Willingham, Cambridgeshire

A scruffy patch of land containing weeds, small trees and a dilapidated house may not have seemed very appealing, but when YDP’s managing director, Paul Ashley, saw it in 2013 he recognised its potential. The site was at 3 Whites Path, Willingham, Cambridgeshire and contained enough space to build three detached homes. Furthermore, there were good transport links to the Cambridge Science Park and into the heart of Cambridge itself.

The project presented all kinds of challenges, including the acquisition of further parcels of land to provide access across the stream that surrounded the site and obtaining planning permission despite the objections of the Highways Agency. But solutions to all problems were finally found construction began in late 2015.

Over the next 20 months, groundworks were laid, bridges built and three adventurously designed, eco-friendly, timber-framed houses built and finished to the high standard that YDP insists on for all it construction. The houses were snapped up shortly after they went on sale in late 2017.

 A full account of this project - including the creative solutions found to a host of difficult problems, not least of which occurred when planning permission was denied! - is available in this case study to highlight YDP’s approach to environmentally-friendly property development.