Plans to redevelop a former council estate in Cambridge have moved one step closer after the council submitted a planning application for 134 new homes.
Cambridge City Council is working with housebuilder the Hill Group to redevelop an estate in the Abbey Ward.
The project will be delivered through the Cambridge Investment Partnership (cip), which was founded in 2017 by the local authority and The Hill Group to address housing shortages across the city.
Currently, there are 91 council homes and 17 private properties on the estate but if the scheme is approved, they will be replaced by 78 new council homes and 56 homes for private sale.
The new development is comprised of a mix of one- to five-bedroom properties and four of the homes will be designed for wheelchair users.
The council said all new properties would meet or exceed its ‘Cam Standard’ – design principles aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Plans also include green roofs, play areas and shared outdoor spaces.
The estate, which was largely built during the 50s and 60s, was found for redevelopment due to maintenance and structural problems in some homes. The council said it had been consulting with residents since 2021 and that the final proposals had been shaped by local feedback and advice from experts.
Cllr Gerri Bird, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said the redevelopment was part of efforts to raise standards in existing housing and address Cambridge’s wider housing pressures.
‘We have built 1,150 new homes since CIP started in 2017, including more than 700 new council homes, and we’re committed to building 1,000 more council homes and 1,000 more market sale homes by 2030. These new homes at Ekin Road are just the start,’ Bird said.
Tom Hill, managing director at The Hill Group, said the plans aimed to create inclusive, tenure-blind communities. He added: ‘As a partnership, we are committed to building inclusive communities where everyone feels a sense of belonging. By delivering tenure-blind developments, we ensure that all residents, whether in council homes or private sale properties, benefit from the same high-quality design and shared spaces.
‘Our proposals for Ekin Road reflect this commitment, with plans to deliver larger council houses, including the first four and five-bedroom council homes delivered at a CIP development. These houses will help meet the urgent need for larger affordable homes in Cambridge.’
More information about the new homes can be found here.
Image: The Hill Group/Cambridge City Council
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