Housing Growth Fund - Case Studies
Cambridgeshire Horizons has secured central government growth area funding for Cambridgeshire at consistently high levels over the past three years. This has been used for a number of projects including:
Grafham Water (08/09 £500K)
Cambridgeshire Horizons provided £500,000 grant of Housing Growth Fund money toward a £2.5m refurbishment and expansion project at Grafham Watersports centre. The remainder of the funding was provided in the form of a loan from Cambridgeshire County Council. The overall aim of the project was to make Grafham Water Centre more accessible, more useable, more attractive and more economically sustainable. This was achieved by the refurbishment and re-modelling of existing buildings, to provide conference and seminar facilities, a new dining room and new reception area as well as a new boat store. The centre was opened by Princess Anne in October 2009.
Wicken Fen Vision (£1.06m allocated)
Wicken Fen was the first nature reserve acquired by The National Trust with land purchases starting in 1899. The reserve covers 538.5 ha, and much is designated as an SSSI, NNR, SAC, and RAMSAR site. The long term aim of the Wicken Vision is to acquire 4,000ha of land to the south of the existing reserve over the next 100 years. Housing Growth Fund money was used to support the Wicken Vision, including green transport links, interpretation and signage, the creation of a green transport route from Anglesey Abbey to Wicken Fen, new public access via a bridge over Swaffham Bulbeck Lode (with associated access routes), and the acquisition of up to 80 hectares of farmland to revert to fenland habitat and public open space. Additional funding for the project was acquired from the Heritage Lottery fund, The Tubney Trust, and a National Trust National Public Appeal. Total cost of the project for the funding period was £1,325,000.
Exemplar Eco-Affordable Homes - Hunts (08/10 £1,350,000)
This scheme demonstrates that highly sustainable, affordable homes can be delivered. The funding enabled the development of a Council-owned site to provide 30 affordable homes, some rented and some low cost home ownership. The Huntingdonshire District Council provided the land at below market cost to support affordability of the development and it is intended that the development will be an 'exemplar' incorporating the latest energy-saving technology. Some of the properties will be made accessible to other interested parties and 'cost in use' studies will be conducted to demonstrate how high energy efficient construction can be achieved.
It is estimated that the full cost of the project was £6.13m with the balance coming from Circle Anglia and Registered Social Landlord (RSL) grants.
Riverside Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge (£1.55m Allocated)
Before the Riverside Bridge was created large residential housing areas to the north of Cambridge were separated from the industrial, commercial and retail areas in the south by the river Cam. Existing pedestrian and cycling routes meant a long diversion for residents using these sustainable modes of travel, using shared footways across the busy and congested Elizabeth Road bridge. The Riverside Bridge now provides a more attractive, higher quality and accessible option for cyclists and pedestrians to cross the river by building a new foot/cycleway route, encouraging more people to use sustainable and healthy transport methods. The overall cost of the project was approx £2m with additional funds being raised through S106 contributions.
The Riverside Bridge has scooped two top awards this summer (2010) - the prestigious Arthur G Hayden Medal, from the International Bridge Conference (IBC) and highly commended at the Regional Planning Achievement Awards, East of England, run by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Cowley Road Park and Ride (£3.1m Allocated)
One of the five highly successful Cambridge Park and Ride sites the Cowley Road Park and Ride site fell within the area which is a possible site for re-development. Therefore, the decision was made to relocate the facility to a site north of the A14 junction with the A10, with the twin aims of relieving congestion on Milton Road, and releasing the existing 1.8 hectare brownfield site for development. The project delivered a new 750 place park and ride facility (capable of expansion to 1000 places), with access from the A14 and the A10.
New Build Gymnastics Club, Huntingdon (08/09 £500K)
Huntingdon Gymnastics Club has been providing fun and exercise for children and young people in Huntingdon for over 30 years. The Club now caters for gymnasts of all ages and abilities, from beginners to Olympic hopefuls, and further space is desperately needed.
Cambridgeshire Horizons were asked to support an extension to the current building in 2008. The extended space will be used to increase the number of local residents able to take part in classes at the gym and to be more inclusive of a range of age groups and abilities.
The first phase of the extension work was completed in January 2010 and changes to the entrance of the building away from a residential street to face onto Mayfield Road so that an increase in traffic can be accommodated.
A bright new reception area with wheelchair access and secure office accommodation has also been created including a reception desk. The reception area means that children and young people can wait for siblings and parents in a safe and supervised environment.
Facilities for the young gymnasts who spend many hours in training have also been improved so that they have a relaxation area, a kitchen to prepare meals and showers.
The whole cost of the project is £.4.2m with additional funding from the Huntingdon Freemans charity, Waitrose and WREN.