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 through their joint venture, the Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP), to redevelop an estate in the Abbey Ward.
If approved, the scheme would see the existing 91 council homes and 17 private properties replaced with 78 new council homes and 56 homes for private sale.
The new development would include a mix of one- to five-bedroom properties, with the council confirming that it would deliver its five five-bedroom council houses through the partnership. Four of the new homes would be designed specifically 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 identified 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 as well as advice from independent 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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