The design code which underpins the new Springstead Village development in Cherry Hinton has won a prestigious national award.  

The plans for the flagship project – which is a collaboration between housebuilder Bellway and Latimer, the development arm of affordable homes provider Clarion Housing – won the Excellence in Landscape Planning and Assessment category at the Landscape Institute Awards 2023.

The Cherry Hinton North Design Code was co-created by urban designer and landscape architects McGregor Coxall and architects Pollard Thomas Edwards, who were commissioned by the Bellway Latimer joint venture.

Springstead Village is a project which will deliver 1,200 new homes on a 138-acre plot that was previously part of the Cambridge Airport site. The plans for the development include new schools, a local centre, recreation areas, allotments and public open spaces.

Ulrich van Eck, Project Director for the Bellway Latimer joint venture, said: “It is great that the design code for the development we are building at Springstead Village has won this coveted national award. We must congratulate the teams at McGregor Coxall and Pollard Thomas Edwards for their sterling work.

“The design code will ensure that Springstead Village will develop a strong sense of place with the provision of a market square of shops, community buildings and spaces for play and exercise near every home. The development will bring homes together in small neighbourhoods, each with its own individual character.

“The scheme features slow-speed tree-lined streets and a network of cycleways and footpaths to encourage residents to leave their cars at home. The landscape-first approach incorporates principles of biodiversity and sustainable land use through the provision of green spaces, wildlife protection areas and the preservation of existing natural habitats on site. 

“We take comfort from the fact that the dedication and hard work by so many, resulting in this impressive document, has been recognised by the judges. This further underpins the commitment of the joint venture to its future and current community. 

“In addition, it validates the unanimous approval received from the Joint Development Control Committee for Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service. The latter being very closely involved in the development of the design code and whom also deserves a lot of credit” 

The award was presented at a ceremony at The Brewery in London.

The Landscape Institute Awards celebrate the contribution of landscape designers, managers, planners, researchers and local authorities towards the creation of environments which bring benefits to people and the planet. In 2023, the awards attracted 150 entries across 17 different categories.

Judges in the Excellence in Landscape Planning and Assessment category were looking for designers to demonstrate a clearly defined strategy providing a sustainable concept which makes the most of available resources and space, maximises its impact on human health and wellbeing and brings benefits in biodiversity.

Michael Cowdy, UK Founding Director at McGregor Coxall, said: “We are thrilled that the Springstead Village Design Code has earned the Landscape Institute’s accolade for Excellence in Landscape Planning and Assessment.

“The essence of the Design Code lies in its robust foundation of living infrastructure, weaving climate resilience and societal well-being into the fabric of Springstead Village’s future.

“Central to this project’s triumph was the close collaboration with Pollard Thomas Edwards, Bellway, and the Greater Cambridge Planning teams, a partnership that was instrumental in bringing the Design Code to fruition.

“Our heartfelt thanks go to the Landscape Institute for acknowledging the strategic impact and transformative potential of landscape-led master planning in shaping resilient, vibrant communities.”

To find out more about Springstead Village, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/essex/springstead-village or call the sales team on 01223 081346.