Project Details
Project
NW Cambridge Development
Location
Eddington, Cambridge, England
Date
October 2019
About The Project
Known as ‘a whole new area of Cambridge, designed for twenty-first century sustainable living’, Eddington is Cambridge’s newest neighbourhood with something for everyone.
A University of Cambridge development, the NW Cambridge Development Project, is planning for the future growth of the university. Commencing in 2015, the site is being built in 8 phases, stretching over 10 years and will see the build of over 1,500 homes for University and College staff, accommodation for 2000 postgraduates and 100,000 sqm of academic and research development space. It will also include community facilities such as a primary school, community centre, health centre, supermarket, local shops, and a hotel. As well as open public spaces being high in the University’s plans.
Following on from their six BALI Grand Award wins, leading commercial landscaping company Willerby Landscapes is involved with this project and selected Green-tech as one of their soft landscaping suppliers for this high profile and prestigious project. Willerby Landscapes specialise in in all disciplines associated with the installation and on-going maintenance of hard and soft landscape schemes, water features and specialist planters.
Due to the site being so large, this was split into five by Willerby Landscapes – Landscape Central, North, East, South and West. A major piece of new parkland was included in phase one within the western edge of the development. There are over 24 hectares of open space in Phase 1, which now include over 2,400 trees that were planted by the time the first phase was completed in 2017. The overall development is over 65 hectares.
What we did
As part of Willerby’s established, valued and trusted supply chain, Green-tech Specifier advised on all key materials required to enable a successful development for a project of this scale.
As well as all the tree planting materials, Green-tech Specifier advised the use of more than 500 tonnes of Green-tee amenity soil; a load-bearing, fertile soil which is designed especially for use in urban environments. In order to improve stability and reduce compaction of heavy trafficked areas such as, sports pitches and grassed areas, 100 tonnes of Loksand Rootzone was also supplied.
To deliver water directly to tree and shrub roots at a consistent level, Green-tech Specifier recommended the use of more than 500 Mona irrigation systems with accompanying Aria inlets, Mona Relief Vente and Piazz inlets.
Approximately 800kg of bespoke John Chambers grass seed and John Chambers wildflower seed was supplied to encourage birds, bats and amphibians to flourish, as well as wildflower meadows and wetlands. By providing this for the green spaces, it not only creates stunning displays but also provides habitats for wildlife and boosts biodiversity. Biodiversity was of high importance during the design, and it was important that unique measures were integrated in all aspects of Eddington to encourage visitors and residents to lead more sustainable lives.
