As the largest capital project Cambridge University has undertaken in its 800 years, the North West Cambridge Development aims to secure the institution’s long-term success as a leading organisation in education and research.
The development sets out to create highly sustainable communities that enrich the City and University life. A third of the 150-hectares will be green space with formal and informal landscaping to create a strong sense of place.
The masterplan has four principles:
- Climate - sustainable urban drainage and water recycling supports a landscape of predominately native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. 3000 new homes comply with the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5, supported by a district heating network, energy centre and use of photovoltaics.
- Community - housing is developed around neighbourhoods, with consideration of social infrastructure, open spaces and play facilities, public amenities, urban parks and landscape. A community trust and management systems govern these. The Western Edge provides a naturalistic area for community use while being a buffer between city and countryside.
- Connectivity - extensive pedestrian and cycle networks, public transport and an urban form integrated into Cambridge’s fabric.
- Character - an appropriate mix of materials, technologies and nature with scale and massing, and mixed uses reflective of the city.
The project should complete in around 2030.
Credits as supplied:
North West Cambridge Masterplan -
Client: University of Cambridge
Masterplanning, Planning and Landscape design: AECOM
Infrastructure Engineer: URS
Project Management: Turner & Townsend
Highway Engineer: Peter Brett Associates
Cost Consultant: Gardiner & Theobald
North West Cambridge Phase 1, Lot A Landscape Design -
Client: University of Cambridge
Landscape design and planning : AECOM
Infrastructure Engineer: URS
Project Management: Turner & Townsend
Cost Consultant: Gardiner & Theobald
Soil Consultant: Tim O'Hare Associates
Plant specialist: Nigel Dunnett
Signage and Wayfinding: Placemarque
Architecture: Robin Lee Architects LLP
Art Consultant: Contemporary Art Society
