Friday 22 September 2006
Residents get answers on development

Residents found out more about a planned development of homes and community facilities in Cambridgeshire during an open information session.

The event, held yesterday (Sep 21st) at Meadows Community Centre in St Catherine's Street, Cambridge, gave neighbours of the new Arbury Park development a chance to look at plans and ask questions about the homes, school and other facilities being provided.

The session was organised by Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association, which will provide 282 affordable homes at Arbury Park in partnership with Places for People, Papworth Trust, King's Street Housing Trust, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council.

The homes will be offered at a mix of affordable rents to those on the housing waiting list, and through shared ownership schemes to help people get a foot on the property ladder. Of the 125 shared ownership homes, a total of 20 per cent will be made available to key workers - vital frontline public sector staff such as nurses and teachers.

Arbury Park, being built to the north of Cambridge, will provide a total of 900 homes together with a new primary school, shops and other community facilities.

bpha's community development team were on hand to talk about the work that they would do to help foster a sense of community among new and existing residents. This would include working alongside residents to form residents' groups to help represent their interests.

David Keeling, executive director for development at bpha, said: "The event was an excellent opportunity to meet with local residents and talk to them about the plans and facilities being provided.

"Arbury Park will offer an excellent combination of high quality homes and community facilities to help meet the growing need for housing in Cambridgeshire. The affordable homes being provided will help local people in housing need, including first-time buyers, young families and key workers in a county where average house prices are nine times higher than the average wage."

Large numbers of local people visited Meadows Community Centre between 2.30pm and 6.30pm yesterday to speak to representatives from the housing associations and local authorities and look at the plans.

Arbury Park lies between the A14 and King's Hedges Road to the north of Cambridge city.