Inside Kilvington Lakes: The 230-Acre Private Lakeside Estate in Nottinghamshire

Just 34 Residences Across a 230-Acre Estate

Thirty-four residences within a 230-acre setting immediately gives you an idea of what Kilvington Lakes is trying to achieve.

This isn't about squeezing as many properties as possible around a lake.

The South Lake residences have been positioned with consideration for the existing water, mature trees, views and privacy between individual properties.

That sense of space is arguably one of Kilvington Lakes' biggest luxuries.

For many second-home buyers, privacy and surroundings are every bit as important as the property itself. Here, the proposition extends beyond owning a lodge to having access to a much larger countryside environment.

There are holiday lodge developments, and then there are places where the landscape is the reason for being there.

Kilvington Lakes falls firmly into the latter.

Set within approximately 230 acres of Nottinghamshire countryside, near Newark-on-Trent, Kilvington Lakes is being developed as an intentionally low-density private lakeside estate, with just 34 freehold residences planned along South Lake.

But perhaps the most interesting part of the development is what surrounds those homes.

The wider estate is a local nature reserve, with established lakes, woodland and open countryside forming an integral part of the setting. Plans also include the planting of a further 25 acres of native woodland.

Rather than creating a development first and landscaping around it afterwards, Kilvington Lakes is being shaped around the water, trees and natural environment already there.

For buyers looking for a UK countryside retreat, that's an important distinction.

Richard Wright

A Project More Than 20 Years in the Making

There's also an interesting story behind the estate.

Developer Richard Wright has more than 30 years of property development experience, particularly involving high-end homes where privacy, space and natural surroundings form an important part of the design.

According to the developer, Wright had spent around 20 years looking for the right piece of land with water before the opportunity to acquire Kilvington Lakes arose.

The estate was purchased in July 2025, with infrastructure works beginning shortly afterwards.

Wright describes Kilvington Lakes as a legacy project for himself and his family, with plans to remain involved in the development and management of the wider estate.

For prospective buyers, that background provides useful context.

Kilvington Lakes isn't being presented simply as a collection of properties to construct and sell. The vision is for a small community within a much larger managed estate.

Life Beside South Lake

Water is central to the Kilvington Lakes concept.

The current three-bedroom residences are positioned beside South Lake, with their layouts designed to make the most of the views and natural light.

Inside, each lodge provides approximately 108.23m² of accommodation, centred around a spacious vaulted open-plan living area.

Bifold doors connect the main living space with a wraparound outdoor deck, creating a direct relationship between the interior, the lake and the surrounding countryside.

A log burner provides a focal point during colder months, while two of the three bedrooms enjoy views towards the water.

The current specification also includes:

Three bedrooms

Two bathrooms

Accommodation for up to eight guests

Vaulted open-plan living area

Fully fitted kitchen

Bifold doors

Wraparound decking

Log burner

Utility and dog room

Private sauna

South Lake views

It's very much a property designed around spending time there rather than simply having somewhere to sleep.

A Lakeside Lodge Designed for Every Season

It's easy to picture a lakeside property during summer.

Doors open, evenings on the deck and views across the water are naturally part of the appeal.

But Kilvington Lakes has been designed with year-round use in mind.

According to the developer, construction incorporates timber framing, natural cladding and insulation specified for year-round living.

That makes features such as the log burner and private sauna particularly relevant.

A weekend beside the lake in autumn or winter offers a very different experience from a summer stay, but potentially an equally appealing one.

For buyers considering a second home in the UK, the ability to enjoy it throughout the seasons could be an important consideration.

Nature Isn't Just the Backdrop

One of the more distinctive aspects of Kilvington Lakes is its relationship with the surrounding environment.

The wider estate is a local nature reserve, so the natural setting isn't simply a landscaping feature created to market the residences.

It's already part of the character of the land.

Plans for the estate include approximately 25 additional acres of native woodland, intended to provide natural screening and help protect views and boundaries while creating additional habitat.

The positioning of the residences has also been influenced by existing trees and water.

For anyone accustomed to densely developed holiday parks, the approach is noticeably different.

A Managed Countryside Escape

Second-home ownership can sound wonderfully relaxing until maintenance enters the equation.

Grounds need managing. Roads need maintaining. Landscapes change with the seasons.

Kilvington Lakes is intended to operate as a professionally maintained estate, with a resident team looking after the grounds, lakes and private roads.

For owners, that could be an important part of the lifestyle proposition.

The idea is to arrive at the property and enjoy the surroundings rather than spend the first part of every visit dealing with jobs around the wider estate.

Buyers should, of course, establish the associated management arrangements and ongoing costs before purchasing.

An Alternative to Buying an Entire Second Home

There's another element that makes Kilvington Lakes particularly interesting from a property perspective.

Current opportunities include quarter-share fractional ownership of the South Lake lodges.

Rather than purchasing an entire residence, a buyer can acquire a quarter share.

At the time of publication, current opportunities are advertised from:

£125,000 per quarter share for plots 2, 4, 6 and 8

and

£132,500 per quarter share for plots 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.

International Property Alerts states that the arrangement provides quarter-share fractional ownership with a freehold title.

It's an ownership model that may appeal to someone who wants regular access to a high-quality countryside property without purchasing the entire lodge.

However, fractional ownership comes with its own considerations, particularly around usage, ongoing costs, management and eventual resale.

We've explored those questions separately in our full buyer guide:

Read: Fractional Ownership in the UK: Inside Kilvington Lakes →