Highland Homes Breaks Ground on 554-Home Neighborhood in Fulshear’s Heritage Bend
For families watching Fulshear’s continued growth, another major piece of the area’s future housing landscape is beginning to take shape.
Highland Homes has broken ground on the first section of a 188-acre neighborhood within Heritage Bend, the large master-planned community under development near Westpark Tollway and Texas Heritage Parkway. The Highland Homes parcel is planned for 554 homes, adding new housing choices while bringing more roads, utilities and community spaces to one of Fort Bend County’s fastest-developing corridors.
The July 9 groundbreaking marked the transition from broad community planning to construction inside Highland Homes’ portion of Heritage Bend. The builder expects its first homesites to be ready in early 2027, with home sales anticipated to begin within approximately six months.
First Phase Will Bring 204 Homesites
Highland Homes is developing the land and will serve as the homebuilder throughout all phases of its 188-acre parcel.
The first phase will include 204 homesites on 50-, 60- and 70-foot lots. Underground utility installation and road paving are now beginning, with the initial homesites expected to be completed early next year.
“Work has been progressing steadily in Heritage Bend,” said Jeff Stinson, senior vice president of land and strategic planning for Highland Homes. “The major infrastructure work that Hines has been facilitating has reached a point that we can now begin installing underground utilities and paving roads in our portion of the community.”
That infrastructure is especially important for residents because large residential developments depend on more than individual home construction. Water and wastewater capacity, collector roads and major thoroughfares must be built or expanded before neighborhoods can fully open.
Work is underway on Heritage Bend’s water and wastewater plants, internal collector roads and an extension of Texas Heritage Parkway.
“The work should be completed by year’s end, which is perfect timing for the completion of our first phase early next year,” Stinson said.
What Highland Homes’ Heritage Bend Project Means for Fulshear
The construction represents another visible sign of long-term development along the Fulshear and Katy growth corridor.
Heritage Bend is part of approximately 3,600 acres acquired by Hines near Westpark Tollway and Texas Heritage Parkway for a large master-planned community. As reported by My Neighborhood News in August 2025, Hines previously announced plans for more than 7,000 homes across the broader development, along with new infrastructure and recreational amenities.
For current residents, the project could mean more nearby housing options and eventual access to new community amenities. It also adds to the broader conversation surrounding traffic, public infrastructure, schools and services as western Fort Bend County continues to grow.
Highland Homes’ neighborhood is planned with trails and a pocket park and will sit next to an amenity complex being developed by Hines. Broader plans previously announced for the master-planned community include hiking and biking trails, recreation space and preserved natural areas.
“It’s exciting to see Heritage Bend reach this point of development, with builders starting work on their individual neighborhoods,” said Rob Witte, senior managing director for Hines. “Highland Homes has a significant parcel in Heritage Bend and is well poised to bring their neighborhood to life.”
Builder Taking a Larger Role in Community Development
The Heritage Bend project also reflects a shift in Highland Homes’ approach to development.
Rather than only purchasing finished homesites and constructing houses, the company is increasingly developing portions of communities itself. That means Highland Homes is overseeing the horizontal development of its Heritage Bend parcel—including utilities, streets and homesites—before building the homes.
“We are bringing the Highland experience to a community level here in Heritage Bend and other communities throughout Texas,” Stinson said. “As we work to begin home sales in the next six or so months in Heritage Bend, we are actively looking for other Houston-area opportunities.”
Highland Homes currently builds in communities across the Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio regions. Its website lists more than 30 communities in the Houston market, including existing new-home communities in Fulshear.
Founded in 1985, the employee-owned company builds nearly 3,500 homes across Texas annually. Highland Homes was ranked No. 6 on Home Builder Executive’s 2025 list of the largest privately owned homebuilders in the United States, according to the company.
What Happens Next at Heritage Bend
Infrastructure work serving the development is expected to continue through the end of 2026. Highland Homes anticipates completing the first 204 homesites in early 2027, with home sales expected to begin around the same period.
Home designs, floor plans, pricing and model-home information have not yet been announced. Those details are expected to become clearer as the first phase approaches completion.
For Fulshear-area homeowners and prospective buyers, the groundbreaking offers an early look at how Heritage Bend is moving from an expansive development plan into a collection of individual neighborhoods. The roads, utilities and homesites now under construction will help determine how quickly the community takes shape—and how it becomes part of the area’s evolving identity.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on Heritage Bend, Highland Homes in Fulshear and new residential development across Fort Bend County.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
