Progress at Cambourne’s new Cambium Square is continuing at pace to deliver 256 new homes, 40% of which are designated as affordable.
Board members from the South Cambridgeshire Investment Partnership (SCIP) recently visited the development to see first-hand the progress being made on these new homes for the local community.
Cambium Square is being delivered by SCIP, the 50:50 joint venture between South Cambridgeshire District Council and The Hill Group. The partnership was established to deliver high-quality sustainable homes and generate income from private home sales, which can be reinvested into public services.
Located within the Cambourne Business Park, Cambium Square includes 72 council homes for affordable rent, 30 homes available through shared ownership, and 154 homes for private sale, helping to create a balanced, mixed-tenure community. The 102 affordable homes will be managed by the Council and range from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom family homes.
Richard Stobart, South Cambridgeshire District Councillor and SCIP board member, said, “Cambium Square demonstrates the power of collaboration in delivering high-quality, sustainable homes that meet local needs. This community will provide lasting benefits, combining excellent design, green technology and a focus on affordability.”
Sustainability is central to the development, with all the homes gas-free featuring air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels and high levels of insulation. The 72 affordable rent homes are being built to Passivhaus principles, ensuring exceptional energy efficiency, year-round comfort and lower energy bills for residents.
Biodiversity will be increased by 20% through new trees, hedgerows and wildflowers, surpassing the national planning requirements of 10%. This will be achieved by measures such as new trees, hedgerows and wildflowers, and the preservation of existing greenery at Cambourne – alongside an investment in habitat creation at nearby Boxworth.
A new foraging route at Cambium Square will provide a continuous traffic-free green corridor, encouraging residents to engage with nature through edible planting and informal stopping points, while promoting healthier, more connected movement between neighbourhoods and enhancing biodiversity.
The Orchard, also within SCIP’s development at Cambourne, will create a calm, richly planted community space, where meadow grasses, Cambridgeshire fruit trees and informal play areas offer a shared setting for residents to relax, socialise and enjoy a productive landscape at the heart of the development.
Tom Hill, Managing Director of The Hill Group, comments, “We are proud to be delivering a development that prioritises sustainability, high-quality design and community. Cambium Square demonstrates what can be achieved through strong partnership working, with homes that respond to local needs and provide long-term value for the community.”
Cambium Square will also benefit from a local amenity that could be a café or small shop, as well as children’s play areas, parkland, and a vibrant market square. Whilst car-free travel will be encouraged through new pedestrian and cycle routes with storage provided for over 800 bicycles, electric vehicle charging stations are also included in the plans – to make it as convenient as possible for residents making the transition to cleaner vehicles.
