New look Arbury Court reopens following £200,000 refurbishment programme

Arbury Court local centre has officially re-opened following the completion of a £200,000 improvement project.

The Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Nigel Gawthrope, cut the ribbon to mark the completion of Cambridge City Council’s renovation of the public spaces around the shops at Arbury Court.

The public areas at Arbury Court have been refurbished with new features including:

• A woodland-themed design;
• Upgraded street furniture and planting;
• Improved signage, including information panels;
• Improved lighting;
• Surfacing; and
• Improvements to entrance points for the centre.

Cambridgeshire-based company, Manit Contractors Ltd carried out the refurbishment as part of the council’s ongoing work to improve the public realm in other local centres such as at Cherry Hinton High Street, where work was completed in 2016, and at Mitcham’s Corner, where plans are to be developed in the future.

Cllr Anna Smith, Executive Councillor for Streets and Open Spaces, said: “The refurbishment of Arbury Court local centre has been welcomed both by retailers and local residents.

“Key to the improvements have been making the whole area more attractive and welcoming to visitors, and also to make it more environmentally-friendly through good use of landscaping to reduce the amount of maintenance needed. I want to pay particular tribute to the officers, local councillors and members of the local community who have helped us get to this point.

“We are committed to maintaining and improving local centres like the one at Arbury Court as they do so much to provide a focal point for Cambridge’s neighbourhoods.”

In addition Cambridgeshire County Council intends to improve cycling facilities in the area, including an upgraded and widened crossing point over Arbury Road into Arbury Court.

A temporary mural by the artist eL Seed is also currently on display on the side of one of the buildings at Arbury Court, part of a project organised by Kettle’s Yard working with communities and schools in Arbury and King’s Hedges.

The refurbishment scheme for Arbury Court was approved by Community Services Scrutiny Committee in October 2017.