The website allows the public to see emerging proposals for the 40-acre disused brownfield site next to Cambridge North train station ahead of a formal consultation expected in autumn. The website can be found here.
The Twitter account, @CambNorth, will keep people informed about project news and aims to further raise awareness of the scheme.
Plans for Cambridge North are being brought forward by the Chesterton Partnership, which comprises the owners of the land Network Rail and DB Cargo UK (part of Deutsche Bahn) and Brookgate, their development partner.
The vision for Cambridge North is to transform the area into a thriving and inclusive new neighbourhood, providing much-needed high quality homes and workspaces, together with new community facilities and open space. Sustainability and health are at the heart of the plans, which will encourage low-carbon transport and access to green space. The development will act as a ‘gateway’ for the wider North East Cambridge area, plans for which the combined authority have recently launched for public consultation.
The first phase of Cambridge North, comprising a hotel and office building, is already well on the way to being delivered: The 217-bed hotel is due to open later this year and construction of the office building, which will comprise 9,000m2 of lettable space, is also set to start in 2020.
The second phase of the development, going out to consultation this autumn, comprises 700 high quality homes and 12,000m2 of exceptional office space. It will also include shops, cafés, community facilities and open spaces.
Sven Topel, CEO of Brookgate said: “We have been working hard with our partners, an expert team and the local authorities on our plans for creating a brilliant new neighbourhood at Cambridge North to meet pressing local needs for housing and suitable office space to attract leading employers. With high quality homes, excellent transport links, jobs, community facilities and open spaces – it will have all the ingredients for a thriving and fully integrated community.
“We commissioned the digital platform so that we can share our vision ahead of the formal consultation. In what we believe is an innovative step, we are giving everyone early sight of the evolving plans for Cambridge North.”
The Chesterton Partnership is working on the plans to develop Cambridge North with a number of stakeholders including Greater Anglia and local authorities South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council.