Arcadis, the world’s leading company delivering data-driven sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets, celebrates the completion of Cambridge South Station, a landmark net zero carbon railway station that will serve the world-class Cambridge Biomedical Campus and the city’s rapidly growing southern fringe.
This transformative project demonstrates Arcadis’ leadership in delivering innovative, sustainable infrastructure that supports local communities, future economic growth and environmental resilience.
Cambridge is one of the UK’s fastest-growing cities, with the Biomedical Campus alone expected to support 27,000 jobs by 2031 and the city’s southern fringe set to see the addition of approximately 4,000 new homes over the same period. As demand for efficient and sustainable transport continues to rise, Cambridge South Station provides essential connectivity for communities, employment, research and healthcare, enabling the continued success of this dynamic region.
The project includes the development of a brand new 4-platform station, with associated buildings, canopies, public realm and over 3.5 km of track infrastructure adjustments, including junction remodelling. A total of 5.4 acres of arable land was also purchased to expand Hobson's Park reserve and deliver significant additional environmental benefits. The green roof of the station buildings slows the flow of rainwater during extreme weather events while providing valuable habitat for insects and flowers.
The wildflower meadows created around the station include native broadleaf trees, shrubs, hedgerows and grassland to further support biodiversity, help address climate change impacts and provide a valuable community asset. The scheme’s sustainable drainage solution includes a stormwater basin, which provides important habitat for endangered species such as water voles.
Originally appointed by Network Rail and later working collaboratively with Network Rail’s contracting partner J Murphy & Sons, Arcadis delivered multi-disciplinary services for the project, including design and engineering, project and commercial management, town planning, environmental and heritage services.
Arcadis guided the scheme through option appraisal, EIA scoping and preparation of the Environmental Statement, and provided input to the Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO). Arcadis’ Chartered Town Planners developed the land and consent strategy, while heritage specialists carried out comprehensive heritage assessments, geophysical surveys and archaeological investigations, securing Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England for work within this sensitive Green Belt location.
The station’s intermodal concept prioritises green and active travel, with over 1,000 cycle spaces and direct walking and wheeling routes, while removing the need for on-site car parking. The station’s sustainable credentials are further underscored by its BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and its net zero carbon ambition, setting a new standard for rail infrastructure in the UK.
Digital innovation has been central to the project’s success, with Arcadis employing advanced 3D modelling, UAV surveys and a common data environment to support efficient collaboration across disciplines and stakeholder groups. This award-winning approach ensured risks and technical issues were identified and managed early, keeping the project aligned with community and stakeholder priorities.
Mike Gardner, Stations Design Director and UK Head of Stations at Arcadis, said:
“Cambridge South Station is a true exemplar of how infrastructure can be designed to deliver for people, place and planet. By putting sustainability, biodiversity and community integration at the heart of every decision, we’ve created more than just a station – we’ve delivered a gateway that will support Cambridge’s growth, improve quality of life and set a new benchmark for stations in the UK. This project is a testament to the power of close collaboration, technical excellence and a shared vision for the future of stations.”
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