Aviva Investors has agreed to forward fund the creation of 101 single-family homes in Cambridge, with its development partnership with Packaged Living. 

The homes will be delivered by Barratt Homes and will form part of the Franklin Gardens community within the wider Darwin Green masterplan. Situated on the northwestern edge of Cambridge, Darwin Green is expected to deliver more than 1,500 homes when complete, alongside a primary school, health centre, a supermarket, sports facilities, as well as community spaces and parks. 

James Stevens, Head of Real Estate Investment at Aviva Investors, said: “Franklin Gardens is another example of that commitment. Set in a prime location and part of a strong regional market, we expect it to create an excellent community offering for residents and families. We think it is a fantastic opportunity to support the delivery of housing into a dynamic region of the UK, which is well-positioned for growth and provide long-term returns for investors.”

Spread across two, three and four-bedroom houses, as well as two-bed apartments, the 101 new homes are expected to provide over 105,000 sq ft of housing. The new homes are built to be fully-electric, making use of air-source heat pump systems instead of traditional gas boilers. The development will also feature electric vehicle charging for every home, photovoltaic panels and battery storage to help support ongoing energy needs and target an EPC ‘A’ rating. 

Mark Bailey, Regional Managing Director, Barratt Developments, East Region, said: “We are delighted to be working with Aviva Investors and Packaged Living to deliver private rental properties which complement our already varied tenure at Franklin Gardens, Cambridge. It will provide 101 new homes to an area identified as having significant housing need with big potential for growth.”

Situated on the outskirts of Cambridge, Franklin Gardens provides access to the Greater Cambridge region, as well as offering connectivity to Peterborough, Stevenage and London.