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Darwin Green - Latest Updates

News and Updates about Darwin Green

22 March 2024

The below statement was issued in response to media enquiries related to the BDW2 development site at Darwin Green.

A number of properties have been demolished due to failed foundations. The developer, BDW, had said before Christmas and again in February that when the homes are rebuilt they would not be built to new standards. Cambridge City Council as the local authority Building Control service has the power of enforcement and, having sought legal advice on this matter, had advised BDW of the requirement to build the homes to new standards.

Cllr Katie Thornburrow, Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure, said: “I’m pleased to confirm that following discussions with BDW in recent weeks, they confirmed to us this week that when they build the homes following the recent demolitions, they will meet the new standards. The new standards provide for better ventilation, conservation of fuel and power, and mitigation of overheating, which are a vital part of efforts nationwide to mitigate and equip people for the impacts of climate change. We’re grateful to BDW for working with us towards this outcome.”

Next Meeting: Darwin Green Public Forum (to be confirmed)

Officers from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and 3C Building Control undertook a joint site inspection on Thursday 18 January and have been in discussion with BDW in respect to the planned demolition. This resulted in the council asking BDW's demolition contractor to cease works on the phase 2 demolition until the screening is correctly erected.

BDW have stated they will cease demolition works on the remaining standing phase 2 houses until the scaffolding structure is fully in place and has been inspected by the council, currently estimated to be on Thursday 25 January. Ongoing, Council officers will be undertaking site inspections every day (Monday to Friday) to ensure demolition works are compliant with the appropriate consents.

The public drop-in planning surgery at Darwin Green Community Rooms, located at the local centre, took place on Monday 16 October 2023 and was attended by individual residents, residents association representatives and a ward councillor. The case officer was on hand to answer enquiries that concern demolition of structures on parcel BDW2 within the Darwin Green 1 site.

The Joint Development Control Committee met on 12 December 2023 and, following on from the case officers report and presentation, voted unanimously to discharge in full all 3 conditions under consideration.  

The formal decision notices are due to be issued early January 2024.  However, with the demolition sub-contractor Squibb Group Ltd going into liquidation, the issuing of notices may be delayed pending further details about the new demolition sub-contractor.

The date of the next public meeting at Storey’s Field Centre will be published once more details are known regarding the replacement demolition sub-contractor and new demolition timeframe.  

Reference: 07/0003/COND51A

Proposal: Submission of details required by condition 51 (Construction Environmental Management Plan) for Darwin Green One BDW2 of outline permission 07/0003/OUT

Site address: Land Between Huntingdon Road And Histon Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0LE

Reference: 07/0003/COND52E

Proposal: Submission of details required by condition 52 (Construction Method Statement) of outline permission 07/0003/OUT (Darwin Green One BDW2)

Site address: Land Between Huntingdon Road And Histon Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0LE

Reference: 07/0003/COND53

Proposal: Submission of details required by condition 53 (Construction) for Darwin Green One BDW2 of outline permission 07/0003/OUT

Site address: Land Between Huntingdon Road And Histon Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0LE

Previous Meetings

Previous Meeting Actions / Communications

BDW Homes have advised they are not yet ready to attend a public meeting but have agreed to provide copies of NHBC’s Final Certificate of Compliance with Building Regulations and NHBC’s site record inspection logs.

For BDW Homes updates see the Darwin Green Construction website.

Phase 1 – should any resident require a copy of the Simpson report, please email buildingcontrol@3csharedservices.org quoting Darwin Green Phase 1.

Phase 1 – should any resident require a copy of the NHBC Final Certificate of Compliance with Building Regulations and NHBC site record inspection logs, please contact BDW directly.

Meeting notes (all meeting notes will be added to this page):

Additional documents:

The NHBC Certificate states:

LACODE: 1106

Local Authority copy

Issued by NHBC Building Control Services Limited ('the Approved Inspector') pursuant to Section 51 of the Building Act 1984 and the Building (Approved Inspectors etc).

Regulations 2010.

Date of Final Certificate 25 June 2019

  1. This certificate relates to the work identified above.
  2. The Work was part of the work described in the Initial Notice 50699605 given by the Approved inspector and dated 28 July 2015.
  3. Subject to what is said in paragraph 4 below, the work has been completed and the Approved Inspector has performed the functions assigned to it by Regulation 8 of the 2010 Regulations.
  4. The work described above involves the insertion of insulating material into a cavity wall and this has been carried out.
  5. Not applicable.
  6. Copies of the notice of approval and of a declaration of insurance relevant to the work described in this notice are on the register kept by the body designated under regulation 3 of the 2010 Regulations.
  7. The work is not minor work.
  8. The Approved Inspector has had no professional or financial interest in the work since giving the Initial Notice referred to in paragraph 2 above.
  9. This certificate is evidence (but not conclusive evidence) that the requirements specified in the certificate have been complied with.

Signed for and on behalf of NHBC Building Control Services Ltd

BM4F LA 05105