Up To 73 Much Needed New Council Homes Set To Be Built

TWO SITES in the city are set to be redeveloped to provide much needed new council housing, if proposed schemes by Cambridge City Council are given the go-ahead.

Under the proposals, Anstey Way in Trumpington ward would see up to 54 new homes built to replace an existing block of flats and a number of small bungalows. The site would be redeveloped with a mix of one and two bedroom flats, including 12 apartments for residents aged over 55, plus a number of two, three and four bedroom houses.

Another development at Ventress Close in Queen Edith’s ward would see two existing council-owned and two leasehold maisonettes, plus nearby garden land replaced by up to 19 new homes, comprising one- and two-bedroom apartments, and three-bedroom houses.

The redevelopment of Anstey Way and Ventress Close is being proposed as the age and layouts of the current properties mean they no longer meet residents’ expectations for modern housing, and in the case of Anstey Way properties have proved difficult to let.

The redevelopments would be funded by a combination of Right To Buy receipts, money from the £70m granted to the council by the government as part of the recent Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution deal, and a proportion of council reserves.

People currently living at the two sites have been consulted on the proposed redevelopments, and residents are being helped by the council to find alternative accommodation.

Cllr Kevin Price, Executive Councillor for Housing, said: “Both of these projects offer an opportunity to replace older housing stock with a greater number of new, sustainable council homes that will meet residents’ expectations.

“We are tackling the serious shortage of affordable housing in Cambridge in a number of ways. One of the ways we are approaching this shortage is by making the best of our existing housing, and redeveloping where appropriate to provide more, and better homes for people.”

At Housing Scrutiny Committee on 7 March, Cllr Price is recommended to approve additional funding for the Anstey Way redevelopment on top of funding previously approved. He is also recommended to approve the capital budget for the Ventress Close scheme.

If approved, the projects will be managed by the Greater Cambridge Housing Development Agency on behalf of the council, and both schemes will be delivered through the new Cambridge Investment Partnership, formed by the council with Hill Investment Partnerships to tackle the affordable housing shortage in the city.