Railpen and Socius have announced that Morgan Sindall has secured a c. €103.5m contract to build Mill Yard, Railpen’s c. €214.2m, 16,723m2 mixed-use campus in central Cambridge. Construction has started and is targeted for practical completion in January 2027.
Previously called Devonshire Gardens, Mill Yard is the first of Railpen’s developments in Cambridge to come to market, and has been rebranded to reflect its position on the vibrant Mill Road, close to the heart of the city. Mill Yard comprises c. 10,220m2 of prime offices, 70 build-to-rent apartments, a series of residential former railway cottages, a c. 195m2 creche, a community events pavilion, and a cluster of retail units across seven buildings set around a c. 6,273m2 public park.
The design, originally conceived by Buckley Gray Yeoman and delivered by RH Partnership architects, prioritises creating a high-quality and accessible experience for workers, residents and the surrounding community. At the heart of Mill Yard is a pavilion designed by George King Architects that will serve as a focal point, with the offices, residential and ground floor amenities opening onto it and the park. Mill Yard also benefits from a perimeter running track,and play street, and it will be the only major office development in the city with all the secure cycle parking and end-of-journey facilities on the ground floor.
The office space across three interconnected buildings is designed for SMEs and established corporations in the innovation and tech sectors, fostering a sense of community. Key features include four terraces with views of Cambridge city center, pitched roofs with exposed timber, and skylights that create bright, airy studio-like spaces.
Railpen and Socius are targeting a range of ESG and wellbeing accreditations for Mill Yard, including BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, a NABERS 5-star rating, and Platinum ratings for WiredScore, SmartScore, AirScore and Cycle Heart, as well as EPC grade A. The design, materials and operational efficiency of the development will achieve a significantly lower Energy Use Intensity than the industry norm, with the team aspiring to 55kWh/m2/y, or 58% less energy used compared to the benchmark of 130kWh/m2/y.
Richard Van Lente, Senior Property Asset & Development Manager at Railpen, commented: “Mill Yard is the first stage in realising our significant commitment to Cambridge, supporting the government’s growth agenda while delivering secure long-term returns for our members. It will form part of an ecosystem of highly sustainable, innovative and complementary developments that will help the city, its businesses and communities thrive.”
Doug Higgins, Development Director at Socius, said: “Mill Yard brings something very different to Cambridge, combining the best attributes of business parks with the accessibility and vibrancy of a city centre location. It will play a key role in addressing the pent-up demand for high-quality space among SMEs in the city, and will boast an impressive public realm with sustainability at its core.”
Mill Yard forms part of Railpen’s ongoing investments and developments in Cambridge, which is part of its strategy of supporting the UK’s economic and social growth through the clustering of assets in key sectors and locations. Mill Yard will be joined initially by Botanic Place, Railpen’s 46,452m2 headquarters office development, which is set to be the most intelligent and energy-efficient workspace outside of London, with a number of other significant developments elsewhere in the city currently in for planning.
Image source - Railpen.
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