One of the UK’s greenest innovation business villages in Cambridge which is centred around providing significant social and wellness benefits with a focus on landscape led sustainability, low carbon buildings, walking, cycling and outside social/ work spaces has been granted planning approval. (Rick Parisi Cambridge Innovation Parks Ltd) and the project prepares to start.
The aspiration for the client, Cambridge Innovation Park Ltd, was to develop a blueprint proposal for sustainability on the 90,000 square foot development site at Waterbeach, a former Ministry of Defence Site. It will incorporate the values of wellness, increase biodiversity, encourage community use and facilitate green modes of transport. Likewise the client wanted buildings constructed in sustainable materials, employing modular solutions and passive or low energy service strategies.
Saunders worked alongside Professor John French, a leading sustainability expert, looking at solutions to develop the exemplar, low carbon, sustainable and ecologically sound business village for Cambridge Innovation Parks Limited.
Three new buildings, built to low embodied carbon standards, form the first phase of the masterplan which sets out the existing and proposed buildings around a central focal green space in an ordered and legible layout. New offices are to be constructed in locally sourced, natural materials and are naturally lit and ventilated. Alongside the green space at the heart of the development, a diagonal wet spine route of ecology zones, water courses, foot paths and cycle routes, connects the site with the adjacent proposed Waterbeach New Town development.
South Cambridgeshire District Council were unanimous when giving the masterplan the green light commenting: ‘…this is an extremely good application and is the kind of thing that we should be grabbing with both hands. Note the good design of buildings and the sustainability ambitions…it is something that we have been waiting for a long time’.
Director of Saunders Martin Williams commented: ‘This is a brand new vision for the working environment, a lifestyle which fosters a positive work life balance, promoting sustainable, low carbon targets. It is where new businesses and start-ups can evolve, knowing their staff will benefit. We have worked extensively on ensuring sustainability standards are the highest possible and hope we can achieve carbon negative buildings within this first phase of the development‘.
