Cambridge secures £100m for council homes
Funding to support Cambridge's ambitious council home building programme
Cambridge City Council has secured a £96.4 million grant from the government to fund social and affordable housing.
This funding will help construct 803 council homes, with 723 offered at lower rent levels, priced at 40-45% of market rates.
The grant also activates a further £584 million committed by the council for a larger plan to build nearly 3,000 new homes by 2036.
Of these, 1,400 will be new council homes, with at least 60% available at reduced rent costs.
This funding represents the largest investment in social housing in Cambridge, aiming to greatly enhance housing availability.
Cambridge City Council has built nearly 900 council homes in the last eight years and has been recognised for its home-building efforts in recent years.
These planned homes will meet CAM standards, focusing on energy efficiency and providing more space.
All homes will be designed for accessibility, with 5% tailored specifically for wheelchair users.
Several projects, like Hanover and Princess Court, are ready to start construction early next year, offering social and affordable homes.
Council leader Katie Thornburrow described the funding as “great news for Cambridge,” adding, “At over half a billion pounds, this is the biggest investment in social housing for a generation. We now have a strategic partnership with government enabling us to build more homes at social rent.”
Cllr Gerri Bird, responsible for housing, noted the positive impact on Cambridge's housing waitlist and living costs, stating, “It’s brilliant to see our hard work over the last few years recognised in this way. We’ve demonstrated we can deliver quality homes at scale for our residents.”
The Cambridge Investment Partnership, a collaboration with The Hill Group, plays a key role in building council homes.
Andy Hill, leader of The Hill Group, said, “This is a positive endorsement of the Cambridge Investment Partnership. With additional funding, we can further deliver high-quality social and affordable homes.”