An official ground-breaking ceremony has taken place to mark the start of construction work at Cambridge Investment Partnership’s Meadows and Buchan Street sites.
The developments are replacing two existing community facilities with a modern, highly sustainable community hub, along with 106 new council rented apartments, new open space, a public plaza and retention of a café and shop space.
Cllr Mike Todd-Jones, Executive Councillor for Housing and CIP board member said: “I am delighted to be able to official mark the start of construction work at The Meadows and Buchan Street sites. This development will be providing over 100 much needed brand new council apartments which will accommodate local people who are currently on the housing register as well as providing some great community facilities for those living close by.”
At the Meadows site CIP will be providing 78 new one- and two-bedroom apartments for council rent and the Buchan Street site will see 28 one- and two-bedroom council rented flats built. Four of the flats at The Meadows and one at Buchan Street will be for wheelchair users.
Tom Hill, Regional Director for Hill commented: “This is a really exciting project for us. As well as delivering brand new council homes we are building a highly sustainable community hub for local residents which has been designed to BREEAM Excellent, meaning it will be in the top 10% of non-domestic buildings in the UK in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability.”
The new developments will offer high levels of sustainability with electric charging points for cars, 230 cycle spaces across both sites, underground recycling bins and green roofs, with solar photovoltaic panels and gas free heating as the main energy sources. The Cambridge Local Plan targets 19% carbon reduction on 2013 Building Regulations and both sites will achieve around 60% in carbon reduction, significantly exceeding local plan requirements.
A net total of 109 new trees will also be planted, and as well as retaining the zip wire and trim trail, a MUGA (multi-use games area), an improved free-draining Sport England approved football pitch, new play areas and a skate area will be provided at the recreation ground, replacing the current provision.
As part of the approved plans 93.6% of the open space will be retained, as opposed to 85% proposed under the first consultation and 92% in the second. Enhanced meadows and woodland areas will also mean an overall improvement of 60% in biodiversity for the open space.
Header image shows Cllr Todd Jones and Cllr Smith at the groundbreaking at The Meadow and Buchan Street.
