- Proposals submitted to transform brownfield railway land at Cambridge North into 425 new high-quality build-to-rent homes, with parks, community spaces and amenities
- Grainger Plc announced as housing partner to forward fund, operate and manage the development on completion
- The development supports the government’s commitment to building 1.5 million new homes this Parliament
Cambridge North is a strategically significant site and is within one of the city’s key growth areas. The plans transform a disused plot of railway land opposite Cambridge North station into a new residential quarter, with community spaces, residents’ amenities and direct access to public transport.
The proposed scheme builds on the planning approved Cambridge North Masterplan delivered by Brookgate, which already includes a 217-room hotel and a commercial building home to occupiers including Samsung supported by retail.
The development is being brought forward by blocwork, a joint venture between Platform4, Network Rail’s property development company, and partnership developer bloc ltd. Grainger plc will forward fund the scheme and manage the development once complete.
The selection of Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, builds on its partnership with blocwork to deliver over 2,000 new purpose-built rental homes across sites in major cities across Great Britain. This follows the successfully delivered 348-home neighbourhood at The Barnum, Nottingham, next to the train station.
Cambridge North Residential Quarter will deliver a mix of residential, alongside linear parks, pocket gardens, and tree-lined streets. The design also prioritises pedestrian and cycle movement. With strong transport links, including direct rail connections to Cambridge, London and the surrounding region the new neighbourhood reduces car dependency for future residents.
In addition to its sustainable location, the new homes will feature zero carbon technology to reduce carbon emissions. This includes fabric first design, hot water heat pumps, high efficiency photovoltaic panels and water saving fittings.
Cambridge North Residential Quarter is part of a wider government-backed drive to unlock publicly owned brownfield land for housing. The scheme was one of four developments highlighted as part of Platform4’s launch in November.
The scheme directly supports the government’s Plan for Change milestone to build 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England this Parliament, helping to address the housing crisis and make renting more accessible across the country.
Andrew Ferguson, Acting CEO of Platform4 said: “The proposed development will transform the area, bringing under-used railway land into active residential use and creating a new community in one of the country’s most dynamic cities. These proposals are the next step in bringing forward a new neighbourhood with seamless transport connections and proximity to the historic city.”
Richard Thomas, Director for bloc Ltd and blocwork LLP added: “Cambridge North Residential Quarter represents exactly the kind of development that brownfield land should be used for. Our partnership with Grainger plc will ensure these homes are built to the highest standard and managed with residents’ long-term experience in mind.”
Helen Gordon, Chief Executive of Grainger, commented: “We are pleased to be working with our partners at Platform4 and blocwork to bring forward plans for Cambridge North Residential Quarter, reflecting our continued focus on delivering high-quality, purpose-built rental homes in well-connected locations with strong demand. This scheme builds on our established partnership with Network Rail and our shared ambition to unlock underused land to deliver much-needed new homes across the UK.”
Matthew Branton, Managing Director at Franklin Ellis Architects added: “Working with blocwork, Platform4 and Grainger on Cambridge North has been a rare opportunity to design high quality, sustainable buildings around a unique landscaped courtyard. We look forward to realising this project with the design team and bringing forward essential new homes for Cambridge.”
Planning support was provided by Bidwells and the architect for the scheme is Franklin Ellis Architects.
Images courtesy of Franklin Ellis Architects on behalf of bloc and Platform4.
Notes to editors
Platform4
Platform4, is Network Rail’s property development company aimed at unlocking under-used railway land. Created from joining the property development team of Network Rail and London & Continental Railways, Platform4 bridges infrastructure and the built environment, and has a proven track record in unlocking the value of the national rail estate. Its projects and asset management generate public value through jobs created, the development of new transport hubs, or the regeneration of brownfield land to deliver new sustainable places. Platform4 aims to enable 40,000 new homes over the next decade.
blocwork
blocwork is a joint venture between bloc and Platform4. The partnership development company supports the regeneration of underutilised land and buildings adjacent to railway infrastructure, unlocking economic value by maximising the potential of each site.
About Grainger plc
Founded in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1912, Grainger plc, a FTSE 250 business, is the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and leader in the fast-growing build-to-rent sector, providing c.11,291 rental homes to over 25,000 customers. With a pipeline of secured build-to-rent development projects totalling c.4,000 homes and £1.2bn, Grainger is creating thousands more rental homes by investing in cities across the UK.
Grainger works in partnership with a large number of public sector organisations to deliver new homes to local communities, including Transport for London, Network Rail, the Ministry of Defence, Lewisham Borough Council and the Local Pensions Partnership.
Grainger’s build-to-rent developments provide a range of customer benefits from professional on-site resident services teams, resident amenities including gyms, residents’ lounges, roof terraces, meeting rooms and co-working space for those working from home, and superfast 250MB fibre optic broadband.
Grainger takes a leading approach to sustainability and Environmental and Social issues (ESG), recognised as a FTSE4Good business, the National Equality Standard and ranked a Top 50 employer by Best Companies in the Large Company category.
