The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has appointed Urban&Civic as Development Manager for the 716 acre former RAF base at Waterbeach Barracks, Cambridgeshire.
Urban&Civic will work alongside DIO to progress the current planning position within the Local Plan, facilitate the infrastructure delivery on and off site, manage the phased disposal of serviced land and deliver a proportion of the housing and commercial space. Urban&Civic have been selected following an OJEU competitive dialogue process which started in January.
The site has the potential for around 6,500 homes to be built, along with associated commercial, community and employment uses.
Wendy Ivess Mash, DIO Head of Acquisition and Disposals, said: “DIO is very pleased to announce the selection of Urban&Civic as our Development Manager at Waterbeach Barracks. This appointment is the culmination of a robust, yet efficient, OJEU delivery process which has seen a preferred party selected within seven months.”
Barney Hillsdon, Director at GVA, who have been working with DIO on the appointment of a Development Manager, said: “DIO is leading the way in the release of public sector land for housing. The competitive dialogue process has ensured DIO have appointed a Development Manager of the highest quality.”
Nigel Hugill, Executive Chairman of Urban&Civic added: “Waterbeach Barracks represents properly joined-up national thinking. Public brownfield land being released by a major Government Ministry for value enhancing development that anticipates and facilitates change in one of the most innovative and creative economic areas on the planet, whilst returning substantial proceeds to the taxpayer in the process.
“We are looking forward to working with local communities, with South Cambridgeshire District Council and the County Council to bring forward a high quality and sustainable development which works in its own right, complements the surrounding villages and which helps Cambridge function better and smile just a little more broadly.”
Urban&Civic’s team have a strong track record of developing major sites which includes Stratford City (London 2012 Olympic site), Greenwich Peninsula and Paddington Basin. Most recently the team have brought forward the development of Alconbury Airfield north of Huntingdon to create Alconbury Weald which will deliver an Enterprise Campus creating 8000 jobs, new communities providing 5000 homes, over 700 acres of green space and investment in a new rail station, Guided Bus link and cycle network.