The Cambridge Investment Partnership has marked the completion of its first development of new council homes and Housing First properties in Cambridge at Anstey Way with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Anstey Way is the first completed development for the partnership which was established three years ago in a bid to tackle the housing shortage across Cambridge. The development has replaced 26 aging council homes that were previously on the site with 56 one-, two- and three-bedroom council rented apartments for local residents. Anstey Way also sees the delivery of the first Housing First properties in Cambridge, comprising of a one-bedroom flat and a ground floor wheelchair accessible flat.
The Cambridge Housing First programme is a pioneering new deal between Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council to provide homes for rough sleepers in the city and create a quicker and more effective route out of homelessness.
Cllr Richard Johnson, Executive Councillor for Housing for Cambridge City Council and CIP board member said: “It is an honour to mark the completion of the first CIP development in Cambridge. This partnership with Hill has enabled the Council to accelerate its plans to build badly-needed council housing in the City and these 56 new homes are just the start of our programme to deliver 500 new council homes by March 2022, with 480 council rented homes already granted planning.”
Tom Hill, Director of Hill commented: “We are delighted to have our first occupations at Anstey Way, a site which was previously occupied by poor quality council bungalows and flats which no longer met the standards expected, transformed into much needed, high quality council rented homes.
“This milestone means a huge amount to us as a business working in partnership with Cambridge City Council to tackle the housing need in the City and these new homes will enhance the quality of living and lifestyle for existing and future residents for years to come.”
Sustainability is also key at Anstey Way and include energy saving features such increased insulation to reduce heat loss and energy bills, solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage to generate electricity to light the communal areas. £125,000 has also been allotted to local play areas, parks and sports centre and CIP has allocated £35,000 towards two public art commissions.
Cambridge Investment Partnership is one of the first partnerships to be formed to deliver brand new council homes and it is already working on 11 sites across the city with 480 council rented homes granted planning.
Pictured above frpom left to right: Shameen Khan, Head of Fawcett Primary School, Fiona Bryant, Strategic Director for Cambridge City Council, Tom Hill, Regional Director at Hill, Cllr Richard Johnson, Executive Councillor for Housing for Cambridge City Council and CIP board member, Chris Luxford, Contracts Manager for Hill, Suzanne Hemingway, Strategic Director for Cambridge City Council, Andrew Roberts representing Trumpington Residents Association and Trumpington Local History Group and Sarah Sabin, artist who created the public art at the official ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of Anstey Way, Trumpington, Cambridge.
