Useful Projects and Expedition were appointed as the Energy, Sustainability, Quality of Life, and Innovation consultants for a transformative vision for new urban quarter, developed by Landsec/U+I and TOWN on behalf of Anglian Water and Cambridge City Council. This residential-led masterplan in northeast Cambridge represented one of the UK’s most ambitious sustainable development challenges, with circa 5,600 homes, workplaces, education, retail and community facilities, plus open spaces across the 48 hectares site.
The project addressed the critical urban challenge of converting the site of a well-located Waste Water Treatment Works into a thriving, sustainable community neighbourhood. This concept design demonstrated how industrial heritage sites can become catalysts for inclusive, affordable housing while meeting Cambridge’s stringent environmental requirements.
Inspired by Doughnut Economics principles, we developed a bespoke framework with targeted sustainability metrics that push beyond conventional development approaches. This methodology recognises that urban regeneration must simultaneously address environmental limits and social foundations, a challenge requiring innovative solutions at unprecedented scale.
Impact & influence
Our comprehensive approach required extensive stakeholder engagement across landowners, client teams, and local communities to build understanding and support for ambitious sustainability technologies. The work encompassed setting overarching vision and objectives rooted in Doughnut Economics principles, while leading integrated strategies for net zero carbon, water circularity, sustainable waste management, climate resilience, and social equity.
We influenced masterplan layout and parameters through advanced microclimate modelling, carefully balancing density requirements with open space provision to ensure high-quality external environments. A particularly innovative water circularity strategy was developed to meet the planning authority’s ambitious water targets – addressing one of the most complex technical challenges for developments within water stressed areas.
Our team conducted detailed audits of existing sewage treatment infrastructure, making strategic recommendations for component reuse that honour Anglian Water’s operational legacy while creating distinctive landscape features. We have also advised on adopting an innovative waste management solution for the area.
Community-centered methodology
Direct engagement with the Ideas Exchange (a demographically representative group of residents) and facilitation of workshops during annual Community Festivals enabled authentic community input into vision development and key intervention strategies. This approach ensured the masterplan reflected genuine local needs while building broad support for transformative sustainability measures.
We also developed an innovative stewardship model exploring community governance options for long-term estate management, ensuring the development’s sustainability principles extend beyond construction.
The project culminated in comprehensive outline planning reports and environmental impact assessments that demonstrate how ambitious environmental targets can be achieved without compromising development viability or community benefits. However, due to lack of funding to enable the site to be unlocked, no planning application was submitted.
This urban quarter vision represented a new model for sustainable development – one that transforms industrial legacy sites into thriving communities while addressing the interconnected challenges of housing, climate resilience, and social equity.
