A house builder has been appointed to oversee the construction of the first tranche of new homes on the Alconbury Weald development.

Hopkins Homes has been working closely with Urban and Civic, the company which is managing the project, on an application for 128 houses.

If approved by Huntingdonshire District Council, the houses will sit in 45 acres of landscaped grounds, next to the development’s first primary school, which is scheduled to open in September 2016.

Urban and Civic says the first development will be known as Ermine Village and will eventually include more than 1,000 houses and the site’s first shops and community spaces.

Tim Leathes, development director for Urban and Civic, said: “This is good progress and keeps our delivery on track for the first homes at Alconbury Weald.

“I am also pleased that we have been able to work with a local house builder, who has a long term commitment to quality housing in the area and who is committed to supporting our jobs and skills targets through the construction process.”

Contractor J Breheny is nearing completion on the first phase of work to put in place the infrastructure needed for the houses – including roads, power, water systems and digital connections.

The next stage will be to remove the security fencing that runs around the site and open up a new residential access which will serve the first houses, before the southern gateway is put in place for the wider development.

Simon Bryan, development director at Hopkins Homes, said: “Our plans comprise 128 high quality new homes in suitable mix of sizes and styles – ranging from two to five bedroom properties.

“The vision for Ermine Village is to create a sustainable community that will benefit new residents and the existing local community. We look forward to making this vision become a reality and begin the development of Alconbury Weald.”

The new entrance to Ermine Village, off Ermine Street, will be opened up in July initially but not open for use until construction is completed, which is scheduled for summer 2016.

When complete, Alconbury Weald, a government-backed enterprise zone, will feature 5,000 homes, four schools and a host of other community facilities.