous developments including Millside Grange in Rickmansworth, Aspects near Stevenage, and the ongoing Nexus regeneration in Stevenage town centre.