The Lakes by YOO

The Lakes by YOO is a pioneering luxury residential development near Lechlade in the Cotswold Water Park. Conceived in 2007 by acclaimed designer Philippe Starck and property developer John Hitchcox, the vision was to create an environmentally sensitive retreat where contemporary architecture coexists with nature. Set on more than 850 acres of lakes, wildflower meadows, and woodland, the estate has transformed a former quarry into a private, gated community just 90 minutes from London. Over half a million trees have been planted, and the area’s biodiversity has earned it classification as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Homes within the estate are custom-built, low-energy villas using modular timber-frame construction, prefabricated in Slovenia and erected rapidly on pre-piled foundations to minimise environmental impact. This approach allows for extensive customisation, enabling owners to collaborate with world-class designers to shape layouts and interiors. The villas harness the lake as a renewable energy source for heating and cooling, and incorporate photovoltaic solar panels for electricity generation. Many feature naturally weathering Siberian larch façades, with properties ranging up to 900 m² assembled in just weeks. The estate has grown to include over 130 villas, reflecting sustained high demand.

Design excellence is central to The Lakes’ appeal. Collaborations with designers such as Kelly Hoppen, Jade Jagger, and Marcel Wanders have produced interiors that merge understated luxury with a deep connection to the surrounding landscape. Expansive glazing, sliding doors, and generous verandas blur the line between indoors and out, offering uninterrupted lake views and private, tranquil settings. The core estate covers 650 acres with only around forty properties, ensuring exclusivity and privacy. Concierge services manage everything from housekeeping and private chefs to activity itineraries, delivering a fully curated living experience.

Life at The Lakes offers residents access to a 17-metre heated pool, sauna, steam room, gym, and a residents’ bar and kitchen. Outdoor recreation is a key draw, with paddle-boarding, zip-wires, fishing, cycling, and over 15 km of lakeside pathways. The estate features a woodland treetop adventure, a mini-farm, and an art park with works by artists such as David Hockney and KAWS. Designed for “cash-rich, time-poor” buyers, homes are available for up to eleven months’ occupancy each year, with the option to rent them out through estate management for both capital appreciation and rental income.

Now approaching two decades since its inception, The Lakes by YOO continues to evolve, with neighbouring Cotswold Waters adding more lakeside homes and apartments in the same architectural style. Its enduring success lies in its seamless integration of design, sustainability, and community — offering prefabricated timber villas, ecological stewardship, curated amenities, and collaborations with leading designers to create a rare blend of modern luxury and rural tranquillity in one of the UK’s most desirable locations.