Approvals granted for Cambridge development

Work is to start at the UK's Cambridge University on the first phase of the North West Cambridge development, following approval by the University’s governing body, Regent House.

Outline planning permission was granted in August 2012 for a mixed-use development on the 150ha site of University-owned farmland. The approval was subject to the signing of a local planning authority agreement, planning conditions and other approvals.

Phase one of the development will now go ahead and will include 530 homes for qualifying university and college staff, 450 homes for sale, accommodation for 300 students, a local centre and community facilities, and much of the site infrastructure, which will enhance connections to and within the local area.

Roger Taylor, project director of the North West Cambridge Development, said, “North West Cambridge is 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.”

Subject to further approvals by the local planning authorities, work on Phase one will start later this year with the first buildings scheduled for completion in 2015.

Phase one is estimated to cost £281 million (€330 million), with the scheme in its entirety costing £1 billion (€1.15 billion).

The total project will include 1,500 homes for university staff, accommodation for 2,000 students, 50,000m² of academic facilities, 100,000m² of research and development space, 1,500 private houses for sales, community facilities such as school and shops, a hotel, and a sustainable transport provision including cycle ways.