A proposed development of 40 new council homes opposite the Grafton Centre in Cambridge is facing financial hurdles.
Plans for the new homes on East Road, which Cambridge City Council first announced two years ago, have yet to move forward. The site, previously home to a garage block, was demolished in 2022 after Storm Eunice caused structural damage. The council aimed to build highly sustainable homes to help tackle the city’s long housing waiting list.
However, officials now admit they are struggling to make the project financially viable. The homes were to be delivered through the Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP), a collaboration between the council and developer Hill.
Ben Binns, assistant director of development, told the housing scrutiny committee that a planning application is still not ready. He added that meetings with East Road residents are planned for May, after the pre-election period, to discuss the next steps.
Affordable Housing at Risk
Initially, the council proposed a £10.9 million budget to fund the development, with a strong preference for all the homes to be affordable. However, officials acknowledged that securing grant funding would be essential to achieving this goal.
To keep the project financially feasible, an alternative option remains on the table: reducing the percentage of affordable housing to 40%. While this would help ease financial constraints, it could mean fewer homes available for those on Cambridge’s long housing waiting list.
With affordability and viability still in question, residents now await further updates on whether this long-awaited housing project will move forward.
