Council estate redevelopment plans to go ahead

Plans to build 134 homes on the site of a near-empty housing estate have been unanimously approved by councillors.

Cambridge City Council gave permission for the Cambridge Investment Partnership's redevelopment of the Ekin Road estate at a meeting on Wednesday.

In 2024, it gave the authority for the majority of existing homes, many of which are boarded up, to be demolished.

A report said the redevelopment would "replace ageing housing stock that is affected by significant damp, mould and structural issues".

There are 108 homes on Ekin Road earmarked for development, with 14 spared from demolition.

The new homes would be built alongside new public open space, landscaping, parking, and walking and cycling routes.

The existing estate, off Newmarket Road, is made up of blocks of flats, bungalows, terraced and semi-detached houses, with small parking courts, garage blocks and some trees.

The report said the buildings had "significant damp and mould issues" and fell short of fire and buildings safety standards.

It said assessments concluded the properties were approaching the "end of their life".

In 2024, the city council announced plans to spare 14 homes on the southern edge of the estate from redevelopment, following feedback from local residents.

There were seven objections to the proposals, including over noise, dust and vibrations during demolition and construction.

The Save Ekin Road community group objected to the proposed closure of the road to traffic for 57 weeks during the construction period.

It said occupants should be given uninterrupted access to their homes "except for short periods where works are taking place directly outside individual properties".

Council officers said emergency access would be retained during the building works, and there would be temporary accessible parking bays for disabled residents, as well as "ongoing engagement with individual households".

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