Planning approval has been granted for 425 new homes at a major new development near Cambridge North railway station.

Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council gave the green light to plans for the Cambridge North Residential Quarter, which will transform brownfield railway land.

The site is being developed jointly by Platform4 - Network Rail's property development company - and bloc ltd, while it will be forward funded and eventually managed by Grainger.

Cambridge North Residential Quarter will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom build-to-rent homes, with parks, community spaces and amenities. The design also prioritises pedestrian and cycle movement. With strong transport links, including direct rail connections to Cambridge, London and the surrounding region with the new neighbourhood reduces car dependency for future residents.

The planning committee report noted that the development “delivers a coherent, high-quality residential scheme that will broaden housing choice, contribute to housing delivery in this part of Cambridge, and support the implementation of the approved Cambridge North Masterplan”.

The approved scheme is the next phase of the Cambridge North Masterplan delivered by Brookgate, which already includes a 217-room hotel and a commercial building home to occupiers including Samsung, supported by retail.

Cambridge North Residential Quarter is part of a wider government-backed drive to unlock publicly owned brownfield land for housing. The scheme was one of four developments highlighted as part of Platform4’s launch in November.

The approval follows the recent announcement on the government's new National Planning Policy Framework, where there will be a default ‘yes’ for homes within reasonable walking distance of well-connected stations.

Andrew Ferguson, interim CEO of Platform4 and director of blocwork, said: “This is great news and the positive decision allows us to bring under-used railway land into active use. Cambridge North is a great example of supporting the Government’s commitment to building more homes next to stations as we look to create a new community in one of the country's most dynamic cities.”