Planning approval marks major milestone for the future phases of Eddington

Grant Associates has welcomed the approval of plans for the future phases of Eddington, the University of Cambridge’s mixed-use neighbourhood in North West Cambridge.

Working with the University of Cambridge Estates Division, Grant Associates has played a central role in developing the landscape strategy for the masterplan, as part of a multidisciplinary team led by Hawkins\Brown.

The outline planning application was approved by the Joint Development Management Committee of the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service on 16 September, subject to the signing of the Section 106 agreement.

The future phases will provide up to 3,800 new homes, 50% of which will be affordable housing for University key workers, alongside accommodation for up to 1,675 students and up to 100,000m² of employment space.

More than one third of the development will be retained as green and open space, including more than 50 hectares of informal open space, over 15 hectares of sports pitches and 3.5 hectares of play space.

Landscape at the heart of Eddington

Grant Associates’ landscape strategy puts nature, biodiversity, wellbeing and community life at the heart of the expanding neighbourhood.

A connected network of parks, public spaces, and shared gardens will create opportunities for play, recreation, growing and social interaction.

The landscape framework also supports Eddington’s active travel-first approach. New pedestrian and cycle routes will connect neighbourhoods and link Eddington with the wider Cambridge area, while streets are designed around people, contributing to an attractive, low-car environment.

Claire Hobart, Associate Director at Grant Associates, said:

“Planning approval is a significant milestone for the next chapter of Eddington and for the landscape-led approach that has shaped the masterplan.

“Working with the University of Cambridge Estates Division and the wider project team, we have sought to create a generous and connected landscape that brings nature into everyday life – linking homes, workplaces and community facilities through green spaces and liveable streets.

“With more than a third of the development dedicated to green and open space, there is a real opportunity to create a resilient landscape that supports biodiversity, active lifestyles and a strong sense of community as Eddington continues to grow.”

The future phases build on the first phase of Eddington, which has established a mixed neighbourhood of homes, community facilities, education, shops, sports facilities and extensive public open space.

The outline planning application establishes the overall framework for the next stages of development. Detailed proposals for individual areas are expected to come forward through Reserved Matters Applications from early 2027.

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Project team

Client: University of Cambridge Estates Division

Masterplanner: Hawkins\Brown

Landscape architect: Grant Associates

Transport: KMC

Sustainability: Max Fordham

Civils and infrastructure: AECOM

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Editors notes

Grant Associates is a pioneering international landscape architecture practice, whose work reconnects people with nature in insightful, delightful and distinctive ways whilst addressing the global challenges of urbanisation, the climate crisis and biodiversity extinction. Grant Associates’ design process is underpinned by a knowledge of human behaviour, nature and ecological science combined with innovative design technology. The practice combines original thinking, creative collaboration and regenerative design to breathe new life into our cities and landscapes.