Cambridge estate plans move forward with 299 new homes 2026

Key Points

• Cambridge Investment Partnership, Cambridge City Council and The Hill Group are progressing plans to redevelop two former council estates in Cambridge.
• The proposals would replace 235 ageing homes with 299 new council and private-sale homes.
• Hanover Court and Princess Court off Hills Road would see 127 existing homes demolished and replaced with 165 new homes.
• Ekin Road in Abbey would see 108 homes demolished and replaced with 134 new homes.
• The council says the schemes are needed because the current homes are no longer suitable due to structural, fire safety and wider building performance issues.
• Cambridge City Council intends to seek Homes England funding to help deliver the majority of the council homes proposed.
• The plans include more spacious homes, better energy efficiency, and a wider mix of properties, including larger family homes and wheelchair-accessible homes.
• Most residents have already been supported to move ahead of planned development works.
• Councillor Gerri Bird says the council remains committed to building council homes and securing funding to support delivery.

Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune) June 29, 2026 — Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) and The Hill Group, is moving ahead with plans to redevelop two former council estates in the city, replacing 235 ageing homes with 299 new council and private-sale homes. The proposals are being taken forward as part of the partnership’s wider programme to improve housing standards, increase supply and address the shortage of larger family homes across Cambridge.

What will happen at Hanover Court and Princess Court?

At Hanover Court and Princess Court off Hills Road, the latest plans would see two deteriorating residential buildings containing 127 homes demolished and replaced with 165 new homes. The council says the existing blocks are no longer suitable for tenants because of structural concerns, fire safety constraints and wider building performance issues. The new homes are intended to meet modern structural and fire safety requirements, while also offering larger living areas and improved energy efficiency.

What is planned for Ekin Road?

At Ekin Road in Abbey, updated plans published ahead of Planning Committee in July propose demolishing 108 ageing homes and building 134 new homes in their place. The estate, built in the 1950s and 1960s, is said to suffer from maintenance and structural problems linked to damp, condensation and mould, which the council says are common in homes of that era. The replacement scheme would include one- to five-bedroom homes, including the first five-bedroom council homes delivered through CIP, along with four homes designed for wheelchair users.

How will the council fund the new homes?

The council says building homes is expensive and that it must protect its long-term finances while delivering new council housing. For that reason, it is seeking external funding, with Homes England identified as one of the main sources available to support council housebuilding beyond normal planning obligations. Although independent viability assessments found no requirement to build council homes at either site, the council intends to apply for funding so it can still deliver 72 council homes at Hanover Court and Princess Court and 78 council homes at Ekin Road.

What mix of homes is being proposed?

At Hanover Court and Princess Court, 72 of the 165 new homes would be council homes, representing 44% of the scheme, though that is 10 fewer council homes than currently exist. At Ekin Road, 78 council homes would be delivered within 134 new homes, representing 58% of the total, which is 13 fewer than the existing 91 council homes on the site. The remaining 149 homes across the two developments would be sold on the market, with the council saying the profit would help fund its wider council housebuilding programme without putting other services at risk.

How are residents being supported?

Most residents from Hanover Court and Princess Court and Ekin Road have already been supported to move ahead of the planned works. The council says tenants are offered priority access to suitable like-for-like council homes, practical moving help, a home-loss payment of around £8,000 and a further £1,250 to cover moving expenses. Homeowners are entitled to a market-rate valuation from RICS, plus statutory compensation of 7.5% to 10%, along with assistance for moving costs, legal fees and Stamp Duty Land Tax.

What did Councillor Gerri Bird say?

As reported by uk/local/cambridge-city-council/">Cambridge City Council, Councillor Gerri Bird, Cabinet Member for Housing and a CIP board member, said the council must seek external funding to support as much of its housing programme as possible. She said the authority remains committed to securing funding for the 72 council homes at Hanover Court and Princess Court and the 78 at Ekin Road. She also said the schemes would replace homes that are no longer suitable for tenants to live in and deliver more spacious, energy-efficient homes with modern standards.

Why does the council say redevelopment is necessary?

The council argues that refurbishment is not enough at either site because the problems are structural and long-term rather than cosmetic. It says the existing homes were built in an era when speed and scale were prioritised over long-term quality, which has contributed to issues such as damp, condensation and mould. By redeveloping the estates, the council says it can provide homes that are more comfortable, safer and better suited to modern needs.

What happens next in the planning process?

The Hanover Court and Princess Court plans were due to go before the Planning Committee on 24 June, while the Ekin Road proposals are expected to be considered later in the summer. These committee stages are important milestones, as they will determine whether the schemes can proceed to the next phase. If approved, the council will then be able to continue with its funding applications and delivery planning for both sites.

Background of the development

Cambridge City Council has been using Cambridge Investment Partnership as a delivery model to regenerate older council housing estates and build new homes across the city. The partnership combines the council’s housing priorities with The Hill Group’s development expertise, allowing projects to move forward that aim to improve quality, increase supply and provide a wider mix of tenures. The current proposals continue that approach by targeting ageing housing stock that the council says no longer meets acceptable standards.

Prediction

These plans are likely to affect council tenants, homeowners and families waiting for larger homes in different ways. For existing residents, the main short-term impact has been relocation and change, but the longer-term effect could be improved housing quality, better energy efficiency and more suitable accommodation. For the wider city, the schemes may help ease pressure on housing supply, especially for larger families and wheelchair users, while also strengthening the council’s ability to invest in future housing without over-stretching its finances.