Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020
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New searchLand to the south of Great Abington and North of Great Chesterford - nearest postcode CB10 1FE
230
Agriculture
N/A
N/A
Greenfield
Proposed residential development comprising 1500 dwellings, proposed new access road, community facilities, open space, landscaping and provision and enhancement of pedestrian and cycle routes to the proposed public transport route and hub.
Economic Objectives In terms of the economic objectives the proposal will unquestionably give rise to significant employment during the construction and operational phases of the development. Future occupiers of the scheme are likely to use local services and facilities within the new development making a positive contribution to vitality and viability. In addition, the education, shopping, community and B1 uses provided on this site will bring long term economic opportunities. Another particular economic benefit is the provision of social housing. The benefits of this development will also spread off site in terms of public transport enhancement and servicing of the proposed dwellings and businesses. Social Objectives The social objectives of this scheme are the provision of circa 1,500 dwellings. The proposal will also allow the requisite highway improvements from the A11 to access this facility. This issue is explored in more detail in the access section of this report. This site will also help to create the northern access to the Garden Community if this scheme comes to fruition. The provision of circa 1,500 dwellings will help the Council to achieve a deliverable five-year housing land supply and allow a full range of houses, including bungalows, flats, sheltered housing to the meet the needs of families, young couples, single people and retirees. Bungalows and sheltered housing are particularly suited to the ageing population and those with limited mobility. The provision of circa 600 dwellings will unquestionably make a positive contribution to housing affordability. The provision of 600 dwellings will also help meet the objectives of paragraph 59 of the NPPF. The development will also allow for the contributions or works towards the provision of primary and secondary schools and improvements to public transport which will not only meet the needs of the development but the wider area of South Cambridgeshire. Environmental Objectives The Environmental Objectives include the sustainability credentials of the site in terms of access to local services and facilities, which will be provided as a consequence of this development. The planned onsite and offsite enhancements to cycling, rail, bus and pedestrian infrastructure will help to meet the environmental objectives. In terms of cycling it must be recognised that this site is within close proximity to Welcome Trust, Granta Park, Babraham Institute and Addenbrookes, with the provision of appropriate infrastructure, including the extensions to the proposed public transport corridor allowing a modal shift from the private car. The indicative design of the proposal has been landscape led which will allow significant new habitats to be created and biodiversity enhancements. This will not only help to mitigate the visual impacts of the development but also enhance an agricultural landscape devoid of natural features.
1500 dwellings circa 600m2 of community and leisure facilities 150m2 retail facility
There are no known physical or environmental impacts which would prohibit development., although particular attention will need to addressed. The landscape impact of the proposed development has been considered via the Landscape Visual Impact Assessment which has been produced to accompany the February 2019 site submission. The principal objective is that this scheme must be landscape led and It is clear that a considerable amount of the site will need to be allocated for landscaping, public open space and bio-diversity enhancements. This is of particular note due to the undulating topography of the site and the need to use blocks of planting to break up development and create views into and out of the site. This LVIA provides further advice regarding this issue and advises how the development scheme could be designed to minimise the landscape impact and mitigation measures required to ameliorate the impact of the proposal.
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An existing vehicular access will be provided via Newmarket Road, which also provides access to the A11. However, an allocation of this magnitude will support significant enhancements to public transport, and all dwellings can be within 400m of bus stops. The enhancement of these services could also improve the accessibility of existing towns and villages, with the existing populations of these settlements being too low to justify either the expansion of or the provision of new services. The entire scheme will allow the opportunities for contributions to be sought to link the site to the Cambridge Guided Busway, potential through route to Great Chesterford Station and a potential interchange (Park and Ride at Granta Park, Abington). Due regard also needs to be given to the findings of the Greater Cambridge Mass Transit Option Assessment (January 2018) which is seeking to provide a mass transit system to allow for a substantial modal shift from car to public transport. This proposal will allow for connections to be made to this system once the precise route and location of stations/interchanges are known. If this rapid transit system is provided it will allow the traffic impacts of this scheme to be further mitigated. The allocation of this site will also allow cycle networks to be extended to important employment sites. The actual form of the development will also need to be designed to give priority to pedestrians and cyclists, including landscaped and attractive off-road routes. It should be noted that although the site has attractive public footpaths, there are no cycle ways across it and the public footpaths are not suitable for cycling – particularly in the winter. It is clear that further work will be required in conjunction with Cambridgeshire County Council and other bodies to agree measures to address the strategic impacts of this site.
Topography As detailed in the landscape visual impact assessment the site is undulating and the topography of the site will need to be used to mitigate adverse impact of development. The master planning of the site will need particular care to ensure that the constraints and opportunities associated with the site are taken into account. However, it is clear from initial work undertaken that the topography of the site is not an impediment to development. Site Capacity It is considered that the site has a capacity of circa 1,500 dwellings. Whilst this 230 hectare site could conceivably accommodate more than a 1,500 dwellings, utilising a density of 30 dwellings per hectare, the level of built development to open space is at a ratio of 21:79. This is in recognition of the findings of the Landscape Visual Impact Assessment and the principal objective that this scheme must be landscape led. It is clear that a considerable amount of the site will need to be allocated for landscaping, public open space and bio-diversity enhancements. This is of particular note due to the undulating topography of the site and the need to use blocks of planting to break up development and create views into and out of the site. Any allocation relating to this site would need to make it clear that the capacity is indicative and that the capacity would be informed by a master planning exercise. This masterplan will also need to demonstrate how this site and the Garden Community scheme (if it occurs) could be integrated
Bio-diversity The majority of the site is used for intensive agricultural production and would appear to offer limited habitats for protected species. An ecological assessment will be required, and the biodiversity enhancements provided in relation to this site will need to acknowledge the findings of this assessment. It is clear that the development of this site will have the potential to enhance both site- specific biodiversity and the wider area. Contaminated Land The majority of the site comprises greenfield land which is unlikely to be contaminated. However, it is recognised that the site will need to be subject to an appropriate contamination assessment. Flood Risk and Drainage The majority of the site is within Flood Zone 1. This allocation will need to be subject to a strategic flood risk assessment and surface water drainage strategy to confirm that this site and the adjacent site can be drained in a sustainable manner and will not increase flood risk downstream. It is also clear that there is sufficient land available to provide on-site mitigation and attenuation if required. Heritage An analysis of the constraints maps of the Council have revealed that this proposal will not have an impact on the setting of listed buildings or the character and appearance of any Conservation Areas. Any development will need to be subject to an appropriate archaeological assessment to confirm the archaeological interest of this site and propose appropriate mitigation if required. Public Rights of Way The site is dissected by a public footpath which runs north to south, the route of which will be safeguarded and enhanced as part of these proposals. This could potentially be upgraded to a bridleway. A further footpath is located on the eastern boundary. The development of this site will allow a more comprehensive footpath and bridleway network to be provided and allow east to west connections to be created between the existing footpaths. It must also be recognised that there is an existing tunnel under the A11 which will facilitate a safe means of access to the Wellcome institute.
Whilst, there are services and utilities in the vicinity of the site it is recognised that this development will increase pressure on services and utilities and these will need to be reinforced and upgraded in a coordinated manner, to the benefit of all.
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Availability The entirety of the site is in the ownership of Abington Farms Ltd who are committed to promoting it for a mixed-use development. It is considered that this site represents a sustainable location, which will benefit from good public transport link allowing a modal shift from the private car. The site is attracting interest from promoters who are interested in delivering development in this location. There are no known legal constraints which could delay or prohibit development.
Deliveribility The site is within the sole ownership of the promoter and it is considered that the development at the site could be delivered in its entirety within 20 years. The site is greenfield and there are there are no constraints at the site which could prohibit delivery within the time period. In fact, the allocation of this site will also help to address the pressing need for development within South Cambridgeshire whilst providing benefits to the wider area. Work undertaken to date has confirmed that the site is viable and deliverable.
There are no known legal constraints which could delay or prohibit development.
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2023
2038
15
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Land south of Cambridge Road, Melbourn
9.7
Agricultural Land
N/A
N/A
N/A
The site is being proposed for housing development.
For Public Open Space/ Community Facilities/ Recreation and Leisure - Yes if required / appropriate as part of wider housing led proposals. There is an identified housing need which this site would help to meet. The site is suitable and available for housing; affordable housing would also be provided. The development would support employment opportunities during construction (and therefore potentially local expenditure to benefit of local economy) and in the longer term from new residents. New housing would support existing facilities and infrastructure.
The site has capacity to accommodate approximately 250 new homes, including 40% affordable housing.
Not Specified.
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The site would be accessed via a new priority junction onto Cambridge Road.
The site is not located within a coal mining consultation area.
Through the masterplanning process, the site layout and open space provision will generate a net gain in biodiversity
It is understood that utility access is available; the site is immediately adjacent to an existing settlement. There are a small number of small pylons (running south east to north west) which cross the site.
It is understood that utility access is available; the site is immediately adjacent to an existing settlement. There are a small number of small pylons (running south east to north west) which cross the site. The existing pylons would be undergrounded and diverted to take account of the site masterplan.
There are no ownership or other constraints that would delay the availability of the site.
There is an identified need for housing in the Cambridge and South Cambridge District; this site is available for development immediately. There are no constraints to development.
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Year 1 (from adoption/allocation of site in Plan)
Year 5
Year 5
No known issues at this time.
