Clay Farm

About this project

The multi-phase development at Clay Farm in the Trumpington area of Cambridge encompassed the construction of new homes, retail spaces, community facilities, and schools. BDC was engaged as the Structural Engineer for several phases of the project.

The development featured a diverse mix of architecturally designed apartments and bespoke house types, creating vibrant and unique streetscapes. Residential units ranged from compact one- and two-bedroom apartments to expansive four- and five-bedroom mansion and villa-style homes. The larger homes incorporated hollow-core flooring, typically used in apartments, necessitating the design of steel portal frames and small transfer structures to accommodate the layout.

The apartment buildings varied in construction type, including full reinforced concrete (RC) frames up to four and five stories high and RC podiums supporting load-bearing masonry structures. To maximise space efficiency, garden podiums were integrated into the design, connecting multiple blocks and townhouses over undercroft parking areas. Through meticulous coordination of parking layouts, continuous column lines were achieved, minimising the need for complex transfer structures.