Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP), the equal partnership between Cambridge City Council and Hill Investment Partnerships, has submitted a revised planning application to South Cambridgeshire District Council for Parcel L2, Orchard Park after working with Mole Architects to improve the design of the site.
The site has existing planning permission for 63 homes, a gym and two commercial units with 40% shared equity homes. The revised application will provide 75 new homes, including 40% council rented homes in a creative new design with two apartment blocks and a row of coach houses. This highly sustainable development will be ‘gas free’ with air source heat pumps, biodiverse green roofs, six electric charging spaces, one hybrid/electric car club vehicle and above-policy cycle parking provision of 124 bike spaces.
CIP has worked closely with the local community to design the scheme and a masterplan of improvements to the adjacent public open space. These include extensive recreational and biodiversity improvements and include a community growing garden, pergola and seating area, trim trail, running track, table tennis table and generous planting.
Cllr Richard Johnson, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member said: “The new proposals have given us the opportunity to design a welcoming new space which sees the provision of much needed new council homes in the north of the city as well as an increase in the overall number of homes being delivered on the development.
“The revised design also encourages sustainable methods of travel with above policy provision on cycle spaces and the electric vehicle charging spaces. We have also improved the public realm to provide new open spaces that integrate with and enhance the neighbouring public open space, enabling us to create a coherent, connected neighbourhood in Orchard Park.”
The site is one of the last parcels of land at Orchard Park to be developed and has been allocated for housing. The homes will be built in line with the Cambridge Sustainable Housing Design Guide using standards which exceed national policy guidelines including denser insulation and wall thickness to minimise heat loss and reduce residents’ energy bills.
Tom Hill, Regional Director of Hill comments, “We are really excited to be submitting these new plans for Orchard Park. As part of our revised application we have also taken into account views and comments shared at a number of online consultation meetings we held with local residents and community groups over the summer.
“As well as delivering a high quality, sustainable development we are including some improvements to the public open space for the community to enjoy.”
The scheme will include sustainable drainage features and there will be additional tree planting to provide privacy to the flats at Engledow Drive.
The new homes at Orchard Park will have excellent accessibility to Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge Business Park, Cambridge North station and the city centre via regular bus routes and the guided busway.
