Aviva Investors is funding the development of 101 single-family homes in Cambridge.

The investment has been made in partnership with Packaged Living, a UK sustainable living specialist.

These homes will be delivered by Barratt Homes as part of the wider Franklin Gardens development.

This is being constructed under the Darwin Green masterplan which aims to deliver over 1,500 homes — in addition, a primary school, health centre, supermarket and community spaces are being created alongside the homes.

The 101 homes funded by Aviva Investors will consist of two, three and four-bedroom houses as well as two-bed apartments, these will provide a combined 105,000 sq ft of housing.

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These properties are being designed to be fully electric, with air-source heat pumps instead of traditional gas boilers. Solar panels and EV charging points will be included in each home, with an EPC ‘A’ rating being targeted.

James Stevens, head of real estate investment at Aviva Investors, said this development was part of the asset manager’s ambition to deploy over £1bn in property in the coming years.

“Franklin Gardens is another example of that commitment,” said James.

“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.”

Aviva Investors and Packaged Living have been in partnership since launching a build-to-rent platform in 2021. This has so far funded the creation of over 1,200 homes in the UK.