Trumpington Meadows development gets the green light

13 October 2009

A major development of 1,200 homes, community facilities, a primary school and a 60-hectare country park is a step closer. Outline planning permission for the Trumpington Meadows development on Cambridge's southern fringe was issued on Friday (9 October) following the signing of a legal agreement with joint developers Grosvenor, the Universities Superannuation Scheme and bpha (Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association).

The Trumpington Meadows site has been able to move forward with 40% affordable housing, despite the economic downturn, thanks to a landmark deal struck between the local authorities, Cambridgeshire Horizons, bpha (representing Cambridgeshire Partnerships) and the developers/ owners of the site to help the financial viability of the scheme and support an early start to housebuilding.

An agreement has been put in place by Cambridgeshire Horizons to provide Grosvenor and USS with a £4.5 million loan from the Housing Growth Fund to ensure an agreed rate of home building and the delivery of a new primary school with community facilities in the first phase of the development. Crucially, as homes begin to be sold, the loan will be repaid by the developers and so will be available to future developments. This innovative, flexible approach to using Housing Growth Funds is understood to be the first of its kind in the country.

The 40% affordable housing, supported with a grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and provided by bpha, will be designed to high environmental standards. The scheme will also make a major contribution to new infrastructure such as the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway and the new access road to Addenbrooke's Hospital, as well as contributions to secondary education, a children's centre, community facilities and health centre elsewhere on Cambridge's southern fringe. The detail for the first phase of 300 homes at Trumpington Meadows is likely to be submitted in a 'reserved matters' planning application after Christmas. Subject to planning permission being granted, work could start on site in mid-2010.

The on-site primary school will support early years' services for 0 to five year olds, as well as extensive community facilities including a multi-use games area and sport pitches.

Cambridge City Cllr Alan Baker, chair of the Joint Development Control Committee for the Cambridge Fringes, said, "I'm very pleased that the legal agreement on the Trumpington Meadows development has now been signed. It won't be long now before councillors on the Joint Development Control Committee will be able to consider the detailed proposals for the first phase of homes there. This development could make a significant contribution to meeting the pressing need for additional housing in Cambridge - for nearly 8,000 housing applicants on the City Council's housing list and for many of the 40,000 people who commute into Cambridge each day to work. We will go through the 'reserved matters' application carefully to make sure that the development will meet the high design and living standards we expect."

Cllr David Bard, portfolio holder for new communities at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said, "This is a tremendous achievement in the current economic climate. The agreement will ensure that 40% of the development will provide affordable housing for residents of South Cambridgeshire and the city who are currently unable to find decent accommodation within reasonable distance of their work, without compromising the facilities necessary to make this development work as a community. The groundbreaking funding agreement that has enabled this to happen is a testament to excellent partnership work between the local authorities, Cambridgeshire Partnerships Ltd, Grosvenor and USS and Cambridgeshire Horizons and will serve as a model for bringing forward similar developments, not only in South Cambridgeshire, but elsewhere in the country. I would like to thank the officers and partners who have worked so hard to make it possible."

Cllr Roy Pegram, Cambridgeshire County Council's cabinet member for growth, infrastructure and strategic planning, said, "This is really good news and an example of how councils and developers can work together to produce good developments and provide affordable homes for our communities. Cambridgeshire County Council has worked hard with the other authorities to help bring in the vital community facilities such as transport and schools that will make this area thrive. This is about creating communities, not just houses."

Peter Studdert, director of joint planning for Cambridge's growth areas said, "The fact that the developers are prepared to sign up to this package, which includes 40% affordable housing, shows that, with some assistance from the Housing Growth Fund, it is still possible to meet all our requirements for a high quality new community supported by all the necessary infrastructure in spite of the difficult economic climate."

More from:

• Peter Studdert - director of joint planning (Cambridge's Growth Areas) on (01954) 713386 or 07787 514355
• Georgina Hayward - communications manager at South Cambridgeshire District Council on (01954) 713289
• Tim Wetherfield - urban growth project manager at Cambridge City Council on (01223) 457313
• Joseph Whelan - head of new communities at Cambridgeshire County Council on (01223) 699867
• Laura Halstead - communications manager at Cambrigehsire Horizons on (01223) 714176
• Suzanne Miller - communications officer at bpha on (01234) 791036