An equal partnership between Cambridge City Council and The Hill Group

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Ironworks, Mill Road

Project description

A landmark mixed tenure development in the heart of Cambridge, Ironworks reflects the heritage of the area and reinforces the eclectic and creative community around Mill Road with thoughtful, tenure-blind design and the provision of a community centre, new public open space and a series of art installations.

Site Address:Mill Road Depot, Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AZ
Affordable Housing:50% council rented
Affordable Homes:118
Total New Homes:236
Adapted Homes:5
Architect:Allies & Morrison
Grant Funding:£70m Devolution Grant

Build Programme

Demolition & remediation:Q3 2018
Start on site construction:Q1 2019
First new homes complete:Q2 2020
Community facility complete:Q3 2022
Build completion:Q3 2022
Affordable complete:Q3 2022

Public Art:

£200,000 allocated towards 4 commissions:

  1. Orientation and Wayfinding
  2. Community engagement / Temporary event
  3. Site-specific series of artworks
  4. Creative link between CIP sites

Wider Benefits

  • Much-needed housing, 24% of 500 council home target
  • Highly sustainable new community centre
  • Landscaped public parks and children’s play areas
  • High quality, exceeding Council’s sustainability criteria
  • Gatehouse restored to active use as cafe/restaurant/office
  • £3.5 million towards local schools, parks, sports centres, Chisholm trail, NHS, open space adoption etc

Sustainability Features

  • MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) - highly efficient ventilation systems in all new council homes to reduce energy costs and improve air quality by using heat from the extracted air to heat fresh incoming air, thus reducing condensation within the home
  • BREEAM Excellent community centre - performing to the top 10% of UK non- domestic buildings through highly efficient fabric and electric technologies
  • Combined Heat and Power - efficient heat distribution system for apartments that converts unused energy into electricity to reduce energy costs
  • Fabric-first - reduced heat loss through thicker walls/floors and better insulation, exceeding the latest standards of construction
  • PV panels - on houses and apartments to subsidise electric supply
  • EV (Electric Vehicle) charging points - EV charging points and future-proofed with infrastructure for future connections
  • Sustainable Urban Drainage - rainwater gardens and attenuation features to infiltrate rainwater into soil within the site, reducing pressure on surrounding infrastructure and designing out risk of flooding
  • Installation of bee and bug hotel in partnership with Phoenix Trust
  • Tom Pearman, PYE Radio Switches - Tom has designed a series of inter-related artworks, taking inspiration from items like the switches that would have been used in radios and TVs, manufactured at the former Cambridge based PYE factory
    Tom Pearman, PYE Radio Switches - Tom has designed a series of inter-related artworks, taking inspiration from items like the switches that would have been used in radios and TVs, manufactured at the former Cambridge based PYE factory
  • Ironworks opening of the new playground - The new playground is situated in Eagle Park, in the heart of the development, which also incorporates rainwater gardens and picnic areas.
    Ironworks opening of the new playground - The new playground is situated in Eagle Park, in the heart of the development, which also incorporates rainwater gardens and picnic areas.