Pupils help break ground on Ely housing scheme

A housebuilder has marked the start of a new residential development in Cambridgeshire with a community-led ceremony involving local schoolchildren.

Bellway has begun construction at Cathedral Rise in Ely, a 300-home scheme forming the latest phase of the wider Orchards Green neighbourhood on the edge of the city. 

The development will deliver a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two to five-bedroom houses, with sales expected to launch in the coming months. 

Of the 300 homes planned, 180 will be for private sale and 120 will be delivered as affordable housing, including a number of bungalows.

All properties will feature low-carbon air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points. Cathedral Rise is the fifth phase of Orchards Green, which will eventually provide 1200 homes for Ely.

Pupils from nearby Isle of Ely Primary School joined the groundbreaking event alongside Bellway teams and groundworks contractor MIDA.

Headteacher Bryony Surtees said: “Our pupils enjoyed attending the groundbreaking ceremony at Cathedral Rise. 

“It was a unique and memorable opportunity for them so thank you to Bellway for inviting us to be part of the occasion.

“As new homes are built and people move in, our pupils who attended the groundbreaking will be able to say they were there right at the start of construction and I’m sure they will take a keen interest in seeing how it progresses in the years ahead.

“Cathedral Rise will be an important addition to the area, and we look forward to welcoming children who come to live there as pupils here at our school.”

Jessica Garton, construction manager at Bellway Eastern Counties, added: “Inviting children from the Isle of Ely Primary School to attend the groundbreaking ceremony at Cathedral Rise was an inspiring way to launch construction of these sustainable new homes.

“We are keen to nurture good relationships with the surrounding community throughout the construction process and thought it would be nice for the school to be part of this ceremonial occasion. 

“We hope the children will always remember that they were here on the very first day of work.

“I would also like to thank our staff from Bellway and representatives of groundworkers MIDA for taking part on the day and turning over the earth to mark the start of this important project.”

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