Plans for a major 425-home build-to-rent development alongside Cambridge North railway station have secured approval, paving the way for the next phase of the area’s wider regeneration.
The Cambridge North Residential Quarter is being brought forward by blocwork, the joint venture between Network Rail property development company Platform4 and developer bloc.
Grainger has been lined up to forward fund the residential scheme and will operate and manage the rental homes following completion.
Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council have approved the proposals, unlocking the redevelopment of under-used railway land immediately next to Cambridge North station.
The new neighbourhood will provide 425 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, supported by a substantial programme of landscaping and public realm improvements.
Plans include linear parks, pocket gardens and tree-lined streets, alongside shops and other active ground-floor uses designed to create a more vibrant and connected residential community.
The masterplan places particular emphasis on sustainable transport, with walking and cycling prioritised throughout the development. Its location next to Cambridge North station will also give residents direct rail connections into central Cambridge, London and destinations across the wider region.
The residential quarter represents the latest stage in the transformation of Cambridge North, building on earlier phases of Brookgate’s masterplan for the area.
Previous development has included a 217-room hotel alongside new commercial accommodation, with major businesses including Samsung establishing a presence at Cambridge North.
The latest approval is also significant for Platform4, which identified Cambridge North as one of four priority schemes when the government-backed property company launched last November.
Platform4 has been established with a remit to accelerate the delivery of new homes and regeneration opportunities on publicly owned railway land, using transport-connected sites to support housing growth and create new mixed-use neighbourhoods.
Andrew Ferguson, interim chief executive of Platform4 and director of blocwork, said: “This is great news and the positive decision allows us to bring under-used railway land into active use.”
The scheme demonstrates the growing role of transport-led development in delivering new housing, with the combination of build-to-rent homes, landscaping, commercial uses and strong public transport connections intended to create a sustainable residential quarter around one of Cambridge’s key transport hubs.
With planning approval now secured, the 425-home development can progress towards its next stages as the wider Cambridge North masterplan continues to take shape.
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