PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Histon Road is a joint venture between Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP), the equal partnership between Cambridge City Council and award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group. A former ATS workshop and Murketts car dealership site will be replaced with high-quality, sustainable homes as part of the council’s ongoing efforts to enhance living standards for council tenants and those needing larger places to raise families. It will feature a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom terraced and semi-detached homes, as well as one, two and three-bedroom flats. 28 of the homes will be allocated to the council’s stock with the remaining 42 properties to be available as outright sale.
The design emphasises reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy bills, and minimising annual maintenance costs. Secure cycle storage and good pedestrian links promote sustainable travel and transport, with key facilities within walking distance. Nearby existing trees on the site are to be retained and native hedgerows and wildflowers are to be planted in order to provide habitats for various species and enhance biodiversity.
We have been providing multidisciplinary technical services and specialist advice since 2023, working as part of a project team comprising Carter Jonas, GUARDA Landscape Architects, Concilio, TSA Riley, Rapleys, and KMC Transport Planning. We were appointed to the roles of Acoustics, Air Quality, Energy, Sustainability, Structures, Geo-Environmental, and Flood Risk.
WHAT WE DID:
PLANNING STAGE:
- Acoustic Assessment
- Plant Noise Assessment
- Air Quality Modelling
- Overheating Assessment
- Energy Statement
- Infiltration Testing
- Sustainability Statement
- Lighting Impact Assessment
- Flood Risk Assessment
- Drainage Design
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS / BENEFITS
- An initial planning application was made in April 2024 but concerns were raised by council officers and the public. Over the following months we then worked with CIP to address the concerns raised, completing a variety of technical requirements in support of a revised application. Several design changes were made in response to the feedback, ensuring that the new layout focused on public safety through improved access and overall connectivity to Histon Road Recreation Ground. The revised planning application was subsequently approved by Cambridge City Council in September 2024.