News release from Cambridge Investment Partnership
Cambridge Investment Partnership, the equal partnership between Cambridge City Council and housebuilder, Hill has marked the completion of its flagship development, Ironworks with the unveiling of a plaque.
Guests gathered to mark the occasion, which has seen CIP transform the former Eagle Foundry and latterly the council depot site, into a high quality place to live. Inspired by its heritage and combining bold and contemporary industrial design, the development has been built to address the acute need for housing in the city by creating 236 contemporary new homes and apartments, with 118 of them brand new council homes, along with a new highly sustainable community centre, commercial spaces and almost 30% public open space including new parks.
Cllr Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member said, “It is an honour to mark the completion of our flagship development which we are all extremely proud of. From the outset we were committed to providing at least 40% council rent properties on the site, but through excellent design, placemaking, consultation with the community and councillors, the partnership achieved 50% council and 50% private sale.
“The development is an excellent example of a tenure blind scheme which is providing much needed new homes in the city, whilst ensuring there is a focus on the quality of living and ample public and private outdoor amenity space.”
Sustainability is an integral part of the development, and the energy strategy was revised to incorporate additional sustainable measures including reduction of energy use through fabric efficiency measures such as increased cavity wall insulation thickness and renewable technology, including mechanical heat recovery, photovoltaics and green roofs.
The wider scheme has almost 30% green open space including a new on-site neighbourhood park, Eagle Park, which features a large play area, rainwater gardens and green open spaces. The development is also future proofed for electric vehicle charging points and there is ample cycle parking.
Tom Hill, Managing Director of The Hill Group comments, “Ironworks showcases how successful our partnership with Cambridge City Council has been over the past six years, working collaboratively and committed to driving forward new, socially cohesive and highly sustainable homes to build everlasting communities.
“We also ensured that green open space formed an integral part of the design of the development and worked closely with partners to create parks, playground and informal areas where wildlife and plants can flourish whilst creating space for the whole community to enjoy.”
Council tenants, Callum and Kai, moved into their apartment at Ironworks in spring 2022. They said, “There is already a really nice community forming and we’ve said hello to lots of our neighbours who are really friendly so we can already tell it’s going to be a great place to live.”
Phil, private owner also commented; “Our three-bedroom house ticks every box. It offers more space, the all-important location, and energy efficient features such as electric car charging point and solar panels – certainly quite the upgrade from our 150-year-old Victorian home!”
An exciting artistic programme with local artists and the community has been established which further enriches the development, with a seven-metre cast bronze sculpture, Timekeeper by Jo Chapman, celebrating the former Eagle Foundry.
Steam levers installed to the side of buildings also celebrate the Eagle Foundry in the 1850s under the partnership of Headly and Manning, when a wide variety of steam powered machinery and engines were manufactured including engine boilers, gasometers and pumps for use on the land or for drainage. The artwork has been positioned on an expansion joint of the elevation of the building and plays with a lever’s open or close position.
For further information about Cambridge Investment Partnership please visit www.ip-cambridge.co.uk
