A major development of apartments for the University of Cambridge has been opened by city MP Anne Campbell.

206 apartments of one, two and three bedrooms are now available exclusively for rent by staff, postgraduates and visiting academics. Situated on the University's growing science and technology campus at West Cambridge, they provide much needed affordable short-term accommodation.

Anne Campbell told more than 50 guests at the opening ceremony, including Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Cliff:

"I would like to congratulate Cambridge University on this imaginative and forward-looking development. House prices have risen so fast that many University staff are priced out of the market and we need more homes quickly to enable people to live close to where they work."

An 88-place nursery for children of University staff is incorporated in the northern block of 62 two and three-bedroom apartments. The South block contains 144 one-bedroom apartments, each with a separate living space, kitchen and bathroom. Both blocks are four storeys.

Leading London-based architects MacCormac Jamieson Prichard are behind the striking design. They worked first with the University's Estate Management and Building Service (EMBS) and then directly for the main contractor, AMEC Capital Projects Ltd, in an innovative partnering agreement.

David Adamson, Director of EMBS, said:

"It is fascinating to see one of this country's best architects and designers engaging so well with a big international construction firm. Personal and professional relations have been excellent, and that has helped the project enormously."

The overall project cost is £22 million, funded by an internal loan from the University of Cambridge to be repaid through rental income. Development at West Cambridge is part of the University's strategy for providing modern accessible and sustainable research and teaching facilities in the 21st Century. It allows departments currently housed in old buildings in the city centre the space they need, with modern laboratories and other specialist facilities.

Long-standing home to the Cavendish Laboratory of the Department of Physics and the Vet School, West Cambridge now hosts the Computer Science Department, the Nanoscience Centre and the Microsoft European Research Centre. Planning permission has just been granted by Cambridge City Council for a £14M Centre for Advanced Photonics and Electronics (CAPE) for the Department of Engineering's Electrical Division. The Master Plan Review for the West Cambridge site was approved by city planners in early 2004.

The site is served regularly by the citi 4 bus to the city centre and Addenbrooke's Hospital, and is less than ten minutes from Market Square by bicycle along the Coton footpath.

The apartments can be rented through the University Accommodation Service at 18 Silver Street, telephone 01223 353518.

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