Follow our progress as Darwin’s site evolves

Darwin College has set an ambitious target to remove all gas boilers from its estate by 2032. Combined with a commitment to purchase only 100% renewable generation electricity, this would achieve our target of zero Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions in line with our strategic goal.

In many of our smaller off-site properties the solution lies in improving thermal efficiency through insulation and improved windows, as well as switching gas boilers for air-source heat pumps. However, on the main site we will be harnessing the thermal capacity of the river Cam which flows through the gardens.

Building works in 2025 and 2026 will involve the construction of a Pump House on the riverbank behind 12 Newnham Terrace, right on the edge of our estate bordering the Granta pub. This new building will house the mechanical and electrical equipment such as water pumps and heat exchangers that will eventually supply all the buildings on the main site with heat and hot water. A network of pipes will be laid in a trench that will run the length of the site distributing the hot water to be used for heating.

At the same time, thermal improvements will be made to the Rayne Building and Newnham Grange, including replacement windows, draught-proofing, wall insulation and loft insulation.

Updates on the project's progress and information for those living on site will be added regularly to this page, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found below.

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Timetable
Impact on accommodation next year

Stay up to date as the plans progress

27th April 2026

Today Darwin welcomed the first contractors on site, signalling the beginning of the Pump House building project.

The lead contractor, Barnes Construction, will have a permanent presence on site for the next year in order to coordinate the different teams and act as a point of contact for the College.

The full provisional programme is below, but over the first month the priorities will be to:

Prepare a contractor welfare area within the basement of 1 Newnham Terrace
Construct a flat-pack site office and run temporary services such as electricity to it
Remove the garden door from 1 Newnham Terrace garden door, replacing it with a temporary works door
Erect heras fencing around the work site and at the blue gates entrance
Clear the tank room (under the Dining Hall) and complete structural support works.

The space under the Dining Hall will be the primary point of access for the contractors and their vehicles, so members and visitors are asked to exercise caution when entering and exciting the College via Newnham Road. Pedestrians and cyclists may be asked to wait while vehicles manoeuvre, to ensure safety.

27th February 2026
Final preparations have been made to the main site by the College teams ahead of the contractors’ expected arrival on site at the end of March.

A provisional schedule of works and impact to the main site can be seen below. This is wholly dependant on the progress of works and is subject to change. An updated version will be posted every month.

16th January 2026
In preparation for the building works to begin by the river, trees will be cleared next week behind 11 and 12 Newnham Terrace, as well as on the islands to provide clearance for punting.

29th September 2025
Owing to a delay in receiving the permissions required from the Environment Agency, timescales have shifted on the Pump House build. We now anticipate this starting in early 2026, rather than during Michaelmas term.

In the meantime, planned upgrades to the building fabric in Newnham Grange and Newnham Terrace will begin this term, to improve the insulation and energy efficiency of the site.

Timetable of works and their impact

2026	Pump House works / Building Fabric Works (in italics) / Major College garden events (in bold)


April & May	Main contract site setup by contractor and river works commence Transplant olive tree in pot to new location. Remove rear door to 1 Newnham Terrace and replace with temporary workers’ door, install workers compound in the basement of 1 Newnham Terrace, install site office to the rear of 3 Newnham terrace and banksman’s office & skip to the front garden of 1 Newnham Terrace. Install skip to the front of 2 Newnham Terrace for College garden spoils to be recycled. Blue gates to be closed and managed by banksman with no College vehicle access under the Hall. Site compound segregated and Heras fencing erected. Haul road excavation begins from under the Dining Hall / in front of the Cafe. River wall platform and coffer dam construction begins via amphibious vehicles.
May	Haul road and network trench, river wall working platform, site compound stripped Working from the site compound at the rear of 12 Newnham Terrace towards the Dining Hall , excavating, laying network conduits in the trench then backfilling section by section. River wall works continue to establish working platform. Haul road continues to be backfilled and prepared for tarmac. Coffer dam construction continues Window, rooflight, and insulation replacement in Newnham Grange begins
May & June	Haul road and preparation works continue 1st building connection trench begins to the Hermitage basement Work on the new UKPN cabinet to the front of 9 Newnham Terrace begins Works halted to allow for June Summer Event 27th June
July	Haul road complete, piling begins Haul road back-filling of the trench and tarmac Site compound work begins: construction of pile matt and guide wall. Piling rig onsite. Haul road used to bring in equipment, vehicles and remove spoils throughout the construction period.
July & August	Pump House work continues in compound Piling and Concrete works in the site compound continue Garden parties and Graduation (marquee)
September	Tail building (along pub wall) piling and concrete for foundations Node connection to 12 Newnham Terrace
September	Rayne Building (except Porters) closed and fully scaffolded and covered. Rayne offices temporarily relocated. Newnham Grange student rooms closed Access to Newnham Grange offices and laundry to be via Laundry/Bridge doors and Deanery stairs Rayne and Newnham Grange Ground floor corridor M&E trench works to be prioritised.
October	Newnham Grange re-opens to residents for the academic year. Rayne to remain closed until Easter. Tail building foundations completed. Node connection to 11 Newnham Terrace Node connection to 10 and 9 Newnham Terrace Excavate drainage in Pump House Rayne roof removed. Graduation (marquee) Node connection to 4,3,2 Newnham Terrace
November	Rayne internal M&E works continue Rayne Ground floor window and radiator works Work to North of Site along the path next to Newnham Grange, in the Bradfield Court and Punt sheds

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Impact on accommodation next year

The College recognises that residents living on the main site may be affected by the works to varying degrees.

Accommodation offers to both balloted continuing students and incoming new students will include information on the works and the disruption that may be caused. It has been agreed with the contractors that there will be fixed working hours (8am-6pm max) and no weekend working.

The College continues to offer alternative spaces for work and relaxing such as the Study Centre and the Reading Room. The Newnham Terrace properties closest to the construction site have been equipped with specially created study/common rooms.

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