Green light for Cambridge zero carbon 200-home scheme

Housebuilder Hill has won planning permission for a £60m zero-carbon housing scheme in Cambridge.

The joint venture with Cambridge City Council will form the next phase of the Great Kneighton development on the city’s southern fringe.

The 208-home scheme – named Virido – will be split equally between homes for private-market sale by Hill and affordable homes to be owned and managed by the city council. Construction is due to start later this year.

All homes will be built to Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and feature mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems, solar shading, deep window reveals, higher performance glass and interstitial blinds.

There will also be extensive insulation, triple glazing, water-efficient appliances and fixtures, and “technical rooms” to accommodate all the necessary equipment.

Hill deputy managing director Rob Hall said Virido would pioneer new technological advances, making it one of the largest and most sustainable developments in the country.

“This is a landmark site for us as a developer but also for Cambridge,” he said.

“It underlines the city as one of the UK’s innovation and technology hubs at the forefront of the sustainability agenda, and we are delighted to have been entrusted by the council to develop this important project.”

Hill was selected as Cambridge’ joint-venture partner for the scheme in December 2012, following a competitive tender process.

Earlier this month the firm - along with Countryside - was picked for the 400-home first phase of the University of Cambridge’s huge North West Cambridge scheme.