An exciting milestone has been reached at Cambridge Investment Partnership’s flagship development, Ironworks with the official opening of the new playground.
Built on the site of the former Victorian Iron Foundry and more recently the council depot, Ironworks in Mill Road, Cambridge is creating a new community featuring 236 new studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, and two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, with half for private sale and half as council rented homes.
With almost 30% of the development green open space, great emphasis has been placed on creating a place for everyone to enjoy, with open space, parks, high quality landscaping and a new community centre woven into the design.
The new playground is situated in Eagle Park, in the heart of the development, which also incorporates rainwater gardens and picnic areas.
Cllr Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP Board Member said, “It’s exciting to see how through excellent design, placemaking and consultation with the local community and councillors, a former brownfield site in the heart of the city can be transformed into a brand-new community, delivering much needed high quality council homes for our residents.
“The new park and playground are already proving popular with residents living in and surrounding Ironworks and we look forward to the much-anticipated opening of the new community centre at the end of the year.”
Ironworks has been designed to complement the traditional Victorian architecture of the adjoining streets, with houses featuring an array of different bricks, roof designs and front door colours, whilst the apartment buildings pay testament to the area’s industrial heritage using striking angular mental framing and mellow brickwork.
Tom Hill, Regional Director of Hill commented: “We are extremely proud of what our partnership is delivering at Ironworks. Through exemplary residential design we are creating a community that is rich in green open space, public art and providing 50% council rented homes that are integrated in a seamless manner so there is no distinction between tenure. This development is a proud extension of Mill Road and a special place to live.”
As part of the development, a new highly sustainable community centre is being built, as well as an extensive public art programme which is being inspired by the rich industrial heritage.
Sustainability is an integral part of the design of Ironworks, with homes featuring increased cavity wall thickness, mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) and photovoltaic solar panels, while the wider scheme includes rainwater gardens, swales, new habitat creation and green roofs.
