Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council have approved proposals for 425 Build-to-Rent homes on brownfield railway land in Cambridge North Residential Quarter.
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 is the confirmed housing partner to forward fund, operate and manage the development on completion.
Cambridge North Residential Quarter will deliver a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, alongside linear parks, ground-floor retail spaces, pocket gardens, and tree-lined streets. The design also prioritises pedestrian and cycle movement, with strong local transport links including direct rail connections to Cambridge, London and the surrounding region.
The planning committee report said that the development “delivers a coherent, high-quality residential scheme that will broaden housing choice, contribute to housing delivery in this part of Cambridge, and support the implementation of the approved Cambridge North Masterplan.”
The approved scheme is the next phase of the 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.
Cambridge North Residential Quarter is part of a wider government-backed drive to unlock publicly owned brownfield land for housing. It is one of four developments highlighted as part of Platform4’s launch in November.
Andrew Ferguson, interim CEO of Platform4 and director of blocwork, said: “This is great news and the positive decision allows us to bring under-used railway land into active use. Cambridge North is a great example of supporting the government’s commitment to building more homes next to stations as we look to create a new community in one of the country’s most dynamic cities.”
Richard Thomas, director for bloc Ltd and blocwork, added: “Securing planning approval is a real milestone for the project. It reflects the strength of the design and the case we made for how this scheme fits into the wider Cambridge North Masterplan. We can now work with Grainger to turn these plans into a thriving new community.”
Helen Gordon, chief executive of Grainger, commented: “This is a hugely positive outcome and one that reinforces the strength of our partnership with Platform4 and blocwork. Cambridge North is exactly the sort of well-connected, high-demand location where our build-to-rent model can make a real difference.”
