Cambridge City Council and housebuilder The Hill Group’s plans to build 134 new homes on Ekin Road in the Abbey ward of Cambridge continue to progress as their joint venture – Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) – has submitted a planning application for the site.
78 new council homes and 56 private homes will replace the existing 91 council homes and 17 private homes on the former council estate. The scheme offers a balanced mix of one- to five-bedroom homes, including the first five-bedroom council homes delivered through CIP, as well as four homes specifically designed for wheelchair users.
In addition, all the council homes are designed to meet or exceed the ‘Cam Standard.’ Introduced by Cambridge City Council, this standard ensures that every new home delivers low operational energy usage, high levels of thermal comfort, and strong resilience to future climate impacts. The development will have ‘green roofs’, new play areas, and space for people to socialise.
The plans have been shaped by feedback from residents during extensive consultation since 2021 on the future of the Ekin Road estate. The estate was identified as a site for possible redevelopment due to serious maintenance and structural issues in some of the existing homes, which were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Feedback from the community and independent expert advice has helped shape the proposals.
While the number of council homes will reduce from 91 to 78, the overall space provided for council housing isn’t reducing; the council is prioritising building larger homes on the Ekin Road redevelopment to support people who desperately need more space than is currently available through existing council housing stock.
When including the new homes being built in nearby East Barnwell, the council is investing in 254 new homes altogether in Abbey, with 198 of these being new council homes. This is a net gain of 97 new council homes across the two sites when taking account of existing council homes that are being replaced. Together, both developments would deliver a mixture of one- to five-bedroom homes to respond to local housing need.
Cllr Gerri Bird, Cabinet Member for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member, said:
“The redevelopment of Ekin Road forms part of the council’s wider programme to raise the standards of existing council homes, deliver additional council homes to meet local need and help address Cambridge’s broader housing supply challenges, including the pressing need for larger family homes. 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.
“Doing nothing was not an option at Ekin Road because of the serious issues in the buildings, meaning our tenants were living in accommodation that didn’t meet our standards. We’ve worked closely with existing residents who have had to move out of the estate in order for the new homes to be built.
This is obviously a major upheaval in people’s lives, but we really do everything we can to help them consider their rehousing options, providing support throughout the process, whether that’s advice, financial help with movers, help with logistics and paperwork, as well as the compensation that people are rightly entitled to. It’s particularly positive that we have brand new council homes built by CIP that are ready for people to move into, which many of our tenants are keen to snap up.”
The vision for the redevelopment is for a well-integrated, sustainable and people-focused neighbourhood that benefits the wider community.
Tom Hill, Managing Director at The Hill Group, comments:
“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. Alongside this, we will create 56 private sale homes to support a wide range of buyers, from first-time purchasers to growing families, helping to create a vibrant, mixed community.”
The homes have been designed with a series of gable and pitched roofs to reflect the character of the area.
Sustainability is at the heart of the proposals, with a range of features to reduce environmental impact and promote long-term resilience. 100% of the homes will be dual aspect to maximise natural light and ventilation, and the landscaping strategy is designed to manage surface water sustainably on site.
The development will target a 20% net gain in biodiversity. This will be achieved through the inclusion of bird and bat boxes, the planting of over 90 new trees along the streets, and the integration of rain gardens featuring ornamental and meadow species throughout the green links and open spaces.
The new play areas will feature play equipment and seating areas designed for residents of all ages to enjoy. These spaces will provide a variety of well-overlooked areas where people can meet, socialise, and children can play safely. The plans have been shaped by feedback from residents during consultation, who highlighted the importance of high-quality social outdoor spaces in fostering a sense of community.
Traffic calming measures will be introduced to reduce vehicle speeds and prioritise pedestrians at key junctions and crossings. Two main green links are proposed within the site, promoting active travel and supporting the wellbeing of the residents. Dedicated cycle routes are integrated in the layout, and secure cycle storage will be provided at the front of each home to encourage active travel.
For further information about Cambridge Investment Partnership please visit www.ip-cambridge.co.uk