Homerton College has received planning permission from Cambridge City Council to progress the re-development of the three acre site it purchased in 2011 as part of its investment portfolio, to provide long-term income and in particular enhance the number of bursaries and scholarships on offer to students.
The site which borders Purbeck Road, Harrison Drive and the railway line will incorporate both residential and non-residential development.
Some of the non-residential accommodation will be used by the educational provider The Alphaplus Group and the 90 residential units, comprising a mix of houses and one, two and three bedroom flats, will include provision of accommodation for visiting academics and new Fellows to the College.
It is anticipated that work on the demolition of existing buildings will commence shortly, with plans for the development to be completed by Summer 2016.
Two existing tenants on the site – The Print Studio and The Cambridge Cookery School – are said to be delighted to be benefiting from new premises and very supportive of the news.
As part of the development, Homerton will also pay for the road layout to be changed to provide a designated turn for cyclists turning right from Hills Road onto Purbeck Road.
Keith Waters, Estates Manager for Homerton said: “This announcement marks the start of our next 20 year development plan which will centre on academic needs. We are delighted to receive the go-ahead and are looking forward, not only to increasing our provision of housing for Fellows, but also having the opportunity to make visual improvements to what historically has been a neglected area. The existing site is rail passengers’ first view of Cambridge when they travel from London by train and we believe that our plans for high quality, well-designed buildings will enhance the public perception of our City.
'Throughout the process, we have been very pleased to have had the support of our neighbours and tenants with whom we have been in regular dialogue as plans have progressed.”
Professor Geoff Ward, Principal of Homerton added: “We believe that approval of our planning permission will deliver benefits all round. Not only will it provide long-term income for the College which can be re-distributed in terms of bursaries and scholarships, but it also addresses the need for accommodation for our Fellows, freeing up much-needed housing in the City for families. The development phase over the next two years will also bring good employment opportunities in the area”.
Homerton is the newest Cambridge College having been awarded its Royal Charter in 2010. It is also the largest with just under 600 undergraduates, 150 graduates and 275 PGCE students. Founded in 1730 in Homerton, London, the College was a leading teacher training college for much of its history. Since 2001, as it followed convergence with the University it has offered a full range of degree subjects and added a thriving post-graduate research community.
In 1991 the College began an extensive building programme and is now entering a new phase of development work to secure its place as a modern forward thinking educational establishment.’
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Further press information from: Lesley Crosland
at Crosland Communications on 01638 662188 Email: info@croslandcomms.co.uk
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