Lindum Group has completed construction of Bottisham Meadows, a £9.5 million development delivering 50 high-quality, energy-efficient homes in the village of Bottisham, Cambridgeshire.

The new homes were built on behalf of Accent Housing, a repeat client of Lindum, and part-funded through the government’s Affordable Homes Programme via Accent’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England.

The project responds to the growing demand for affordable housing in the region, offering a mix of one to four-bedroom houses, bungalows, and maisonettes – 20 for affordable rent and 30 for shared ownership.

Bottisham Meadows has been constructed to foster community engagement, featuring views of green spaces, a new play area, ample parking, designated allotments for green fingered residents, and a Wildlife Buffer Zone that enhances biodiversity for both the development and the surrounding community.

On Tuesday, May 13th, Accent Housing and Lindum marked completion of this development with an official opening ceremony.

The event included a welcome speech from Tom Miskell, Accent’s Chair of the Board, a ribbon cutting ceremony with Cllr Jon Ogborn from Bottisham Parish Council, a tour of the homes, followed by afternoon tea with the architects, builders, representatives from East Cambridgeshire District Council and Peterhouse University who originally owned the land.

At the event, Lindum donated a garden shed, wheelbarrow and spade to the Parish Council to support residents’ work at the allotments.

Steve Morris, Interim Executive Director of Development and Sales at Accent Group, said: “Bottisham Meadows is one of our flagship projects, so today’s official opening was something incredibly special. It was great to celebrate the completion of the new homes with all who have worked hard to create a place where families can live, grow, and play.

“Our new site consists of one to four-bedroom houses, bungalows, and maisonettes; 20 affordable rent and 30 shared ownership homes. The location for the mixed housing development was selected due to the growing demand for affordable homes in the region. Accent not only build new homes to help solve the housing crisis, but create places where people want to live and thrive, for families to create memories, make friends and build stronger communities. This is central to what we do.”

Every home has been designed with the aim of helping to reduce energy costs. The roofs have been fitted with Photo Voltaic (PV) panels and the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) A rating, allowing an estimated saving of £300 per annum in utility bills for Accents residents.

Cllr Jon Ogborn, Chair of Bottisham Parish Council, said: “The Parish Council supported the development of Bottisham Meadows to create much-needed additional affordable housing, and we are pleased with what is a visually very pleasant development. The village had no allotments and limited play provision. So, we are delighted that part of the land has been set aside for allotments to serve our community, and the new play area is very welcome.

“I would also like to thank Justin Moore, site manager, for raising the money to donate a defibrillator for the village and arranging for the donation by Lindum Group of a garden shed to serve the allotments. Bottisham Meadows has been an excellent example of how housing associations and developers can work well with the community to create a great asset for everyone.”

Lindum site manager Justin Moore was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the construction site, ensuring the new affordable homes were delivered safely, on time, and to a high standard. Justin went a step further while working on this project in Bottisham and undertook a 46k triathlon to raise money to buy and install a life-saving defibrillator for the village. In September, he completed a cold-water swim, a cycle ride, and a run in just over three-and-a-half hours.

Married dad-of-three Justin, who lives in March, said: “This was never about personal achievement – it was about Lindum making a lasting, positive contribution to a community we have been proud to work in. I was really pleased to be involved in delivering this affordable housing scheme, and it is great to now see the homes completed and occupied. The defibrillator is an asset for the village and could one day help save someone’s life. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who supported the fundraising.”

Accent Housing and Lindum, are currently working on another site in Little Downham, 20 miles from Bottisham, aiming to deliver a further 39 affordable homes. Site Manager Justin will be scaling Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon as part of his next fundraiser where the money raised will go towards Little Downham’s Nature Reserve and other local activities benefiting the village.