Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) has submitted plans for a new mixed-tenure development of 84 affordable and market-sale homes at Fanshawe Road in the Coleridge Ward of the city.

The proposed development comprises 84 properties, including 39 private homes, and 45 council homes designed to Passivhaus-equivalent performance levels. Of the 45 council homes, 34 will be affordable rent at 60% of market rate, which is the Council’s standard for new builds, and 11 will be affordable rent at 80% of market rate.

In addition to providing much-needed modern accommodation, the new homes will be built to high sustainability standards, eliminate gas usage entirely and meet national guidelines for space.

The site was originally home to 30 ageing homes (20 council apartments and 10 leasehold apartments) built in the 1950s, which were no longer cost-effective to maintain or renovate. Extensive consultations have been conducted with existing residents, who are in the process of being rehomed to facilitate the redevelopment.

The proposal includes the construction of 76 homes within four apartment buildings, with a further eight houses positioned on the eastern and western boundaries of the site. This includes four wheelchair-accessible homes for council tenants, exceeding planning policy requirements by 5%.

Cllr Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member said, “It is important that we provide new developments across the city that are socially inclusive, diverse, and cohesive with a mixture of homes that reflect the needs of people from different ages and abilities along with the council’s housing requirements.

“At the same time, as a council, we must balance financial viability, the likelihood of successful grant applications from Homes England, and development costs over a ten-year housing programme. This proposed development will provide us with further funds that the partnership can reinvest into the programme to deliver more new homes across the city.”

Tom Hill, Managing Director at The Hill Group comments, “We have gone through extensive consultation with the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and the local community to reach this point and are delighted to be submitting this planning application.

“In addition to providing high-quality new homes, we will be enriching the open space with a new play area and amenities that families can enjoy, alongside creating a green corridor with enhanced links between Fanshawe Road and the Coleridge Recreation Ground.”

The new development will achieve a 35% biodiversity net gain through a carefully considered landscaping design that incorporates a wide variety of trees and wildflowers, while preserving existing mature trees. All the homes will have views of green open space, with 85% offering dual aspects, and all flat roofs will feature green roofs for effective rainwater management.

Enhanced pedestrian and cycle routes through the development will encourage sustainable travel, with secure cycle parking and EV charging points.

To reduce the impact on local water resources, passive saving measures will be put in place to allow for more efficient flow of water to taps, showers and toilets, with the aim of there being an average of 99 litres usage per person, per day. Additionally, the inclusion of underground bins, which have greater capacities, will reduce the frequency of collections and save energy.

Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) is an equally owned partnership between Cambridge City Council and Hill Investment Partnerships established in 2017 to address the acute housing need by providing high quality new council homes, market sale homes and commercial and community facilities.

A year ahead of its initial target, to start at least 500 council homes by March 2022, as part of the £70m Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution grant, it is now on site building over 500 new council homes (900 homes in total), has already completed eleven sites and is now working to delivering a minimum of 1,700 new homes, with 1,000 being council homes within 10 years, including the first Passivhaus accredited council homes in Cambridge.

Please note this article was updated on 12 March 2024 to correct references to social rents and affordable rents.