Cambridge City Council has unanimously approved plans for a sustainable new development on the site of a former Travis Perkins depot.
Devonshire Gardens includes 70 build-to-rent homes and community facilities, including a creche, pavilion and flexible studios, all set around a park. The scheme by developer Socius and investment manager, Railpen, will be a majority car-free place to live and work, with new walkways and cycle paths connecting to the city’s rail station.
LDA Design has worked closely with architects Buckley Gray Yeoman to develop plans for inviting, sociable and nature-rich public spaces. The new green space at the heart of the development will feature 120 trees, hundreds of new plant species, and a community food garden.
Devonshire Gardens will be delivered in accordance with the One Planet Living principles and will increase biodiversity on the site by over 350%. Using the Natural Cambridgeshire toolkit, the development has been designed to support Cambridge City Council’s Climate Change Strategy.
Barry Jessup, Managing Director of Socius, described Devonshire Gardens as setting a new benchmark for delivering highly sustainable places which will enhance Cambridge’s status as a hub for world-class innovation.
Tom Perry, a director at LDA Design and Cambridge studio lead, commented: “Devonshire Gardens is a forward-looking city centre development that has net zero and nature recovery as its heart. There are rain gardens and edible landscapes and an amphitheatre for community use.
“Our Cambridge team has loved working on this project so close to our studio in the Mill Road area of the city. We’ve created a delightful, sociable place for our local community and we’re looking forward to seeing it brought to life.”
