Significant progress has been made at Cambridge Investment Partnership’s Meadows and Buchan Street developments with construction reaching its highest point on Block C of the development.
Ward Councillors and members of the Cambridge Investment Partnership team were on hand to mark the occasion with a topping out ceremony at the development, which will eventually deliver 106 new council rented apartments, a modern, highly sustainable community hub, new open space including a Sports England approved football pitch, a public plaza and retention of a café and shop space.
Cllr Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member said: “It is wonderful to see the progress being made on site to deliver much needed council homes for the local community, including a number built with wheelchair access. We have worked closely with local residents, taking on board feedback and comments and are really proud of what we are creating.
“Along with new council housing, which we look forward seeing the first residents move into later this year, we are also delivering a highly sustainable community hub, which will be enjoyed by the local community for years to come.”
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: “Across all our developments we are ensuring that we are creating homes for people that are energy-efficient, minimising residents heating bills and outgoings whilst ensuring we are complementing the Council’s environmental objectives.
“At the Meadows and Buchan Street we have ensured a high level of sustainability has been met, with gas free heating, solar panels and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery within the homes to filter the air, along with electric car charging, ample cycle parking and green roofs.”
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. The new community hub has also 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.
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 from left to right at the front — Cllr Jenny Gawthrope Wood and Cllr Martin Smart, at the back from left to right — Simon Redgrave, Site Manager for Hill, Claire Flowers, Head of Housing Development at Cambridge City Council, Jake Smith, Project Manager, Housing Development at Cambridge City Council and Tom HIll, Regional Director of Hill.
