University considers doubling housing development

The University of Cambridge is considering doubling the number of homes it builds in the Eddington development, from 3,000 to 6,000.

The university originally got permission in 2013 to build up to 3,000 homes, with 50% to be sold as market housing and 50% to be made available for university staff and students.

Matt Johnson, head of development, said it planned to listen to what people in the area wanted and would design detailed plans around that.

He told a pre-application briefing to councillors at Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council the needs of an increased population would be provided for.

About 1,100 homes have been built of the 1,800 planned as part of the first phase of Eddington, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The time period has passed for the university to continue building homes under the 2013 permission, so it is preparing a new planning application.

Mr Johnson said in the next phase the university was considering increasing the density of housing.

A university representative said it wanted to make the best use of land released from the green belt by maximising the number of homes, but in a "sensible" way.

Martin Smart, Labour executive councillor for open spaces and city services, asked why the university wanted to increase the number of homes so much.

In response, Mr Johnson said: "There is a significant shortage of housing in Cambridge. Where we have land available for development I think it is appropriate to maximise that within sensible bounds."

He added that Eddington had not been a "financial success" for the university and that building more homes would improve the financials.

Anna Bradnam, Liberal Democrat, asked if more facilities would be provided to meet the needs of more people living there.

Mr Johnson said the university had "overbuilt" the amount of facilities needed in the first phase, highlighting his belief that the existing primary school was big enough to meet future demand.

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