Orchard Park (Previously Arbury Park)

An aerial photo of the Arbury Park site, taken on 27 June 2007

Drive past the northern side of Cambridge alongside the A14 and you'll see building work is well underway at Orchard Park, previously known as Arbury Park, the name of the development at Arbury Camp. The site will provide 900 quality homes - 270 of which are 'affordable'.

A guide to Orchard Park

Progress to date:

  • June 2004 Local Plan allocated the Arbury Camp site for a housing led mixed use urban extension
  • June 2005 Outline Planning Permission granted for Arbury Camp
  • January 2006 First meeting of the Design Review Panel
  • December 2006 First houses occupied
  • May 2007 50 occupations
  • July 2007 100 occupations
  • September 2007 Orchard Park Primary School opened
  • November 2007 150 occupations
  • December 2007 Public open space (POS5) (children's play area) open to the public
  • January 2008 200 occupations
  • February 2008 SCDC Scrutiny Committee appoints Task and Finish Group to review Arbury Park
  • April 2008 250 occupations
  • May 2008 300 occupations
  • September 2008 350 occupations
  • October 2008 Task and Finish Group present findings to Scrutiny Committee on Orchard Park
  • October 2008 Design Guide approved by Planning and New Communities Joint Portfolio Holder
  • November 2008 400 occupations
  • November 2008 SCDC Cabinet consideration of Task and Finish Groups report
  • December 2008 SCDC Cabinet presents Action plan to Scrutiny Committee to address the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group
  • January 2009 Start of Citi 4 bus service through the development
  • January 2009 Work began on Cambridge Guided Bus Orchard Park link
  • March 2009 450 occupations
  • April 2009 New parish of Orchard Park created
  • April 2009 Progress report to Scrutiny Committee from the New Communities PFH
  • April 2009 Premier Inn hotel opened
  • April 2009 POS six and seven open to the public (Grass and paved seating areas)
  • May 2009 POS three (landscaped area around the circus) and four (sensory garden and children's play area at the community centre) open to the public
  • June 2009 Orchard Park Community Council inaugural meeting
  • June 2009 Work began on POS1 (sports pitches/MUGA)
  • July 2009 500 occupations
  • August 2009 Community Centre transferred to the Community Council
  • August 2009 Planning permission granted for local centre (including 10 shops)
  • September 2009 Work started on artist designed local areas of play (LAPs) at A2, C1 and M
  • November 2009 Scrutiny update on Orchard Park from the New Communities PFH
  • November 2009 Planning permission granted for commercial units (B1 5142sq m)
  • December 2009 539 occupations
  • January 2010 555 occupations
  • January 2010 Report on Self commissioned homes at K1 published
  • February 2010 Ceiling raised in the smaller community room at the community centre
  • February 2010 Planning application for a second hotel received and registered
  • March 2010 Joseph Rowntree - Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods Network event held at Orchard Park
  • March 2010 Cambridge City Council's Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee agree to proceed with the disposal of K1 and management of the process by way of an enabled community self build scheme
  • May 2010 SCDC's Planning and New Communities portfolio holders agree to proceed with next steps at K1
  • May 2010 POS 1 play area and sports pitches open to the public
  • May 2010 605 Occupations (317 market, 288 affordable)

Coming up:

  • Work is progressing on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway (This link will open in a new window). Two bus stops will serve Arbury Park with a dedicated route running along the southern side of the site, adjacent to Kings Hedges Road.
  • Planning permission is being considered for a second hotel.
  • The City Council are looking at the possibilities of delivering a self commissioned housing scheme on it's land to the east of the site.
  • Gallagher's are considering how to implement the additional 220 homes, approved by the planning inspector.
  • Delivery of the local centre.

Affordable Arbury

The development includes a range of one, two, three and four bedroom houses and apartments, providing 270 affordable homes, with 13 specially adapted for people with disabilities and eight properties for the learning disability partnership.

SCDC and Cambridge City Council worked jointly along with the Housing Corporation to make Arbury Park's affordable housing possible. Places for People are providing the homes in partnership with Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association, Papworth Trust and King Street Housing Society.

To register your interest in affordable housing at this new community:

  • call 03450 450 051
  • visit our apply for housing section
  • If you have a connection with Cambridge City please contact the City Council on (01223) 457919
  • If you're interested in shared ownership/homebuy please call (01223) 457827

 

Stonewall, Gay and Lesbian Charity - opens in a new windowBeacon Authority logoInvestor in People logo