FAQs

Regeneration is the process of renewal.

Built in the late 1960s, the existing Cambridge Road Estate has outlived its original purposes. As such, the living environment does not meet modern standards, impacting health, education and social outcomes. It is also an estate that is difficult to get around and difficult to police due to its poor lighting and layout.

The regeneration of the estate presents a significant opportunity to both increase residents' standard of living and the number of council rent homes available in the borough — so we can help more people to have the secure home they deserve.

The regeneration will provide 2,170 new high-quality sustainable 'greener' homes, including 941 affordable homes, of which 767 will be council-rented, improved community facilities, green streets, play areas and other outdoor spaces, new jobs, local training opportunities and an enhanced estate layout to provide a brighter and safer neighbourhood.

Background Papers for the Cambridge Road Estate Planning Application are available on the Kingston Council planning portal at https://www.kingston.gov.uk/downloads/download/415/cambridge-road-estate-planning-application-2002942ful---background-papers

Kingston Council is working with development partner Countryside to deliver much-needed new homes with the 'green' credentials to match the borough's ambitious programme for more accessible, affordable and sustainable homes fit for the future.

More information about Countryside is available on the CRE regeneration website at https://www.cambridgeroadestate.com/about-countryside.

The regeneration is anticipated to take between 12 to 15 years, over five phases.

Development projects, particularly large-scale ones like Cambridge Road Estate, involve coordinating numerous teams and stages, which makes it difficult to provide precise timelines from the outset. To ensure transparency and keep everyone informed, we share general timelines at the start and refine them with more specific dates as the project progresses. This approach acknowledges the complex nature of regeneration while keeping the community engaged with regular updates.

Demolition work for phases 1a and 1b took place in Spring 2023. Construction works for the first new blocks in Phase 1 are now underway. Hoarding works for phase 1c will soon begin.

Construction work hours are as follows:

• 0800 – 1800 Monday to Friday
• 0800 – 1300 Saturday
• No working on Sundays or on Bank Holidays

We will aim to minimise disruption through a number of ways, including:

• Strictly adhering to hours of work.
• Managing the timing and routes of vehicle deliveries.
• Monitoring dust, noise and vibration.
• Reducing noise and vibration through the use of specially designed machinery.
• Reducing dust through water spraying.
• Site security.
• Careful use of lighting..

These commitments are secured by way of a planning condition.

Considerate Constructors Scheme:

Countryside is registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme, an independent organisation established in 1997 to raise standards in the construction industry. All sites are regularly and independently inspected and scored against the Scheme's Code of Considerate Practice.

The only access and exit to phase 1 (1a and 1b) will be via the recently installed Hawks Road crossover. This is the junction between Washington Road and Hawks Road and is a controlled access for construction vehicles only.

Please contact the Countryside Community Liaison Officer for the project, Katherina Robinson. Katherina can be contacted by email at katherina.robinson@cpplc.com or by telephone at 07867 195 118.

Noticeboards with contact details for the Community Liaison Officer will also be available on on-site hoardings.

Yes.

Upcoming milestone events, activities and achieved targets will continue to be communicated to residents and neighbours.

Newsletters, website updates, social media and other related communications will continue throughout the regeneration period.

A Meet the Builder session was held in late October 2022. The exhibition boards from this session are available for review on this website at https://www.cambridgeroadestate.com/assets/pdf/CRE-Meet-the-Builders%20October-2022.pdf.

Phase 1 is divided into 3 subphases as below:

1. a: Tadlow, Piper Hall
2. b: Ely Court, Washington Rd (1–13), Willingham Way (2–14 evens)
3. c: Fulbourn, Comberton, Grantchester

Phase 2 is divided into 2 subphases

1. 2a: Westwick, Chesterton Terrace (houses)
2. 2b: Connington, Fordham, Caldecote, Chippenham, Burwell

Phase 3:
Madingley, Oakington, Graveley, Croxton, Harston, Brinkley, Burritt Road (houses).

Phase 4:
Willingham Way (houses 1–21 odds), Cambridge Grove Road (Flats 47, 47a, 47b, 49, 49a, 49b), Cambridge Grove Road (30–50 evens), Foxton, Impington, Shelford, Duxford.

Phase 5:
Franklin Close, Willingham Way (houses 16–30 evens, 23–49 odds), Cambridge Grove Road (2–28 evens), Cambridge Grove Road (Flats 51, 51a, 51b, 53, 53a, 53b), Vincent Road, Stapleford, Childerley.

CRE masterplan map

This masterplan shows the proposed block locations in the regenerated neighbourhood.

The anticipated demolition start dates for each phase are as follows:

Anticipated demolition timelines for the start of each phase

Phase 1 commenced spring 2023
Phase 2 is expected to commence in early 2025
Phase 3 is currently anticipated to commence in 2026
Phase 4 is currently anticipated to commence in 2029
Phase 5 is currently anticipated to commence in 2030

A hybrid planning application was approved in July 2022. This included the detailed plans for Phase 1 and an outline for plans for Phases 2–5, to deliver around 2,170 new homes.

The detailed elements of Phase 2 were reserved for later approval. Construction on Phase 2 cannot begin until the detailed elements are approved through an RMA.

Throughout 2024, we will be developing our detailed plans and encouraging members of the public to share their feedback along the way.

Blocks in Phase 2 contain a mixture of social rent, shared equity and private market homes. The distribution of these homes within the three Phase 2 blocks will be confirmed as more detailed designs emerge.

Queen Mary Hall has been identified as the temporary community centre to replace Piper Hall until the new community centre for the Cambridge Road Estate is completed in phase 1. This is to ensure facilities remain available in the neighbourhood. Queen Mary Hall is located very close to the Cambridge Road Estate, positioned directly opposite on Cambridge Gardens.

Refurbishment of QMH is complete and this new community facility is now in use.

The UK Green Building Council gives a clear definition: “Social value is created when buildings, places and infrastructure support environmental, economic and social wellbeing".

There are four key themes that our social value strategy is responding to. These are:

1. Improving health and wellbeing
2. Investing in communities (including the community chest element)
3. Supporting employment, education and skills
4. Creating opportunities for young people

The regeneration plans have been carefully designed to allow a number of existing trees to be retained. Measures will be put in place to protect these trees at all stages of the construction works.

Tree protection will be in line with the British Standard BS5837. This standard details the steps that should be taken to ensure trees are appropriately and successfully retained when a development takes place.

Fencing will be erected around the trees, preventing pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Materials storage will be located away from the trees.

A significant employment and training package has been secured which provides Kingston Council with financial contributions to support employment support services, skills development, employment and apprenticeships, and local businesses.

Up to 400 sustainable jobs in construction will be filled by local people. This includes jobs of at least 26 weeks in duration.

Approximately 100 apprenticeships covering levels 2–7 for local people or students.

Up to 500 local youth employment opportunities for residents and students such as industry placements, internships, traineeships, work experience and mentoring.

Opportunities will be provided for local businesses to supply goods and services to the construction with the ambition to enable at least 10% of the value to be sourced locally. Help will be provided to local businesses to enable them to tender for opportunities.

If you have any construction-related queries, please contact Countryside using the contact details on our Contact page at https://www.cambridgeroadestate.com/contact.

If you have any other enquiries about the regeneration, please find the contact details on our Contact page at https://www.cambridgeroadestate.com/contact and get in touch.

For independent advice, please find the contact details on our Contact page at https://www.cambridgeroadestate.com/contact.