A ground-breaking ceremony has been held to mark the official start of work at Aylesborough Close, Cambridge, where Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) will be delivering 70 low carbon council homes designed to Passivhaus standards.
The development, located in the Arbury Ward of the city, replaces 36 ageing homes which no longer meet the requirements of residents and fall significantly short of current space standards with very low energy efficiency ratings.
Tom Hill, Managing Director at The Hill Group commented: “Aylesborough Close is an exciting development for the partnership as we continue to replace underperforming, ageing properties with additional high-quality low carbon homes across the city.
“Through a fabric first approach and the integration of renewable technology, these new homes will provide sustainable, renewable energy solutions. This benefits residents by reducing energy usage and improving indoor air quality, offering additional health advantages.”
Arranged in three low-rise buildings, the development features a range of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, including wheelchair-accessible homes, and private outdoor space for each home in the form of a terrace or balcony.
Each apartment has been designed to provide residents with comfortable living spaces with excellent air quality and reduced running costs. To achieve the optimum balance of natural light without concern for overheating, each home will be well insulated and feature high-performance windows, underfloor heating, air source heat pumps, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, and photovoltaic solar panels.
Cllr Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP Board Member said: “I am delighted to see work starting at Aylesborough Close which will provide our residents with more council homes in the city.
“Whilst we ensure that we are building sustainable new communities and providing green open space and leisure facilities across our developments, it’s also important that we ensure that our homes are healthy and improving the quality of lives for our tenants. Aylesborough Close is doing just this.”
Set within a landscaped environment, existing green spaces along the edges of the development are being enhanced, and a dedicated residents’ garden, play area, and horticulture area will be incorporated. Additional landscaping of new trees, mini meadows, and planting will deliver a 20% biodiversity net gain. Furthermore, the integration of green roofs, rain gardens, permeable paving, and attenuation tanks will support the sustainable management of surface water. Half of the parking spaces will also accommodate electric car charging capabilities to promote sustainable transport, and ample cycle parking will be provided to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.
