VolkerFitzpatrick Breaks Ground on Cambridge City Council’s New Operational Hub
Recently, VolkerFitzpatrick officially commenced construction on Cambridge City Council’s new operational hub with a ground-breaking event attended by local politicians and project leaders. This £9 million project will provide a modern facility for the council's fleet vehicle parking, essential for cleaning, landscaping, maintenance, and safety services.
VolkerFitzpatrick's Operations Director, Phil Lavelle, alongside representatives from construction consultancy Gleeds, planning , design, and environment consultancy Lanpro, and other key team members, marked the beginning of the extension site’s development. They were joined by Councillor Gerri Bird, Cambridge City Council’s Executive Councillor for Housing and other officials to celebrate this key milestone.
The new 7,500m² hub will feature offices and staff facilities, supporting the Council’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. VolkerFitzpatrick is implementing various sustainable solutions throughout the project to help meet this target.
VolkerFitzpatrick is collaborating closely with construction consultancy Gleeds, Lanpro and Cambridge City Council, to ensure the project proceeds efficiently and seamlessly.
The project was secured via the £8 billion Procure Partnerships Framework, which simplifies procurement and ensures high-quality standards, helping clients manage risks effectively for large-scale developments.
“We are excited to begin construction on this vital project for Cambridge City Council. Our team is committed to delivering a state-of-the-art facility that meets the Council's operational needs while supporting their sustainability goals.”
Phil Lavelle VolkerFitzpatrick’s Operations Director, Building Division
Cambridge City Council's Sean Cleary, Sarah Tovell and James Elms
Mike Davey, Leader of Cambridge City Council said: “The development of our state-of-the-art Operations Hub marks a significant £9 million investment in the city’s infrastructure, and will transform the council's operational capabilities. It will enhance the delivery of many different council services we provide for the community such as providing speedy repairs to council homes, maintaining council buildings and keeping our streets and open spaces clean.
The hub is also designed to meet the evolving needs of interdependent council teams and aligns with our vision for sustainable growth and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. We hope this ambitious hub will become an important cornerstone of the city’s infrastructure and help us streamline our operations, improve efficiency, and support the council’s objectives.”
Ted Adlington, Cost Manager representing Gleeds for the Cambridge City Council new operational hub project, commented: "Gleeds are proud to be providing both Project Management and Cost Management Services for Cambridge City Council’s prestigious development. The scheme is being delivered, in partnership with VolkerFitzpatick, to a carefully controlled budget ensuring that value for money processes are present at all key decisions and gateways. The scheme is strategically important and provides the ability for the Council to future proof their service delivery for the foreseeable future."
Will Nichols, Regional Director, representing Lanpro for the Cambridge City Council new operational hub project commented:
"Lanpro is delighted to have worked with Cambridge City Council in the delivery of this important scheme. Our work in partnership with the Council over the past three years has involved providing planning, architectural, landscape, and archaeology services. From the project’s inception we have worked with the Council on site identification, pre-application meetings, community engagement, the preparation and submission of a planning application, culminating in securing planning permission for the new operational hub. We look forward to seeing these plans come to fruition over the coming months as construction progresses."
