Cambridge Investment Partnership has been granted planning permission by South Cambridgeshire District Council for 75 new homes, including 40% council rented homes to be built on Parcel L2, Orchard Park after a revised planning application was submitted by CIP and Mole Architects to improve the design of the site.
The highly sustainable development has been designed to feature two apartments blocks and a row of coach houses and 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 for 124 bike spaces.
Cllr Mike Todd Jones, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member said: “We are delighted that South Cambs District Council has granted us planning for this high quality, sustainable development which will deliver much needed council homes to the north of the city. Throughout our planning application we have worked closely with the local community through public engagement to take on board their comments for the site which have been incorporated into the final design.”
As well as working closely with the local community to design the scheme, it has also involved them in the masterplan to improve the adjacent public open space. This includes extensive recreational and biodiversity improvements along with a community growing garden, pergola and seating area, trim trail, running track, table tennis table and generous planting.
Tom Hill, Regional Director of Hill commented: “This planning permission is yet another milestone for our partnership with the permission for a further 30 brand new council homes as well as market sale homes, together with public open space for the community to enjoy. I would like to thank all our partners on this project who have created a really exciting high quality, sustainable scheme.”
The revised design also encourages sustainable methods of travel with above policy provision on cycle spaces, together with electric vehicle charging spaces. Improvements to the public realm have also been made to provide new open spaces that integrate with and enhance the neighbouring public open space, creating a coherent, connected neighbourhood in Orchard Park.
The site is one of the last parcels of land at Orchard Park to be developed and was 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 and will include sustainable drainage features.
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.
