Lower Mill Estate

Lower Mill Estate, one of three sites owned by Habitat First Group, was established 21 years as the UK's first residential nature reserve. In the 1950s and 60s gravel was extracted from beneath the estate farmland leaving a network of flooded workings amongst the remnant landscape of tree and hedgerow cover. The driving aspiration of Habitat First Group was, and is, to bring people, ecology and award-winning architecture together in perfect harmony. Following gravel extraction, Lower Mill Estate comprised eight legacy lakes; three rivers, exposed extraction areas; SSSI grassland (Pike Corner); semi-improved grassland and small areas of woodland. An ecologically-sensitive restoration of the former quarry site in the Cotswold Water Park has created a residential (holiday home) nature-reserve, rich in benefits for people, wildlife and the climate.

Lower Mill Estate is nature-inclusive, bringing wildlife to the heart of the development, reconnecting people to nature and enhancing well-being. Benefits are delivered both within the boundary of the scheme and beyond, contributing to catchment-scale water sensitive design and management. Its green infrastructure forms a multi-functional network that delivers ecological services and quality of life benefits to the residents of the estate and local communities nearby.
The landscape within the development has been designed to fit seamlessly into the local character area; to boost biodiversity; to maximise bioretention; and, to provide year round interest to residents and wildlife. The unique 'biophilic' design of the estate fully immerses people in nature, which optimises physical and mental well-being.

Lower Mill Estate was the inaugural quarry transformation for Habitat First Group, who have also pioneered ecological restorations at Silverlake in Dorset and Birchwood in North Devon. The Estate was accredited with the Building with Nature Design Award for the entire Masterplan & Building with Nature Full Award (Excellent) for completed phases at Mill Village, Copse Mere, Clearwater Village & Howells Mere in 2018.