Through Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) – our partnership with housebuilder Hill – we’re redeveloping the old ATS/Murketts garage site on Histon Road to build 70 new homes, including 42 private sale homes and 28 council homes.

This is part of our work across Cambridge to improve accommodation standards for people living in existing council homes; to build additional council homes to meet local needs; and to address wider housing supply issues, including much-needed larger family homes. 

We will provide one new access point from the new development into the neighbouring Histon Road recreation ground, and make a number of improvements to the recreation ground in terms of accessibility, seating, play equipment and biodiversity. None of the Recreation Ground will be lost to the new development. 

The plans for the recreation ground have been developing in recent months and, working in collaboration with the Friends of Histon Road Rec, the team shared an updated plan during June 2025. The plan shows:

• the location of the new footpath, with appropriate lighting, from the development into the recreation ground
• the reconfiguration of the railing around the play area, which will run alongside the new path, to ensure the play area remains safe and secure
• the widening of an existing path within the rec, which will be resurfaced to make it suitable for wheelchair users and mobility scooters
• enhancements to an existing woodland trail to encourage exploration
• new benches to be provided – inside and outside of the play area
• one new play feature to be provided within the secure play area – with existing play equipment kept
• planting of new tree species, colourful bulbs, flowers that support pollinators, and native scrub to increase biodiversity

The recreation ground will be improved overall in terms of biodiversity, play equipment, accessibility and provision of benches, in response to feedback from the users of the rec.

This is enabled by Section 106 funding from the new development, which will also cover ongoing maintenance of the facilities on the recreation ground for years to come.   

Planning for the development was approved at planning committee in September 2024. The planning documents can be viewed by searching application ref. 24/01354/FUL or clicking here.