Located just two miles from Oxford city centre, the development at Cumnor Hill offers the opportunity to enjoy open countryside living while remaining closely connected to the cultural and social life of the city. The scheme comprises five large detached houses for HAB Housing, the organisation founded by Kevin McCloud, and represents the first HAB custom-build development.

The layout of the homes is shaped by the site’s topography and surrounding landscape, forming an accessible courtyard arrangement that encourages a sense of community. The relationship between the houses creates a sequence of private, semi-private and shared spaces, allowing residents to enjoy views of the landscape while also providing opportunities for social interaction between neighbours.

A key aspect of the project is its custom-build approach, allowing homeowners to tailor the internal arrangement of their homes. Each house can be configured from three to six bedrooms, with a variety of living space layouts designed to suit different lifestyles and family needs.

The houses are designed with sustainability at their core, adopting a fabric-first approach using a Hempcell prefabricated timber frame system with high levels of natural insulation. Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems provide fresh, filtered air to the airtight homes while maintaining excellent energy performance.

The material palette reflects both the contemporary character of the development and its rural context. A textured chalky brick provides continuity across the scheme, while zinc roofs and larch timber cladding introduce warmth and complement the natural landscape setting.