Cambridge City Council to deliver 45 new energy-efficient council homes

Cambridge City Council has marked a major construction milestone at its City Reach development, which is set to deliver 45 new energy-efficient council homes. 

All council homes on the new Fanshawe Road development will be built to the council’s Cam standard, designed to support lower carbon emissions and reduce household energy bills. 

The gas-free development will incorporate communal air source heat pumps, solar panels, high-performance insulation and Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality. 

Additional features include electric vehicle charging points, secure cycle parking and a 35% net biodiversity gain, with 27 trees planted alongside wildflowers, bat boxes, bird boxes and green roofs across the apartment buildings to help manage rainwater. 

Cllr Gerri Bird, Cambridge City Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Cambridge Investment Partnership board member, said: “[…] we’re not replacing homes like for like – the new homes will be higher-quality, comfortable, energy-efficient and more affordable to run, with attractive public spaces - creating a neighbourhood that will benefit residents for generations.”