Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP), a joint venture between Cambridge City Council and The Hill Group, is seeking planning permission for the redevelopment of the former council estate, Ekin Road, in Abbey, Cambridge.
The development will replace 108 ageing, post-war homes, many of which no longer meet modern standards, with 134 high-quality homes, including much-needed five-bedroom council homes, as well as four homes specifically designed for wheelchair users.
The proposal, which will be considered at the Planning Committee on 7 October, sets out CIP’s plans to build 78 new council homes, as well as 56 private sale homes.
The 78 new council homes are likely to provide housing for around the same number of people as the existing 91 council homes, albeit with fewer homes overall due to prioritising the building of larger council homes to address a shortage.
The existing Ekin Road estate was built in the 1950s and 1960s and includes homes with a range of serious maintenance, structural and building performance issues. Addressing these issues would be costly and complex, leaving many homes well below the modern living standards that tenants deserve. Extensive consultation and engagement found that the council had no other option but to redevelop these homes.
The plans form part of the council’s wider commitment through CIP to improve living standards for residents in existing council homes, to deliver new council homes to meet local need across the city, and to address wider council housing supply issues, such as the need for more large council homes for families in overcrowded homes.
In August 2026, the council announced it had been successful in its bid for £96.4 million of government funding to support its council house building programme. It also revealed that it had been selected as one of only three local authorities for a Strategic Partnership with Homes England designed to accelerate council home delivery.
The funding will support CIP to build a further 1,400 new council homes by 2036, with 60% of the new council homes being available at the lowest tier of council rents, set at just 40-45% of market rents for those who most need access to truly affordable housing.
The Ekin Road planning application sets out the council’s plans to build 78 new council homes and 56 private sale homes and includes an independent ‘viability assessment’ which outlines the number of council houses that are financially viable to deliver. If planning committee approve the proposals, the council will be able to draw down more funding from Homes England to deliver the project.
Cllr Gerri Bird, Cambridge City Council Cabinet Member for Housing and CIP Board Member, commented: “Residents may have concerns about the viability assessment that is being considered as part of the planning application, as some people have understood this to mean that we’re rowing back on our commitment to build 78 new council homes. We’re not. If Planning Committee approves our planning application and viability assessment, the council will be able to draw down the funding from Homes England - which is ring-fenced for us - to deliver 78 council homes.
“Our progress to date backs this up; through our partnership we have been able to deliver nearly 900 new council homes across 24 sites since 2018, helping to increase the supply of high-quality council housing across the city. We're now looking ahead to the next 1,400 council homes being built in Cambridge.”
The new council homes at Ekin Road will be built to meet or exceed the Council’s Cam Standard, which is designed to deliver low operational energy usage, high levels of thermal comfort, and resilience to future climate impacts.
Tom Hill, Managing Director of The Hill Group, said, “Reaching planning approval at Ekin Road reflects the close collaboration we have through our partnership.
“This development will enable us to replace the existing properties with a new, carefully designed neighbourhood, which will provide more spacious, energy-efficient homes that respond to the needs of existing and future residents.”
Sustainability is central to the Ekin Road development. All the homes will be dual aspect to maximise natural light and ventilation, while the landscaping strategy has been designed to manage surface water sustainably on site. Gable and pitched roofs will reflect the character of the surrounding area.
The development will target a 20% biodiversity net gain, with bird and bat boxes, more than 90 new trees along the streets, and rain gardens featuring ornamental and meadow species throughout the green links and open spaces.
New play areas will include equipment and seating designed for residents of all ages, alongside overlooked communal areas where residents can meet, and children can play safely.
Traffic calming measures will help reduce vehicle speeds and prioritise pedestrians at key junctions and crossings. Two main green links will run through the site, supporting active travel and providing attractive routes through the development. Dedicated cycle routes will be incorporated into the layout, with secure cycle storage provided at the front of each home.
