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Morgan Sindall Construction has begun construction of Mill Yard, Railpen’s new mixed-use campus in central Cambridge that will regenerate a key part of Cambridge into a sustainable new neighbourhood.

The project, formerly known as Devonshire Gardens and which has a value of £180m, has been developed by Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension scheme in the UK, and Socius, its development partner. The site was rebranded in 2024 to Mill Yard, reflecting its position on the vibrant Mill Road, close to the heart of the city. Mill Yard comprises 110,000 sq ft of prime offices, 70 build-to-rent apartments, a series of residential former railway cottages, a 2,100 sq ft crèche, a community events pavilion, and a cluster of retail units across seven buildings set around a 1.55-acre public park.

This landmark brownfield regeneration will unlock a vital space in the heart of the city, located close to Cambridge train station. The heart of Mill Yard will feature a pavilion designed by George King Architects that will serve as a focal point for the public park and green areas around the site, ensuring residents and users can access green outdoor space on their doorstep. The site will also benefit from a perimeter running track, play street, and it will be the only major office development in the city with secure cycle parking and end of journey facilities at ground floor.

Sustainability has been central to the project’s design and planning stages, during which Morgan Sindall employed its Intelligent Solutions model of construction to minimise Mill Yard’s environmental footprint. 99% of the waste generated will be diverted from landfill and an embodied carbon saving goal of 5,013 tonnes has been set.

Once complete, the buildings will be all electric, using a combination of on and off-site renewable energy sources, and there will be no fossil fuels used on site. Materials used for the construction will be responsibly sourced and rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels will generate emissions-free energy.

The tier one contractor plans to achieve the social value target through a variety of initiatives ranging from employing 12 local homeless people on the project, providing work experience, apprenticeship, employment, and upskilling opportunities as well as donating 500 hours in volunteering time. Over £30m has also been earmarked for spending in the local supply chain, boosting the area’s economy and supporting nearby businesses.

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.”