It's a definite milestone...as of 23 June, there are 619 homes occupied.

Considering the original target of around 900 homes, that means we're about two thirds of the way through the housebuilding process, but of course there is still much undeveloped land (largely designated as commercial or mixed use, not housing) - particularly on the northern edge, running along the A14 and the large plot to the south of the school.

The recent review by a central government planning inspector accepted that some of this undeveloped land could also now be used for homes (up to 220 more) to help South Cambridgeshire meet the Labour housing targets. It will be interesting to see if this proposed land usage remains now that the new coalition government has scrapped these housing targets. I suspect the majority interest in this land will continue to be from housebuilders!

Of course, it's worth noting that at least some of the vacant strip of commercial land running along the A14 has a current planning application in progress for a second hotel. Given that I understand the Premier Inn has consistently and regularly been fully booked since the very first week that it opened, it's no surprise that a second hotel chain is interested in occupying the land, but I wonder how it will really serve the Orchard Park community...

For interest, I seem to recall that average house occupancy in Cambourne (another 21st century new development) was surveyed at around 2.8...if this figure is used for Orchard Park, then we're currently in the region of 1700 residents, with anything between 2,500 and 3,100 residents...going even higher if any more of the commercial land becomes residential...

It would be interesting to know this occupancy figure more accurately...I suspect there's a couple of possible variabilities in this estimate compared to Cambourne...first I think we have a higher proportion of flats on Orchard Park, so this would bring the occupancy average down; secondly we have a high proportion of multiple occupancy lettings, which would bring the occupancy average up; and thirdly, we have a higher proportion of affordable homes, a high proportion of which are 3/4 bedroom properties, which would also raise the occupancy average. My gut feeling is that an average occupancy of 2.8 might actually be low, so 3000+ residents is ultimately quite likely!!

3000+ residents...that's a lot of people and a lot of possibility! Wow it's exciting being an Orchard Park resident!!!!