PLACE Design were appointed by Railpen Investments to provide the landscape design for 230 Newmarket Road, Cambridge. Situated in the Cambridge Retail Park area, the 157,000 sq ft new development features a six storey office as well as a restaurant and cafe unit on the ground floor. The landscaping to the entrance of Cambridge Retail Park will retain the existing trees and provide new trees on Newmarket Road to enhance the street tree character along this main arterial road. The wider ground floor landscape incorporates various sustainable drainage elements including rain gardens. The development features a roof terrace on the fifth floor to be used by tenants for various outdoor activities as well as private quiet spaces. Raised planters with benches and trees define various external spaces for meetings and reflection. A canopy will also be provided so that the space can be used whatever the weather. Sustainable travel to the site is also encouraged with 438 cycle parking spaces as well as showers and changing facilities. Ecology has been carefully considered throughout the scheme. Native plant species beneficial to wildlife and biodiversity will be used including vegetated ecological linear routes around the boundary of the site and the roof terraces. Bird and bat boxes as well as bee and insect hotels will be installed too. To help enhance the sustainability of the site light spillage will be avoided and any timber used will be FSC chain of custody certified. Biodiversity Net Gain will be >22%.

Client:
Railpen

Consultant Team:
Leonard Design Architects