Comment
Cambridge Northern Fringe East AAP - Issues and Options
Representation ID: 29742
Received: 30/01/2015
Respondent: The Master Fellows and Scholars of the College of Saint John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge
Agent: Savills
Mixed use development of up to six commercial storeys would allow employment objectives of maximising opportunity to be addressed and create more flexibility within the overall masterplanning of CNFE.
Savills Planning Team in Cambridge are instructed on behalf of St John's College, Cambridge to submit responses to the Issues and Options Report on the CNFE having regard to the College's landholdings and land interests at St John's Innovation Park west of Cowley Road and east of Milton Road.
Option B suggests that mixed use development of up to six commercial storeys (24 metres) would allow development to be intensified and create more flexibility in the overall masterplanning of CNFE with new landmark buildings around the new station and other key "nodal" points.
This option in our view, provides the opportunity to make the best use of limited resources within the existing employment areas within the CNFE. Whilst it may not necessarily be the case that the maximum height of buildings would be six commercial storeys on every employment site identified within the CNFE, it is important that the Planning Authorities acknowledge the flexibility that needs to be applied in order to maximise employment opportunities which is an important objective within the Plan area. A key test set out within the criteria in the emerging Local Plan is an acknowledgement of the site surroundings - it remains the case that Cambridge should exploit the limited resources of land that remain in order to secure the jobs and investment for a rapidly expanding population.