Pupils find their ‘green fingers’ as they celebrate the completion of new council homes in Cambridge
Pupils from Kings Hedges Educational Federation School joined councillors at the latest Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) development, Aragon Close and Sackville Close, to plant the final landscaping touches and officially mark the completion of the highly sustainable development.
CIP, the equal partnership between Cambridge City Council and The Hill Group, award-winning housebuilder, has successfully transformed two former garage sites into fourteen, two bedroom low-carbon council homes, seven at each location. The new homes are a testament to the partnership’s commitment to providing affordable, sustainable housing in the city.
Cllr Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member said, “These homes are an important step towards delivering sustainable and affordable homes across the city. “It's wonderful to have pupils from Kings Hedges involved in marking this milestone, as they represent the future we are building towards, where everyone has a warm, safe and affordable home that is also greener, more energy efficient for our city.”
The newly completed homes feature thick, highly insulated walls, ensuring very low energy use and minimising heating costs for residents. Each home is also equipped with gas free heating, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery and Air Source Heat Pumps, reflecting CIP’s commitment to supporting the City Council’s broader sustainability goals and promoting low-energy living.
Tom Hill, Managing Director at The Hill Group, said, “Our Aragon and Sackville Close developments are prime examples of how we are working together as a partnership to transform underutilised areas of the city to deliver high-quality, safe, attractive, and sustainable communities for people to live in. “We are delighted that the students could join us today to add the finishes touches to our landscaping, which includes a range of species designed to encourage bees and other insects, helping to increase biodiversity and support the local ecosystem.”
In addition to the energy efficient features, both developments also offer car parking, landscaped areas and ample cycle storage, encouraging green modes of transport and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
