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 will be 'affordable'.

Progress to date:

  • The main site roads and large underground water attenuation tanks (to prevent downstream flooding through the Science Park and into the River Cam) have been completed.
  • An acoustic fence has been erected alongside the A14 to reduce traffic noise.
  • Construction on a 21 of the 29 housing sites is well under way.
  • Orchard Park primary school opened on 5th September 2007.
  • A new community development worker is based at Buchan Street Neighbourhood Centre and offers support and advice to all new residents as well as linking up with existing communities in North Cambridge and Histon/Impington.
  • Over 350 dwellings are now occupied.
  • The hotel on the western edge of the site adjacent to the A14 is due to open in Spring 2009.
  • Orchard Park Action Group established September 2008 to drive the development forward.
  • South Cambridgeshire District Council agreed to the formation of a new Community Council at Orchard Park on 25th September 2008.

Coming up:

  • SCDC and developer, Gallagher Estates (This link will open in a new window), are working on plans for commercial buildings along the A14 so parts of the fence can be removed to give a more attractive roadside edge.
  • A detailed application for the local centre, consisting of ten shops.
  • A range of community, sport and recreation facilities including grass pitches for junior football, tennis courts and a high quality all weather football training area
  • A small community centre to provide a venue for community activities, groups and meetings is due to be opened shortly.
  • A range of play equipment for children and teenagers is being planned for three different sites
  • Community facilities will all be owned and managed by Orchard Park Community Council.
  • A wind turbine is due to be switched on shortly to provide power for the school.
  • The Citi 4 bus service will run through the site, visit Cambridgeshire County Council website (This link will open in a new window) for more information.
  • 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.

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.

Over 120 homes will be available for shared ownership - now known as homebuy - where people part-buy and part-rent a property, the remainder are for rent. Many of the affordable housing is already built and occupied, with the remaining sites to follow shortly. The Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) are aiming to complete all the affordable housing in the next nine months.

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 SCDC on 08450 450 051
  • download a housing application form
  • 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