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Hello everyone. A scheme in Cambridge, a 16 minute walk from the railway station. Some of the blocks have been handed over and the apartments still for sale complete in December 2026. Today, by Hill Group, City Reach is what we are looking at today!
For prices, taxes and the whole buying process, see our guide: UK Property Guide
Apartment types, current price range and location: see the project page
City Reach sits on Fanshawe Road in Cambridge and was built under Cambridge Investment Partnership, the joint venture between Hill Group and Cambridge City Council. The apartments are spread across the Ida Court, Florence Court and The Coleridge blocks. With its university ecosystem and its life sciences sector, Cambridge is one of the tightest housing markets in the United Kingdom.
Prices
- One bedroom apartments: £349,950
- Two bedroom apartments: £464,950 with £479,950 to
- on sale as at 8 September 2026 four apartments: one with one bedroom, three with two
- Estimated completion: December 2026, the Florence Court and Ida Court blocks
- Apartment size: about, for a one bedroom, 52 m² (560 sq ft)
- Developer: Hill Group (Cambridge Investment Partnership)
- Address: City Reach, Fanshawe Road, Cambridge CB1 3QX
Hill Groupis a developer that has been active in the Cambridge area for many years and was named Housebuilder of the Year by WhatHouse? in 2024. Its partnership with the council adds a further layer of assurance on planning and delivery.
Why City Reach?
Housing supply in Cambridge has chronically lagged demand. The triangle of the university, Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Biomedical Campus draws in skilled workers continuously, while the city has little room to expand. That equation supports the rental side over the long term. The apartments still for sale complete in December 2026, so rental income begins after a short wait.
- Cambridge a 16 minute walk to the railway station
- about 50 minutes to London King’s Cross by fast train
- Cambridge city centre and the university colleges a short distance away
- Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus nearby
- the M11 connects to London and Stansted Airport
Daily life
Cambridge’s centre is compact and walkable; the colleges, the market square and the riverside are close together. The retail parade around the station covers everyday shopping. The bicycle is the most common way to get about, and the scheme sits well for that culture.
Rental yield and tenant profile
The tenant profile is academics, doctoral students and hospital and biotechnology staff. They usually stay between one and three years and pay reliably. One bedroom apartments let quickly to this group.
Communal areas and specification
- Open plan living areas
- Modern kitchens with integrated appliances
- Large windows and natural light
- Landscaped communal areas
- Walking and cycling routes
- Cycle parking
Who is buying?
Families working in Cambridge or educating a child here, and investors who want rental income from a completed scheme. It is also a sensible way into the English market on a lower entry budget than London.
Total cost: what you actually pay when you buy at City Reach
The table below is indicative, based on a £349,950 entry price for a buyer not resident in the United Kingdom.
| Item | If it will be your only home | If it will be an additional home |
|---|---|---|
| Property price | £349,950 | £349,950 |
| Stamp duty (SDLT) | £14,496 | £31,994 |
| Legal fees | £1,500 to £3,000 | £1,500 to £3,000 |
| Searches and Land Registry fees | about £800 | about £800 |
| Approximate total | £367,496 | £384,994 |
With a mortgage there are valuation and bank charges, and if you let the property, management commission and income tax. For your own scenario, use our purchase cost calculator, for stamp duty stamp duty calculator and for rental income our rental income tax calculator.
What to Check Before You Decide
- The project is largely sold, with four apartments remaining.
- The annual service charge runs between about £1,895 and £2,435 per apartment.
- Short let rules work differently in Cambridge from London; if a short let is your plan, confirm the local restrictions in advance.
- The city’s rental market moves with the academic calendar; tenant changeover is concentrated in the summer.
- Settle the leasehold terms and the service charge figure before contract.
How does City Reach compare with the alternatives?
- St Albans Square: 18 minutes to London, the same commuter logic, a lower entry price.
- One Trafford Edge: for anyone targeting a higher rental yield, in Manchester.
- Kidbrooke Village: for anyone who wants to stay inside London.
We can work out together which project fits your goal, judged on budget, intended use and exit plan. We can also compare the university cities outside London on yield.
Answers to the most common questions on this topic: Is Buying a Home in Cambridge a Good Idea?
