Plans to redevelop East Barnwell to cost £54mill

They include 120 new council homes and the relocation of some shops and facilities.

Cambridge City Council is planning to redevelop a number of sites in East Barnwell as part of an aim to regenerate the area.

Two meetings were held this week to provide updates on where the plans currently stand and what the current expected costs are.

The project is due to be delivered by the Cambridge Investment Partnership, a development company created in partnership between the city council and The Hill Group.

The scheme will see the redevelopment of two sites on the corner of Barnwell Road onto Newmarket Road.

The first site is currently home to the Abbey Bowls Club and some tennis courts, which are both proposed to be relocated to the Abbey Leisure Complex.

The second site on the other side of Barnwell Road currently has a number of shops, a library, and some homes.

Planning consultant Paul Belton:

"East Barnwell is one of the more deprived locations in the city and country as a whole.

"It has been subject to numerous regeneration projects over the years that have either failed or stalled.

"The community suffers from consultation fatigue and the community is quite frustrated as they see other parts of the city improved and enhanced, they feel East Barnwell has been left behind.

"The area is home to a number of community facilities that are becoming more and more run down and some are no longer fit for purpose."

Photo: Cambridge Investment Partnership

Across the two sites identified by the city council, 120 new homes are proposed to be built, all of which will be affordable housing and will be a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom flats.

A combined community centre and library building is also proposed to be built, along with a cafe and a number of shops.

At a housing scrutiny meeting, councillors heard how the development was estimated to cost the authority over £54.5million.

Papers presented to the meeting also said the authority is also hoping to receive a £9.1million grant from Homes England to use towards the scheme.

Some councillors raised concerns over the Homes England funding being relied on at this stage and questioned what would happen if that funding did not come through.

Officers said they were as sure as they could be at this stage about the funding.