Overview
Set within the Cambridgeshire countryside, less than five miles from Newmarket, Kennett Garden Village is a new residential development designed to offer modern family living in a quieter village setting. The scheme forms part of Bellway Homes’ wider residential offer at The Ferns, bringing together a collection of two, three and four-bedroom homes with a streetscape that feels warm, considered and rooted in its surroundings.
For a development of this nature, the façade had to do more than complete the external envelope. It needed to support the character of the homes, create consistency across the development and provide long-term reassurance for both the developer and future homeowners. The use of Benx Supertech™ Weatherboard helped achieve this balance, giving the homes the familiar appeal of timber-style cladding with the durability and low-maintenance performance of fibre cement.
Client Challenge
Kennet Garden Village required a façade solution that could respond to the practical and visual demands of a modern residential development. The challenge was not centred on one single issue, but on balancing several priorities across the scheme.
Residential character
The development needed to feel attractive and welcoming, with external finishes that complemented the village setting and helped create a cohesive neighbourhood identity. A timber-style aesthetic was important, but the material also had to suit the realities of new-build residential construction.
Long-term durability
With multiple homes across the development, the chosen cladding needed to offer reliable resistance to weathering, moisture, rot, fungal attack and general wear. Reducing future maintenance requirements was a key consideration, particularly for homeowners looking for lasting value.
Fire performance and compliance
Modern residential façades must support high expectations around safety and compliance. The project team needed a system that provided clear assurance, supported by recognised performance credentials.
Programme efficiency
As with any housing development, the system had to be straightforward to handle and install on site, helping maintain programme momentum while still delivering a clean, consistent finish across each elevation.
Benx Supertech Solution
Benx Supertech™ Weatherboard was selected as a fully ventilated rainscreen cladding system, offering the appearance of traditional timber weatherboarding with the stronger performance profile of reinforced cellulose fibre cement.
This made it a strong fit for Kennett Garden Village. The system gave the project team the warm, familiar look they wanted for the homes, while avoiding many of the long-term maintenance concerns associated with natural timber. Its resistance to moisture, rot, fungal attack, impact damage and weathering provided a practical answer to the demands of an exposed external façade.
The system also supported building safety expectations. Supertech Weatherboard is A1 non-combustible to BS EN 13501-1 and BBA accredited, giving the project team confidence in its performance and suitability for contemporary residential construction.
Installation was kept simple and efficient. The lightweight fibre cement planks were installed as part of a ventilated rainscreen façade system using a secret-fix method, helping create a clean and uninterrupted appearance. Factory-applied finishes reduced the need for site-applied treatments, while colour-matched trims, fixings and accessories helped maintain consistency around openings, corners and façade transitions.
Design Commentary
The finished homes at Kennett Garden Village use Supertech Weatherboard to bring texture, rhythm and warmth to the elevations. The weatherboard profile adds a familiar residential quality, softening the façades and helping the homes sit comfortably within their countryside setting.
Rather than relying on heavy visual contrast, the cladding contributes to a calm and consistent streetscape. The factory-finished boards provide a refined surface, while the use of colour-matched trims and accessories keeps the detailing crisp around windows, corners and junctions.
The secret-fix installation gives the elevations a neat, uninterrupted finish. This matters on a residential development where repetition can either feel flat or considered. At Kennett Garden Village, the cladding helps create a more cohesive visual language across the homes, adding character without overcomplicating the design.
Outcomes and Performance Highlights
Aesthetic quality
Supertech Weatherboard helped deliver the natural, timber-inspired appearance required for the development, contributing warmth and texture across the finished homes. The system supported an attractive residential character while helping create a consistent look across the wider scheme.
Durability
The fibre cement composition provides strong resistance to weathering, moisture, rot, fungal attack and impact damage. This gives homeowners a façade finish designed to retain its appearance and performance over time, with reduced maintenance compared with traditional timber cladding.
Fire performance
With an A1 non-combustible classification to BS EN 13501-1, Supertech Weatherboard supported the project’s safety and compliance requirements. Its BBA accreditation also provided third-party assurance around long-term performance.
Installation efficiency
The lightweight boards, secret-fix methodology and factory-applied finishes supported a straightforward installation process. This helped maintain programme efficiency while still achieving a high-quality finish across the development.
Wider impact
Kennett Garden Village demonstrates how fibre cement weatherboard can be used to bring together appearance, safety, durability and long-term value in a modern housing scheme. The result is a residential development that feels visually considered while giving both the developer and homeowners confidence in the performance of the façade.
A strong reflection of the project’s success is that a member of the Premier Building Products team chose to purchase a home at Kennett Garden Village following completion. This personal investment speaks to the confidence inspired by the quality of the construction, the architectural character of the homes and the lasting appeal of the finished community.
Closing Summary
Kennett Garden Village shows how Benx Supertech™ Weatherboard can support the needs of contemporary residential construction without losing the warmth and familiarity expected of a village-style development. By combining timber-inspired aesthetics with the durability, fire performance and low-maintenance benefits of fibre cement, the system helped Bellway Homes deliver a façade solution that is both visually appealing and built for the long term.
