Grant secured for 480 homes

On 27th November 2008 Cambridgeshire Partnerships secured a Homes and Community Agency (formerly The Housing Corporation) grant for 480 homes at the Trumpington Meadows site. Acquiring the grant is one of our biggest achievements to date and Cambridgeshire Partnerships is pleased to have the grant reserved well ahead of the delivery time.

Katrina Laud, Managing Director at Cambridgeshire Partnerships commented, “Over the past year, the Homes and Community Agency has been very supportive in terms of working with all of the delivery partners. We are delighted that they have reserved grant for all 480 units at Trumpington Meadows.”

“The grant is in line with the local authorities policy of requiring 75% affordable rented and 25% intermediate housing. We are now able to provide certainty to landowners Grosvenor Estates and USS, so that when developers are ready to build out the site, they won’t be waiting for us to negotiate a grant for the affordable homes.”

“Securing this grant should make the whole process a lot smoother, as well as assisting us in delivery of local quality standards,” concluded Katrina.

The securing of the grant demonstrates the Homes and Community Agency’s commitment to the Cambridge Challenge. The Cambridge Challenge was the vision of the Housing Corporation and its aim was to establish a step change in the delivery of affordable housing on three new, major development sites in Cambridgeshire. Its wish is to create thriving new communities that would be well managed, well designed and make the most cost-effective use of the public purse.

The Homes and Community Agency’s East Region review on Cambridge Partnerships reported, “While many stages of development lie ahead, the verdict is that it has been a success story and sets the standard for partner engagement on strategic sites in the future.”

Cambridgeshire Partnerships is working closely with the landowners to enter into legal and planning agreements for the 480 units.

For updates on the other sites, please see our Planning Update news story.