We are delighted to see the first phase of Millfield Green Retirement Community, located in the village of Caddington, Bedfordshire completed. The scheme is the UK’s first net-zero retirement community and is operated by Inspired Villages, Legal & General’s developer and operator of later living homes. The delivery of this sustainable development follows Legal & General’s 2020 commitment to make all its residential accommodation operationally net-zero from 2030.

Following the completion of three future planned phases, Millfield Green will see the delivery of 200 specialist age-appropriate homes, with a Gross Development Value of £120m. Our design responded to the surrounding landscape, with buildings carefully placed to maximise views into, out of, and through the development to ensure all residents enjoy the benefit of this picturesque site. Millfield Green also benefits from a restaurant, café, wellness centre (including a swimming pool, fitness studio and gym), library and cinema room, with many of these facilities available to both residents and the local community.

To achieve its net-zero status, Millfield Green utilises renewable-energy generation through on-site photovoltaics, EV-charging, improved building fabric and insulation, Mechanical Heat Vent Recovery units and ground-source heat pumps through Kensa Group. With fuel poverty becoming an increasing issue in the UK, the net-zero approach taken at Millfield Green will ensure future residents’ running costs will be unaffected by external suppliers’ future energy cost rises.

Andrew Saunders, Senior Associate Director said: “Buildings are currently responsible for approximately one-third of global energy consumption and, in the UK, approximately 27 percent of our carbon emissions come from heating our homes – that is why it is so important to start getting our housing design right sooner, rather than later. We are proud to be playing a part in the delivery of the UK’s first net-zero retirement community and fully support the ambition of Legal & General and Inspired Villages to work towards a carbon-free future for our built environment.”

The first phase of the development completed on-site in December 2023.

You can read more about our approach to sustainability in the later living sector here.