“The North West Cambridge development is a major part of the University’s long term future,” said pro-vice-chancellor Jeremy Sanders. “It will provide much of the residential and research accommodation that the university needs as it grows over the next 20 years.”
In August 2012 the three local authorities involved resolved to grant outline planning permission for a mixed-use development on 150-hectares of university-owned farmland northwest of the city. Outline planning permission remains subject to a Section 106 legal agreement and certain planning conditions.
The £281m first phase includes approximately 530 homes for qualifying university and college staff, 450 homes for sale through residential developers, accommodation for 300 students, the local centre along with community facilities and associated infrastructure. The development also includes substantial landscaping with more than a third of the overall site dedicated to both formal and informal green space.
Project director Roger Taylor said that North West Cambridge would be the largest development in the country to be built to the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 and BREEAM Excellent for other uses. “The ambition to create a low-carbon community incorporates a green travel plan and energy and utilities systems - the development will be an exemplar of sustainable living,” he said.
Subject to the approval by the local planning authorities, work on infrastructure will start later in 2013, and the first buildings will be completed from late 2015.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
