Cambridge's housing pipeline
- The council's programme. In August 2026 Cambridge City Council won a £96.4m grant and a government Strategic Partnership to fund 803 council homes, 723 at social rent. That unlocks a £584m package towards nearly 3,000 homes by 2036, including 1,400 council homes (Cambridge City Council, August 2026).
Hanover and Princess Court is among the schemes ready to go, with work expected to start early in 2027 (Cambridge City Council).
- A higher bar for new homes. The council says it builds to its own CAM Standard, which goes beyond national standards on environment, energy and space, and that 5% of homes will be designed for wheelchair users. It has delivered nearly 900 council homes in eight years (same council release). Our read: that means more call for airtightness, insulation, heat pump and MVHR skills alongside the usual trades.
- Eddeva Park Phase 2. Cognisant Construction is principal contractor for 80 homes, 40% affordable, for the developer This Land, between Worts Causeway and Babraham Road. It's part of a wider 230-home development, and This Land says it wants to create apprenticeships and jobs for local people (Premier Construction News, June 2026).
Where to sit the CSCS test near Cambridge
| Centre (Pearson/CITB listing) | Postcode | Getting there (per listing) |
|---|---|---|
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Cambridge, St Andrews House, 59 St Andrew's Street | CB2 3BZ | 5 minutes from the Drummer Street bus station; 20 minutes' walk from the rail station |
| Cambridge Regional College, Huntingdon Campus (ITC), California Road | PE29 1BL | Not given |
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Stevenage, Meadway Technology Park | SG1 2EF | SB8 bus from Stevenage station |
The Pearson centre is opposite the Grand Arcade entrance on the second floor of St Andrews House. The CRC row appears on CITB's Internet Test Centre map. Compare dates on Pearson VUE's CITB finder.
Booking at CRC Huntingdon. The college charges £35 for the test (the £23.50 CITB fee plus £11.50 admin) and doesn't supply revision materials. You register interest online, pay CRC's finance team on 01223 428830, and get confirmation by email and text. Tests run Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 3pm, and must be booked at least 48 hours ahead. CRC can also claim your card for £40 (the £36 card plus £4 admin) (CRC). Booking a Pearson slot through CITB on 0344 994 4488 costs the standard £23.50 (CITB booking).
Card basics for Cambridge starters
CSCS says having a card isn't the law but most big contractors insist on it (CSCS FAQs). New labourers need the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment (CSCS), then the CITB Operatives test: 50 questions in 45 minutes, with 45 needed to pass (CITB). Applying yourself in the My CSCS app costs £36, and CSCS says most applications clear within 48 hours (CSCS). The first card lasts two years.
Construction courses in Cambridge
- Cambridge Regional College (Kings Hedges Road, CB4 2QT, and Huntingdon). CRC runs construction and trades courses for 16+ learners, construction apprenticeships, adult professional training and skills bootcamps, as well as the testing service (CRC). Course enquiries: 01223 226315.
- Free Level 2 qualifications. In England, adults aged 19+ who are unemployed or earn under £25,750 can take a Level 2 construction qualification free. Many Universal Credit claimants can train full time for up to 16 weeks and keep claiming (GOV.UK, Free courses for jobs). Ask CRC which of its courses qualify.
Apprenticeships around Cambridge
CRC runs construction apprenticeships and posts apprenticeship vacancies on its website (CRC). At Eddeva Park, This Land has said apprenticeships for local people are a shared goal with Cognisant, so ask the site team (Premier Construction News). The council's long programme gives its contractors years of work, which is the kind of pipeline that supports taking on apprentices. Search Find an apprenticeship for Cambridgeshire vacancies.
No experience? Getting started in Cambridge
- Get the award, then the test, at St Andrews House or CRC Huntingdon.
- Ask about local hiring at Eddeva Park. The developer has said publicly it wants local jobs and apprenticeships.
- Follow the council programme. As Hanover and Princess Court and later schemes start, their contractors will need labourers and trades.
- Register with agencies covering Cambridge, the A14 and the A11. Take your card, right-to-work share code, references and PPE. Ask whether it's PAYE or CIS: CIS means 20% off each payment, or 30% if you're unregistered (GOV.UK).
- Check DWP's Find a Job (jobs.service.gov.uk) for smaller builders.
Travel to Cambridge sites
Eddeva Park is on the southern edge of the city between Worts Causeway and Babraham Road. CRC's Cambridge campus is on Kings Hedges Road in the north, and Huntingdon is a separate town, so plan the trip if you test there. Edge-of-city sites have thinner bus services at 7am, which is where a bike or a lift helps.
What labourers earn
The National Careers Service gives £23,000 (starter) to £35,000 (experienced) a year for an England construction labourer on 40 to 44 hours (National Careers Service). We found no official Cambridge-specific figure.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the CSCS test centre in Cambridge?
Pearson's Cambridge centre is on the second floor of St Andrews House, 59 St Andrew's Street, CB2 3BZ, about five minutes from Drummer Street bus station (Pearson VUE). Cambridge Regional College also runs the test at its Huntingdon campus, Tuesday to Friday.
How much does a CSCS card cost in Cambridge?
The card is £36 if you apply yourself in the My CSCS app. If Cambridge Regional College claims it for you, it charges £40, including a £4 admin fee (CRC). The test is extra: £23.50 booked via CITB, or £35 at CRC.
Is Cambridge building more council homes?
Yes. The council won £96.4m in August 2026 for 803 council homes and unlocked a £584m programme for nearly 3,000 homes by 2036, including 1,400 council homes (Cambridge City Council).
Can I get free construction training in Cambridge?
Adults aged 19+ in England who are unemployed or earn under £25,750 can take a Level 2 construction qualification free (GOV.UK). Ask Cambridge Regional College which of its construction courses are covered.
Cambridge jobs and projects
The council's homes will appear as planning applications before trades are hired. Follow live construction jobs and upcoming projects in Cambridge on building-jobs.co.uk, or browse labouring jobs in Cambridge, bricklaying jobs in Cambridge and electrical jobs in Cambridge.
Checked on 30 October 2026. Test fees at colleges and council build dates can change, so confirm before you book or pay.
How we research these guides: sources, dates and corrections — read the method.