Planning permission has been granted for the first phase of the University of Cambridge’s £1bn development in north-west Cambridge, UK. Encompassing 3,000 sustainable houses for employees and the local public, accommodation for 2,000 students and 100,000 sq m of research facilities, the development is to be one of the most sustainable in the area. All new homes are going to be zero carbon and all non-residential buildings will be BREEAM Level Excellent.

Project Director Roger Taylor explains: “It is very important that our development is integrated into the existing community and brings positive benefits to local people. The new community facilities will be open to all and everyone will have access to large areas of new open space for sports, walking and other activities.”

The preferred architects named to complete the initial phase of development are; Wilkinson Eyre Architects (London) and Mole Architects (Cambridge); David Chipperfield Architects (London); Mecanoo (Netherlands); Cottrell & Vermeulen Architecture, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects and AOC (London); RH Partnership (Cambridge); MUMA (London); AECOM (London); and Townshend Landscape Architects (London).