Aerial view showing a row of houses with solar panels, enclosed gardens and a backdrop of fields and existing village housing.
Closer aerial view of homes with private rear gardens, fences, and cars parked along a residential street within the development.
Row of modern detached brick houses with white accents and solar panels on the roofs, set along a paved suburban street under a clear blue sky.
Modern two-story house with red brick and dark grey siding, featuring solar panels on the roof and a 'THAKEHAM' sign in front, under a clear blue sky.
Oblique aerial view of the wider development with a mix of house types, roads, parking areas and adjacent construction works.
CGI of a tree-lined residential street with brick houses featuring pitched roofs, white window frames, and visible solar panels. A cyclist rides past in the foreground, while a pedestrian walks along the pavement. A parked car and partly cloudy sky add to the serene, eco-aware suburban scene.
Street-level aerial view along a new road with brick homes on both sides, parking spaces and a few bicycles visible near the pavement.
Aerial view of a completed housing development with semi-detached and detached homes, many with roof-mounted solar panels, set beside open countryside.
CGI of a modern suburban home with solar panels on a pitched roof, blending brick and black siding with white trim. Large windows face a sunny, well-kept garden, while a person strolls past on a quiet residential sidewalk. The clear blue sky adds to the peaceful, eco-conscious atmosphere.
Wide-angle view of a residential construction site with multiple homes in various stages of development. Some rooftops feature solar panels, while others have scaffolding and exposed framing. Construction vehicles and workers are visible across the site, which is bordered by completed homes and open green fields. The structured layout and sustainable elements reflect eco-conscious growth and planned community expansion under a lightly clouded sky.
CGI of a two-story suburban home with white siding and red brick accents, set behind a small front garden featuring green shrubs and purple flowers. A white car is parked in the driveway, while a pedestrian pushes a stroller along the sunny, tree-lined pavement. A flowering tree and wooden fence border the neighboring house, creating a peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere under a lightly clouded sky.
Aerial view of a suburban construction site with newly built homes in neat rows and several under active development. Some rooftops feature solar panels, while scaffolding and construction vehicles mark the progress of ongoing builds. The site borders existing homes and green fields, creating a contrast between established and emerging residential zones. A light overcast sky provides soft, even lighting over the expansive housing development.
Residential construction site with rows of partially built homes, some with completed roofs and others in framing stages. A tall crane stands at the center, surrounded by construction materials, scaffolding, and vehicles. The site borders a neighborhood of finished houses, highlighting phased development and growth. Overcast sky adds neutral lighting to the busy, transitional environment.
CGI of a Row of brick townhouses with white doors, canopies, and white-framed windows, set along a landscaped residential street. Solar panels are visible on the roof of the right-hand home, emphasizing energy efficiency. Green bushes and trees line the sidewalk, where two people walk past, adding a sense of community to the tranquil, eco-conscious setting.
Aerial view of a large residential construction site featuring rows of new-build homes in various stages of completion. Many rooftops display installed solar panels, highlighting a focus on renewable energy. Construction vehicles and materials are scattered across the site, which is bordered by established neighborhoods and open green fields. The grid-like layout and surrounding greenery convey a sense of organized expansion and eco-conscious development.
CGI of a semi-detached brick home with two front entrances, each framed by white doors and windows, suggesting separate living units. A white car is parked in the driveway, while two people walk past on the tree-lined sidewalk. Subtle greenery surrounds the home, and the partly cloudy sky casts soft daylight across the peaceful suburban street.
CGI of two semi-detached red brick homes with dark grey pitched roofs and white-framed windows, set along a quiet residential street. One home features a white car parked in a paved driveway. Small shrubs line the front gardens, and the partly cloudy sky lends a soft, temperate light to the peaceful suburban setting.

Bishops Lane

  • Ringmer, Lewes
  • 68 affordable homes
  • 1 - 4 bedroom homes
  • Stonewater

Bishops Lane is a partnership schemes with Stonewater, one of the largest social housing providers in the UK. We’re delivering 68 affordable homes across a variety of one, two, three, and four-bedroom properties, split between social rent and shared ownership tenures.

Sustainability is a key focus at Bishops Lane, which is why we’ve increased the specification of the houses at Bishops Lane to net-zero carbon. All homes will benefit from a high energy-efficient rating, electric vehicle charging points, air source heat pumps and thermally efficient windows and doors. Additional high-efficiency solar PV panels on roofs, will unlock zero carbon emissions for homes on the development.

A group of construction workers enjoy a tea break. All are wearing high vis jackets and hard hats. One faces the camera holding a coffee
Partnerships
Client builds

We're a lead contractor on a range of projects that include social, affordable, retirement and private housing.

Get in touch today to find out how we can help you bring your scheme to life.

Call 01403 787 300Email us
How to get there
What3words: ///bookcases.desks.campersBishops Lane, Ringmer, Lewes, BN8 5LY
Aerial view of a completed housing development with semi-detached and detached homes, many with roof-mounted solar panels, set beside open countryside.

Find your new home

Stonewater at Bishops Lane, Ringmer, presents two, three and four bedroom houses for shared ownership.

You must have a local connection to Lewes district for your application to be considered at this time which will be reviewed by the team at Stonewater.

Book an appointment

Development site plan

Masterplan for new homes planned at Bishops Lane in Ringmer

Development key features

A JCT Design & Build contract with Stonewater to deliver 68 homes, offering a combination of affordable rent and shared ownership.

  • High energy-efficient rating

    All homes include EV charging, air source heat pump and thermally efficient windows and doors. Solar PV panels on the roof unlock zero carbon emissions.

  • Community facilities

    A communal amenity space and a children's play space.

Thakeham CEO Rob Boughton walks along a paved path with a dark gold dog.
Vision
1 / 4

We're an independent founder-led business, which affords us the freedom to advocate for positive change in our sector. We challenge ourselves, our peers and the government to do things differently and better.

Group of people at a construction site wearing high-visibility jackets and hard hats, engaged in a discussion. One person in the foreground has "THAKEHAM" printed on the back of their jacket. The group includes individuals with white and blue hard hats. Scaffolding and construction materials are visible in the background, indicating an active building site.
Partnerships
2 / 4

We build strategic partnerships that last, built on a shared vision of what housebuilding should be. Choose us for a quality product designed and built to outlast your investment cycle, while standing the test of time.

A newly built two-story brick affordable home with solar panels on the roof, surrounded by a landscaped garden with blooming white flowers. A paved walkway leads to the entrance, and a curved road runs alongside the property. In the background, additional houses of similar modern design indicate a newly developed neighbourhood focused on sustainability.
Affordable
3 / 4

Everyone deserves a home they can be proud of. That’s why our affordable homes are built to the same high standard as private homes with no compromise on design, construction materials or care.

Close up shot of a kitchen sink, premium appliances in the Kensington showhome at Welborne Garden Village.
Quality
4 / 4

Every development we build – and every piece of strategic land we own – reflects our commitment to quality and attention to detail.​ Nothing is overlooked. Everything is carefully considered.

Building better futures, together

An older man wearing a green vest over a plaid shirt kneels on a wood-chip-covered ground, beside a wooden fence with a hedgehog highway hole. A young girl peeks through the hole, her face visible through the opening. The hole is marked with a green label featuring a hedgehog illustration, highlighting its purpose as a safe passage for wildlife.

Leaving nature better than we found it

We believe that developments should provide accessible natural areas close to people’s homes, designed to complement the wider local landscape and linking up large, nature-rich open spaces with a network of green and blue corridors.

We’ll help nature flourish through carefully designed initiatives, considerate planting and other habitat features. This includes:

  • Hedgehog highways, in fences providing freedom to roam gardens and natural foraging.

  • Swift bricks, built directly into the walls to provide much-needed nesting spaces.

  • Bat boxes, fitted to trees to help local ecosystems by controlling insect populations.

We have a great track record in bringing these initiatives to life, with our planning applications calculating on average 13.58% biodiversity net gain. At our Martingales development in Bookham, the Surrey Wildlife Trust’s ecology consultancy carried out an assessment predicting an impressive 41.38% biodiversity net gain.

Our work in sustainability
A man stands in a community owned shop, holding a green shopping basket. The store shelves are stocked with various food items, including canned goods, snacks, and beverages. The person is near a refrigerated section with bottled drinks. Large windows allow natural light to brighten the well-lit space, highlighting the variety of products available.

A connected community

Our dedication to social value delivery alongside our industry-leading focus on biodiversity and zero carbon, have resulted in us being widely accepted as being at the forefront of community creation in the UK.

We’re infrastructure led – and strive to create community owned and run facilities. Owned and run by the community, for the community.

Community engagement

About us

We are an independent housebuilder operating across the South of England. We build and sell homes by planning each place properly from the start. That means designing homes, streets and green spaces together, understanding existing infrastructure, determining what is needed to support growth and delivering homes that fit their setting. We focus on quality, usability and long-term value.

We deliver differently because we start in a different place. We shape the layout before designing individual homes. We assess infrastructure needs early and plan for mixed communities from the outset. This is a delivery model, not a slogan.

Designed for life, built for the future: Our homeowners' stories

A couple standing together on a residential street in front of a newly built brick house on a bright day.

"Welborne has been on our radar for years, and we could not wait to be part of something so special. Being the first residents here feels like a privilege. We are excited to see the community grow and to play a part in shaping it."

Robert & Jane

Welborne residents

A person stands at the entrance of a modern red-brick house with rooftop solar panels. The front yard features neatly trimmed grass and small plants, suggesting a well-maintained suburban setting. Similar homes appear in the background, reinforcing a community focused on eco-conscious living.

"Even the solar panels clean themselves when it rains. No matter what happens with energy prices, we know what to expect."

Steve & Sarah

Templegate Zero Bills residents

Two people walking a dog along a gravel path in a green residential area with trees, grass, and modern brick houses in the background. A small playground structure is visible behind them.

"It’s not just a development, rather a community. For us, it gave us everything we were looking for and more. It has a heart and a soul, which we didn't expect and we loved finding."

Julie, Ian & Harriet

Woodgate residents

Two people stand outside a brick house with white-framed windows and blinds. The person on the left wears a navy blue t-shirt with an orange graphic and blue jeans, with their arm around the person on the right, who wears a white lace top and patterned trousers. Behind them, an open door reveals a hallway and a glimpse of a garden, suggesting a warm, welcoming moment.

There’s a nature reserve just across the road, while we can walk just about everywhere, including to the town centre. We want to walk more to keep active, and living here means we hardly need to use our cars anymore."

Steve & Roberta

Templegate residents

Jenny enjoys a coffee in the Woodgate cafe at Pease Pottage. She wears a white sild scarf with dark blue spots.

“I’m a people person, and Woodgate has such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I remember the first time I came here. I came for a coffee with a friend and we sat in the café overlooking the big village green. I thought to myself that I’d like to live here.”

Jenny

Woodgate resident

Richard and Sue stand outside their new home in Newick. The house is clad in a light grey cladding.

“We initially looked at other period properties, but we felt a newbuild home would be right for us. We didn’t want the hassle of all the general maintenance of an older house, such as old boilers, changing electrics and sash windows. A new build gave us a clean slate.”

Richard & Sue

Berry Croft residents

Jon and Sarah stand outside their new build home at Manorwood in Surrey. A light brown front door and bricks are visible behind thm.

"We lived there for thirty-four years and raised our three children in that home, but it was creaking at the seams! We didn’t feel we could leave the house for any length of time without fear of something going wrong, such as a pipe bursting or the roof leaking. We chose a new build home for peace of mind."

Jonathan & Sara

Manorwood residents

A couple stand smiling outside a modern semi-detached home with a mix of white siding and brickwork. The front door displays the number 9, and a potted plant rests near the entrance. A white car is parked in the driveway, adding to the impression of a tidy, welcoming residential setting.

"After sending a friend to check it out for us, we were mesmerised. He called us from his car and said, ‘You need to live here, I’ve never seen a place like this."

Jai & Norbi

Woodgate residents

Three people sit closely together on outdoor steps in front of a red brick wall and white door. The person on the left wears a blue-and-white patterned blouse with jeans, the center figure wears a pink dress layered over a floral shirt, and the person on the right wears a green T-shirt with dark trousers and a watch. Their relaxed posture and proximity suggest a familial or friendly bond.

"I love the design, the layout, the wide roads with the houses nicely set back. It’s spread out and already has a nice community feel. With the park next door and a new Village Green, this is our long-term, hopefully forever home. And that was all before we stepped inside!”

Abbi & James

Woodgate residents

Our latest posts

Testimonial
A two-story detached brick house with a red tiled roof and white-framed windows. Three people are standing together at the front door, with a small paved path leading to the entrance. Low greenery borders the house, and similar homes are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Family swap self-build dream home for a new build

Young family swap self-build dream home for an energy-efficient new build in Newick, East Sussex.

News
Six individuals in high-visibility vests and hard hats pose in front of two newly built houses, one featuring solar panels, marking a construction milestone.

First homes handed over at Bishops Lane, Ringmer

We've handed over the first new affordable homes at the Bishops Lane development in Ringmer, East Sussex, to Stonewater.

News
CGI of a tree-lined residential street with brick houses featuring pitched roofs, white window frames, and visible solar panels. A cyclist rides past in the foreground, while a pedestrian walks along the pavement. A parked car and partly cloudy sky add to the serene, eco-aware suburban scene.

Affordable net zero carbon homes in Ringmer

We've increased the specification of the houses at our Bishops Lane development in Ringmer, East Sussex, to net-zero carbon.

Testimonial
Richard and Sue stand outside their new home in Newick. The house is clad in a light grey cladding.

Moving from London back to our East Sussex roots

A former England Rugby supremo, and more recently, Mayor of Wandsworth has returned to his roots in East Sussex.

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