Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP), the equal partnership between Cambridge City Council and Hill Investment Partnerships, put forward the application to South Cambridgeshire District Council after working with Mole architects to improve the design of the site.
The site has existing planning permission for 63 homes, a gym and two commercial units with 40% shared equity homes. The revised application will provide 75 new homes, including 40% council rented homes in a creative new design with two apartment blocks and a row of coach houses. This highly sustainable development 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 of 124 bike spaces.
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CIP has worked closely with the local community to design the scheme and a masterplan of improvements to the adjacent public open space. These include extensive recreational and biodiversity improvements and include a community growing garden, pergola and seating area, trim trail, running track, table tennis table and generous planting.
Cllr Richard Johnson, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member said: "The new proposals have given us the opportunity to design a welcoming new space which sees the provision of much needed new council homes in the north of the city as well as an increase in the overall number of homes being delivered on the development.
"The revised design also encourages sustainable methods of travel with above policy provision on cycle spaces and the electric vehicle charging spaces. We have also improved the public realm to provide new open spaces that integrate with and enhance the neighbouring public open space, enabling us to create a coherent, connected neighbourhood in Orchard Park."
The site is one of the last parcels of land at Orchard Park to be developed and has been 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.
