Present Made, a UK platform supplying purpose-built single-family rental housing, has secured planning committee approval for its debut development.
Located in Eddington, Cambridge, the £160 mln (€190 mln) gross development value scheme has been designed by Jo Cowen Architects and will form part of the University of Cambridge’s North West Cambridge 150-hectare masterplan.
At Eddington, Present Made will develop, own and operate 373 sustainable rental homes, which will include the UK’s first family houses to be designed and built specifically for rent. Construction is due to start on-site later this year, with practical completion expected in 2024.
Alan Penfold, executive director of Present Made said: 'The planning committee’s approval is a major vindication of our vision to deliver a lifestyle-led offering and we look forward to getting on-site and seeing the development progress.'
The development will include a ‘people before cars’ approach, with green spaces and liveable streets to encourage meaningful moments between residents and health and fitness, while ecology corridors and edible gardens will support the local biodiversity of the area.
The on-site amenities will include a communal pavilion, gym, yoga studio, private dining room, bike café, children’s playgrounds and co-working.
The Present Made team will provide professional on-site management, responsible for all maintenance as well as running a year-long calendar of social and wellbeing activities.
These will include zero waste pop-ups, cycling and running clubs, cultural celebrations, live music, art classes, cooking classes, charitable events and talks from inspirational people.
Added Penfold: 'High quality rental housing that is flexible yet secure in tenure, attainably priced and responsive to the needs and wants of modern renters is critical to addressing the shortage of accommodation in the Cambridge market.
'It is widely recognised that Cambridge is in need of greater housing provision. The government, at all levels, should be finding ways to harness the growing weight of institutional capital looking to help fund the delivery of high quality housing schemes such as Present Made of Eddington.'
