Gilston, the ambitious £1 billion housing development in east Hertfordshire, is set to become a blueprint for the future of community building in Britain. After 20 long years of legal wrangling and planning bottlenecks, the project's timeline finally aligns with the UK government's promise to build 1.5 million homes by 2029.
This seven-village development, nestled within a sprawling 660-hectare landscape of country parks and woodland, will provide 10,000 new homes through Places for People, a social enterprise that aims to create rural communities where there is social housing, affordable housing, shared ownership, and outright sales. The project's design rejects the car-centric model of the late 20th century, with schools located in the villages so that people can walk or ride their bikes.
Gilston will be a mixed-tenure format, with at least 2,300 homes designated as affordable. However, Places for People plans to push this number higher as the project evolves over its 30-year build time. The social enterprise intends to achieve "tenure blind" design, where social housing is indistinguishable from private property.
The development's timing arrives at a critical moment for the UK government, which faces mounting pressure to address the country's housing crisis. Places for People CEO Greg Reed argues that national targets and planning incentives are necessary to overcome local inertia and drive progress.
Reed notes that the project will create more than 2,000 permanent jobs and a £6bn boost to the UK economy. However, he also highlights the shortage of skilled labor in the construction industry, which is why Places for People has launched a national training academy to fast-track tradespeople and planners.
The completion date for Gilston is estimated to be around 2050, although work will begin within the next few years. As the project unfolds, it represents a test of whether Britain can still build communities that last, providing much-needed housing options for those in temporary accommodation, including 170,000 children currently living on the streets.
Ultimately, Gilston's success depends on its ability to deliver on its promise of vibrant, sustainable communities that prioritize people over cars. If successful, this £1 billion development could provide a beacon of hope for Britain's future housing landscape and serve as a model for innovative community-building projects across the country.
This seven-village development, nestled within a sprawling 660-hectare landscape of country parks and woodland, will provide 10,000 new homes through Places for People, a social enterprise that aims to create rural communities where there is social housing, affordable housing, shared ownership, and outright sales. The project's design rejects the car-centric model of the late 20th century, with schools located in the villages so that people can walk or ride their bikes.
Gilston will be a mixed-tenure format, with at least 2,300 homes designated as affordable. However, Places for People plans to push this number higher as the project evolves over its 30-year build time. The social enterprise intends to achieve "tenure blind" design, where social housing is indistinguishable from private property.
The development's timing arrives at a critical moment for the UK government, which faces mounting pressure to address the country's housing crisis. Places for People CEO Greg Reed argues that national targets and planning incentives are necessary to overcome local inertia and drive progress.
Reed notes that the project will create more than 2,000 permanent jobs and a £6bn boost to the UK economy. However, he also highlights the shortage of skilled labor in the construction industry, which is why Places for People has launched a national training academy to fast-track tradespeople and planners.
The completion date for Gilston is estimated to be around 2050, although work will begin within the next few years. As the project unfolds, it represents a test of whether Britain can still build communities that last, providing much-needed housing options for those in temporary accommodation, including 170,000 children currently living on the streets.
Ultimately, Gilston's success depends on its ability to deliver on its promise of vibrant, sustainable communities that prioritize people over cars. If successful, this £1 billion development could provide a beacon of hope for Britain's future housing landscape and serve as a model for innovative community-building projects across the country.
. It's like, we've been waiting for ages to see some real change in how our communities are built. I think it's amazing that Places for People is pushing for a more community-focused approach, with schools and shops in the villages, making it easy for people to get around without cars 
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. It's all about creating a level playing field where social housing isn't stigmatized. I'm hoping that this project will really set the bar high for future developments and show us how to build communities that are inclusive and sustainable.
. That's like, ages away! I'd love to see some more transparency around what exactly is being done to address the skilled labor shortage in construction 
. But overall, I'm feeling pretty optimistic about Gilston and its potential to make a real difference in Britain's housing crisis 
I'm kinda excited about Gilston finally getting underway! 10k new homes is a huge positive step towards tackling the UK's housing crisis 
Places for People is doing some amazing work here, pushing for mixed-tenure formats and 'tenure blind' design to create communities that are truly inclusive. It's great to see them prioritizing walkability and bikeability too - we should be all about getting people out of their cars and into the fresh air! 
The fact that they're launching a national training academy for tradespeople is also a huge win, will really help address the labor shortage in the construction industry. Fingers crossed Gilston becomes a model for community building in Britain and sets us up for success in addressing the housing crisis! 
This Gilston development is like, finally happening, right? And let's be real, 10,000 new homes is a drop in the bucket compared to what we really need - 170,000 kids living on the streets?! It's not just about the numbers, though. I love how they're going for that "tenure blind" design. Like, who cares if social housing looks like private property? It's all about creating those sustainable communities where people can actually live without breaking the bank 
. And don't even get me started on the training academy - it's about time we got some skilled labor in this country! Skilled labor that doesn't require a degree or something 
. Anyways, I'm keeping an eye on this one and if it all comes together like Greg Reed says it will, then yeah, maybe this could be the start of something special 
. plus, the fact dat they r tryna make social housing look like it belongz in a neighbohood is somethin i can get on board wit 
not just about profit margins. this place sounds like a breath of fresh air, w/ schools in the village & shared ownership options... what a beautiful thing! 
? it sounds like Gilston is really trying to rethink the whole suburban model, where everything's just cars and houses. Places for People's "tenure blind" design is genius - I mean who says social housing has to be separate from private property? it's about time we start valuing community over profit 
. gotta keep my fingers crossed that this thing actually comes together by 2050 
i mean, £1billion is insane but hey its about time we had some real change in the UK housing scene. Places 4 People is all about creatin sustainable communities where ppl can actually afford 2 live. i love dat dey r prioritizin schools & bike lanes too