As prices in London continue to soar, more people are looking further away from the centre to try and get on to the property ladder. Karen Keeman discovers a new settlement providing over 3,000 new homes which is closer to the capital than you may think.
Just a one-hour train journey from London, work has started on a new development of some 3,300 homes. Cambourne, located nine miles west of Cambridge, is a brand new settlement that aims to provide a self-contained community with shops and services such as schools, doctor’s surgery and a library.
The idea, launched some 15 years ago, was to create a design that would emulate that of a village which has evolved organically over the centuries. This means that the developers have had to build aesthetically pleasing street scenes including traditional terraces, crescents and squares, many of which are set around play spaces and village greens.
The sheer size of the development has meant that a number of builders are involved in the site. Currently at Cambourne, Alfred McAlpine Homes, Bovis Homes, Bryant Homes, Mclean Homes and David Wilson Homes are building properties, which range from one-bedroom apartments aimed at the first-time buyer to six-bedroom family houses, as well as retirement homes and affordable social housing.
The development will be split into three villages – Great Cambourne, Lower Cambourne and Upper Cambourne – and each will be set around a traditional village green. As well as the new homes there will be a business park providing job opportunities for some 5,000 people.
The homes
Cambourne already has 600 homes occupied but with building work scheduled to continue for another 10 years, there is plenty of choice still to come. Properties currently available include: three-, four- and five-bedroom homes from Alfred McAlpine Homes priced from £154,950 to £269,950; three- and four-bedroom homes from Mclean Homes starting at £197,950; four-bedroom properties by Bryant Homes starting at £217,500; and three-, four-, five- and six-bedroom properties available through Bovis Homes and David Wilson Homes.
There are many different styles of properties available, including three-storey town houses which offer flexible accommodation for the whole family. Some homes will overlook the village green and some will have views over the country park.
Hard facts
· Cambourne lies just off the A428, linking Cambridge and St Neots, and is also close to the A1198, stretching between Royston and Huntingdon
· Stansted Airport is approximately 34 miles from Cambourne
· The train from St Neots Station into Londons King’s Cross takes approximately 40 minutes
· Cambourne has a primary school and day nursery
· The development will become home to some 8,000 to 10,000 people
· Cambourne has a number of walk and cycle routes through attractive wooded areas and green spaces
· For more information call the Cambourne Concept Centre on 0800 3897525