Brooklands Avenue

In October 2008, the Brooklands Avenue development won the prestigious Stirling Prize for Architecture, awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The Brooklands Avenue scheme has been developed under a Section 106 arrangement through which 30% of the homes are developed for affordable housing. It has been made possible by a partnership between Countryside, Wherry Housing Association (part of Circle Anglia) and Cambridge City Council. The project was grant funded by the Housing Corporation in 2004/05.

This scheme comprises 113 units for rent, shared ownership and key workers. Brooklands Avenue sits alongside £1m privately owned properties to create an integrated, mixed tenure community.

A one bedroom flat is valued at £195,000, a one bedroom maisonette at £215,000 and £260,000 for a two bedroom house.

To date, 100 of the affordable properties have been completed. The development of another 13 key worker homes is due to start in July 2008.

The architects have designed a scheme which features both high quality design and high density.

The architects included Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects, Maccreanor Lavington, and Alison Brooks Architects. The design offers an exciting range of design and the affordable units benefit from proximity to open spaces, have slow speed streets, communal play areas and external materials to match the private units.

The spatial variety of the surrounding neighbourhood – characterised by individual villas and denser Victorian housing, along with the spacious Botanic Garden nearby – has been convincingly adopted into Accordia, which delivers generous open space for walking and for play. The development is set in a strong and protected green structure of magnificent mature trees, and its road layout displays openness unusual in modern housing.

31/12/08 09:28