FOI Ref 5331 Response sent 29 August ‘Internal and external correspondence and documentation relating to a proposed crossover point between two new developments on Wort's Causeway I am interested in seeing relevant documentation and correspondence relating to the crossover on Wort's Causeway, mentioned on page 100 (point k) of the new local plan, that will involve removal of a section of established double hedgerow that has been recognised as important habitat by the Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils as an important asset for wildlife and has been proven as habitat for two endangered species, the great partridge and corn bunting by CPERC. The site is on the boundary of what will become the new boundary of the city and green belt. It would be helpful if you could share internal communications, drawings, proposed plans, meeting notes and minutes, discussion documents and external correspondence including notes of phone calls, letters and emails between yourselves, Cambridge County and District Councils, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning, Cambridge County Council Highways, the developers of GB1 and GB2 and any other interested parties’. Please find the Council’s response attached. Please note that the pre-application documents submitted by the developers and referred to in the Council’s response have not been saved. A request to obtain this information should be directed to the relevant planning agents: Further queries on this matter should be directed to [email protected]
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FOI Ref 5331 Response sent 29 August ‘Internal and external correspondence and documentation relating to a proposed crossover point between two new developments on Wort's Causeway I am interested in seeing relevant documentation and correspondence relating to the crossover on Wort's Causeway, mentioned on page 100 (point k) of the new local plan, that will involve removal of a section of established double hedgerow that has been recognised as important habitat by the Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils as an important asset for wildlife and has been proven as habitat for two endangered species, the great partridge and corn bunting by CPERC. The site is on the boundary of what will become the new boundary of the city and green belt. It would be helpful if you could share internal communications, drawings, proposed plans, meeting notes and minutes, discussion documents and external correspondence including notes of phone calls, letters and emails between yourselves, Cambridge County and District Councils, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning, Cambridge County Council Highways, the developers of GB1 and GB2 and any other interested parties’. Please find the Council’s response attached. Please note that the pre-application documents submitted by the developers and referred to in the Council’s response have not been saved. A request to obtain this information should be directed to the relevant planning agents:
Further queries on this matter should be directed to [email protected]
‘Internal and external correspondence and documentation relating to a proposed crossover point between two new developments on Wort's Causeway I am interested in seeing relevant documentation and correspondence relating to the crossover on Wort's Causeway, mentioned on page 100 (point k) of the new local plan, that will involve removal of a section of established double hedgerow that has been recognised as important habitat by the Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils as an important asset for wildlife and has been proven as habitat for two endangered species, the great partridge and corn bunting by CPERC. The site is on the boundary of what will become the new boundary of the city and green belt. It would be helpful if you could share internal communications, drawings, proposed plans, meeting notes and minutes, discussion documents and external correspondence including notes of phone calls, letters and emails between yourselves, Cambridge County and District Councils, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning, Cambridge County Council Highways, the developers of GB1 and GB2 and any other interested parties’.
Page 1 of 51
GB1- 19/5069/PREAPP- 9th April 2019
Ref: 19/5069/PREAPP
Total number of 18 pages in this document including this page
09 April 2019
Proposal: Outline permission for residential development at site GB1 (Netherhall
Gardens)
Thank you for attending a meeting at Cambridge City Council Offices and sending through the
relevant documents for me and my colleagues to review with respect to a new residential
development at GB1.
This letter is a summary of the main points from our meeting and the Council’s feedback on the
proposal.
INTRODUCTION
An initial pre-application meeting took place at the Guildhall on Wednesday 13th March 2019 (see
meeting sign in sheet as a separate attachment) at which City Council Officers were presented with
high level (no detailed designs) proposals for the residential development of the GB1. The meeting
held was primarily focused on high level of design and highway issues. Based on the information
provided, the comments are limited primarily to layout and highways issues with respect to a
submission for outline permission.
The table attached to this letter summarises the issues using a ‘traffic light’ format. Red issues are
matters of principle which if not resolved would lead to a refusal of the application; amber issues are
those where the principle is acceptable but work is still required. Green issues are those which are
acceptable. We will support the submission of an application when all the issues are agreed and
shown as green. As there was very little information made available for this meeting, the majority of
issues are indicated as red for this reason further submission of information on key topics will
address this.
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS & POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO GB1
• National Planning Policy Framework 2019
• Planning Practice Guidance (PPG)
• Cambridge Local Plan, October 2018:
Policy 1: The presumption in favour of sustainable development Policy 2: Spatial strategy for the location of employment development Policy 3: Spatial strategy for the location of residential development
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Policy 4: The Cambridge Green Belt Policy 5: Strategic transport infrastructure Policy 17: Cambridge Biomedical Campus (including Addenbrooke’s Hospital) Area of Major
Change Policy 18: Southern Fringe Areas of Major Change Policy 19: West Cambridge Area of Major Change Policy 27: Site specific development opportunities Policy 28: Carbon reduction, community energy networks, sustainable design and
construction, and water use Policy 29: Renewable and low carbon energy generation Policy 31: Integrated water management and the water cycle Policy 32: Flood risk Policy 34: Light pollution control Policy 35: Protection of human health and quality of life from noise and vibration Policy 36: Air quality, odour and dust Policy 42: Connecting new developments to digital infrastructure Policy 45: Affordable housing and dwelling mix Policy 50: Residential space standards Policy 51: Accessible homes Policy 55: Responding to context Policy 56: Creating successful places Policy 57: Designing new buildings Policy 59: Designing landscape and the public realm Policy 61: Conservation and enhancement of Cambridge’s historic environment Policy 62: Local heritage assets Policy 65: Visual pollution Policy 67: Protection of open space Policy 68: Open space and recreation provision through new development Policy 69: Protection of sites of biodiversity and geodiversity importance Policy 70: Protection of priority species and habitats Policy 71: Trees Policy 73: Community, sports and leisure facilities Policy 74: Education facilities Policy 75: Healthcare facilities Policy 80: Supporting sustainable access to development Policy 81: Mitigating the transport impact of development Policy 82: Parking management Policy 85: Infrastructure delivery, planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy
• Cambridge City Council LDF Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) Affordable housing SPD, Adopted June 2014 Cambridgeshire flood and water SPD, Adopted December 2018 Planning Obligations Strategy SPD, Adopted June 2014 Public art SPD, January 2010 Sustainable design and construction SPD, Adopted June 2007.
DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED
• PRE-APPLICATION DOCUMENTS, NETHERHALL GARDENS, MARCH 2019.
KEY ISSUES
The key substantive issues discussed at the meeting were;
At this stage Officers would be reluctant to enter in to a PPA and having further pre-application
meetings until you can provide a report on your ‘Community Engagement Strategy’ due to the
extensive level of community interest in this development. It would be preferable a Communications
Manager or Head of Stakeholder Engagement is part of your team to provide the Council with a
level of comfort when dealing with future enquiries received from the surrounding community.
Officers would initially welcome a timeline as to when this report would be received and thereafter
would be happy to agree another pre-application meeting and if required a PPA agreement.
Documents to be submitted for Outline Application
I can confirm the following documents would be required for the submission of an Outline application, some of these may be scoped out from the Environmental Statement (if required):
- Application Form and Certificates; - Site Location and Block Plan; - Parameter Plans with accompanying Key Development Principles - Illustrative Strategic Masterplan - Spatial Masterplan; - Design and Access Statement;
The principle of residential development on GB2 is considered acceptable and will be supported by Officers. The proposals will however need to satisfy all the other policy requirements of the development plan.
GREEN
Coordinated development
Development on both the GB1 and GB2 sites will be expected to be carefully designed to reflect their prominent location on the southern edge of the City and to ensure they are integrated with existing and planned new neighbouring development.
RED
Landscape, Open space and Trees.
Impact upon the Green Belt
To enable officers to assess the acceptability of such proposals a Landscape Visual Impact Appraisal (LVIA) will need to be provided including verified views.
RED
Character of Wort’s Causeway
The section of Wort’s Causeway which passes between GB1 and GB2 is rural in its character and appearance with mature hedgerow planting alongside both sides of the lane. The rural character and appearance of Wort’s Causeway including its verges, hedgerows and bridleway should be retained. Further work is required to see how this could be achieved. It should also be noted that Policy 27 requires that there should an assessment of the potential for biodiversity enhancement and the creation of an ecological corridor between the two sites.
RED
Structural landscaping
Policy 27 requires the early establishment of a generous landscaped edge to the eastern side of the site to help create an appropriate buffer and distinctive edge to the City. There should also be a landscaped buffer where the site adjoins Netherhall Farm.
RED
Open space provision
Policy 68 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018 requires that all residential developments should contribute to the provision of open space and recreation sites/ facilities in accordance with the council’s Open Space and Recreation Standards, the Playing Pitch Strategy and the Indoor Sports Facility Strategy. GB1 will be expected to contribute towards the delivery of; • Outdoor sports facilities • Indoor sports facilities • Provision for children and teenagers • Informal open space • Allotments Because of the size of the development it is not anticipated that it will be practical to deliver either outdoor or indoor sports facilities on the site. It is, however, anticipated that the site will be able to make Provision for Children and Teenagers, Informal Open Space and Allotments on site. Where it is not possible to deliver on site it is likely that a commuted sum will be payable towards the cost of delivery of such facilities elsewhere in the City.
RED
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Open space requirements will be calculated by determining the net number of residents of the new development, which will depend upon the eventual number, type and size of dwellings proposed.
Sustainable Drainage
Further details of the sustainable drainage design is required as soon as possible in order to ensure enough space is allocated and to integrate it into the landscape scheme
RED
Density & Layout of Development
Site development capacity
The proposal would need to take into account the demands for open space; strategic landscaping and sustainable drainage solutions and therefore the overall capacity may be less than 200 units.
RED
Layout & / design principles
Detailed comments on emerging design principles are provided in the letter. These should be addressed as the design moves forward.
RED
B. Housing Delivery
Affordable housing provision
It is recommended that there are early discussions at the pre app stage with officers from the City Council’s Housing Department attends to discuss and agree on the affordable housing offer in terms of; the social housing provider, tenure split, mix, accessible homes, etc.
RED
Housing mix The housing mix for the private element of the housing offer will be expected to mirror the mix for the affordable housing.
RED
Residential space standards
It should be noted that all new residential units will be expected to meet the residential space standards set out in Policy 50 of the Cambridge Local Plan (2018).
RED
C. Transport / Highways
Vehicular access from Babraham Road
Vehicular access to both the GB1 and GB2 sites will only be permitted from Babraham Road. As clarified in Policy 27 Wort’s Causeway will be used by buses only during peak periods with limited car access at other times. Careful consideration will need to be given to the siting of traffic controls on Wort’s Causeway. The new vehicular spine road will cross the GB2 site to a single point on Wort’s Causeway and continue onto the GB1 site. The exact position of the new junction on Babraham Road and alignment of the spine road is not yet fixed.
RED
Pedestrian & cycle linkages
Future development will be expected to provide adequate connections including pedestrian cycle routes to its surroundings, including to GB1. It should be noted that a major new cycle route will be delivered across Babraham Road from the GB2 site through the Bell School development to Addenbrookes / Cambridge Biomedical Campus and to the rest of the City.
RED
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Policy 27 requires the establishment of appropriate public footpaths linking the development with the surrounding chalk farmland and should include a footpath to the nearby Netherhall School.
Car & cycle parking
Policy 82 of the Cambridge Local Plan (2018) clarifies the developments will be expected to be compliant with parking standards. The site although located at the edge of the City is still a highly accessible location with excellent access to more sustainable modes of transport, notably cycle routes and regular bus services. Other transport improvements in the area including the Bell School cycle route and in the longer term the planned new train station at Cambridge Biomedical Campus will further improve the site accessibility. It is anticipated that the Transport Assessment, which will need to be provided with a planning application, is likely to help justify a substantially lower provision of car parking and higher provision of cycle parking within the development. Officers will expect resident parking to be on-plot.
RED
Transport mitigation
The transport assessment will be expected to identify wider transport mitigation measures including walking and cycling connections.
RED
D. Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental impacts
Under the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 as the project is listed in Schedule 2 and exceeds the relevant thresholds or criteria set out in the second column the proposal needs to be screened by Cambridge City Council to determine whether significant effects on the environment are likely and hence whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required. A screening is required because the proposals exceed both the following criteria; • The development is more than 150 dwellings • Overall the site area exceeds 5 hectares The environmental issues officers will be concerned with include; visual impacts, air quality impacts, water quality, contaminated land/ gas, noise and artificial lighting.
RED
E. Ecological Impact
Ecology
A preliminary ecological assessment (PEA) for the site, in line with CIEEM Guidelines (2013), incorporating habitat and protected species surveys, will need to be provided to inform the EIA and outline development proposals. Existing habitats should be measured and assessed for distinctiveness to enable assessment of proposed habitat loss and gains using the DEFRA Biodiversity Offsetting metric. The PEA should identify both constraints and opportunities and seek an overall biodiversity net gain for the development. The sites ecological value should be assessed as part of a wider landscape scale network and how it might help deliver the Cambridgeshire Green Infrastructure Strategy (2011). The site contains a protected County Wildlife Site. The
RED
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Table 1: Issues Log
END OF DOCUMENT
site is in close proximity to a number of designated sites including Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits SSSI/LNR, The Beech Woods and Limekiln Hill SSSI. Protected species potentially present include scarce breeding farmland birds (Corn Bunting, Grey Partridge), Bats (Brown Long Eared, Barbastelle), Badger, Barn Owl.
F. Community Facilities
Community Facilities
Policy 27 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018 requires that contributions be made towards improved community facilities and services in this part of the City. As stipulated in Policy 73 of the new plan this community facility should be in the form of a new, dedicated community centre and where necessary, education and childcare facilities. With development also coming forward on the GB1 you should investigate the possibility of delivering a community facility which will serve the future residents of both developments as well as existing residents in the area.
RED
G. Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder Engagement
The Council requires a commitment to a programme of community engagement as the scheme moves forward and is developed further. Please provide a report outlining your strategy for community engagement strategy (CES) before the next pre-app can be arranged.
RED
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EIA Screening opinion- 2nd July 2019- 19/0770/SCRE Our ref: 19/0770/SCRE
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) (ENGLAND AND WALES) REGULATIONS 2017 (AS UPDATED) EIA SCREENING OPINION REQUEST – SITE TO THE NORTH OF WORTS’ CAUSEWAY, CAMBRIDGE (ALLOCATION GB1) PRPOSED DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING UP TO 200 UNITS, COMMUNITY FACILITIES, OFFICE SPACE, CAR PARKING AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE Thank you for your EIA Screening Opinion request which was submitted to Cambridge City Council on 03 June 2019. Cambridge City Council has carefully considered the information provided on your correspondence dated 03 June 2019. I write to advise you that based on the information submitted to date, the development background, and the circumstances of the case, it is the opinion of the Council that an Environmental Statement is required for the proposals.
Site Description and Surroundings
The site, which covers an area of approximately 6.1 hectares, is located to the south east of Cambridge, adjacent to Netherall Farm and its associated grounds and paddocks. It extends east from the edge of an existing residential area, which forms the western and northern site boundaries. Worts’ Causeway forms the southern boundary of the site. Land to the east of the site and beyond Worts’ Causeway is characterised by agricultural farmland and open countryside. The site was allocated in the Cambridge Local Plan 2018 as site GB1, for up to 200 dwellings.
Consultation Whilst there is no statutory requirement to consult on screening requests under the relevant EIA legislation, the Local Planning Authority undertook consultation of key consultees. The full consultation responses can be accessed online via the website link below: https://idox.cambridge.gov.uk/onlineapplications/advancedSearchResults.do?action=firstPage
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Assessment The proposed development falls within Schedule 2, Class 10 (b) ‘Urban development projects’. The development exceeds the applicable thresholds and criteria of more than 150 dwellings and an overall development area of over 5 hectares. Consideration has also been given as to whether the development is likely to have significant effects on the environment as per Schedule 3 of the EIA Regulations, with specific reference to the development characteristics, location and nature of the impacts. In making this evaluation, regard has been had to relevant Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) which provides clarification on the factors to be taken into account to determine whether or not an EIA is required in support of a planning application. A copy of the Screening Matrix is attached as an Appendix to this letter. Characteristics of Development The characteristics of the development have been considered having regard in particular to the size of the development, physical land use changes, the production of waste, pollution and nuisances, and the cumulative impacts with other planned development in the vicinity of the site. Notwithstanding the scale of the development, the proposed development is considered to have the potential to lead to significant environmental effects on a range of issues taken together, including ecology and wildlife. Location of Development The location of the proposed development has been considered in the context of the environmental sensitivity of the geographical areas likely to be affected, having regard to existing land uses, and the absorption capacity of the natural environment. The environmental sensitivity of the location of the development is considered to be high. It is a greenfield site on the edge of Cambridge, within close proximity to existing residential properties and existing and planned services. The site is accessed by a classified ‘A’ road and the local highway network is already under pressure. The site is of potential importance to ecology and wildlife. Characteristics of Potential Impact The potential significant effects of the development have been considered, including the extent of the impact, duration, frequency and reversibility of the impact. The proposed development is likely to lead to significant environmental effects on a range of issues. There are potential impacts of significant complexity in relation to biodiversity, ecological impacts on a sensitive area, and surface water flooding, which require informed consideration through an Environmental Impact Assessment. On the basis of this evaluation, the Council has concluded that the proposed development requires the submission of an Environmental Statement to accompany a planning application for the proposed development. Yours sincerely,
Encl. – Screening Opinion dated 02 July 2019
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GB2 Pre App letter- 26th February 2019
Total number of 11 pages in this document including this page 29 August 2019 Reference: 19/5045/PREAPP
This letter provides informal officer views and it does not therefore bind the decision
of Members of the City Council’s Planning Committee when the application(s) is (are)
formally determined in due course. The information provided at the first meeting was
highly conceptual and our comment in this letter therefore reflects this. Officers will
provide more feedback as your scheme develops further.
Should you have any queries regarding any of the above please do not hesitate to
contact me directly.
Yours Sincerely,
Enc.
Next steps are summarised in Table 1 below.
Page 14 of 51
Table 1: Issues Log
Issue Comments Status
A. Principle of Development
Principle of development
The principle of residential development on GB2 is considered acceptable and will be supported by Officers. The proposals will however need to satisfy all the other policy requirements of the development plan.
Amber
Coordinated development
Development on both the GB1 and GB2 sites will be expected to be carefully designed to reflect their prominent location on the southern edge of the City and to ensure they are integrated with existing and planned new neighbouring development.
Red
B. Green belt, landscape and open space
Impact upon the Green Belt
To enable officers to assess the acceptability of such proposals a Landscape Visual Impact Appraisal (LVIA) will need to be provided including verified views.
Red
Character of Wort’s Causeway
The section of Wort’s Causeway which passes between GB1 and GB2 is rural in its character and appearance with mature hedgerow planting alongside both sides of the lane. On the western side and parallel is you suggest a permissive bridleway with mature planting alongside both sides of the bridleway. To confirm the status of the bridleway you should contact James Stringer the Asset Information Definitive Map Officer at Cambridgeshire County Council ([email protected]). The rural character and appearance of Wort’s Causeway including its verges, hedgerows and bridleway should be retained. It should also be noted that Policy 27 requires that there should an assessment of the potential for biodiversity enhancement and the creation of an ecological corridor between the two sites.
Red
Structural landscaping
Policy 27 requires the early establishment of a generous landscaped edge to the eastern side of the site to help create an appropriate buffer and distinctive edge to the City. There should also be a landscaped buffer where the site adjoins existing housing to the west.
Red
Open space provision
Policy 68 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018 requires that all residential developments should contribute to the provision of open space and recreation sites/ facilities in accordance with the
council’s Open Space and Recreation Standards, the Playing Pitch Strategy and the Indoor Sports Facility Strategy. GB2 will be expected to contribute towards the delivery of; • Outdoor sports facilities • Indoor sports facilities • Provision for children and teenagers • Informal open space • Allotments Because of the size of the development it is not anticipated that it will be practical to deliver either outdoor or indoor sports facilities on the site. It is, however, anticipated that the site will be able to make Provision for Children and Teenagers, Informal Open Space and Allotments on site. Where it is not possible to deliver on site it is likely that a commuted sum will be payable towards the cost of delivery of such facilities elsewhere in the City. Open space requirements will be calculated by determining the net number of residents of the new development, which will depend upon the eventual number, type and size of dwellings proposed.
Sustainable Drainage
Further details of the sustainable drainage design is required as soon as possible in order to ensure enough space is allocated and to integrate it into the landscape scheme
Red
C. Density & layout of development
Diversion of service corridors
There are two significant easements which impact upon the GB2 site. The first is the Cambridge Water 21” water main which travels from the western corner of the site from Babraham Road in a north eastern direction across Wort’s Causeway. This water main has a 10 metre wide easement. Secondly from approximately the same point on Babraham Road a high-pressure gas main traverses the site travelling in a more easterly direction. The high pressure gas main has a 15 metre wide easement. The early design work uses both these easement zones as structuring elements with no development taking place within the easements. Instead the easements have been incorporated into the scheme’s design with open spaces, landscaping, roads and footpaths incorporated into these spaces. It is strongly recommended that the financial viability of diverting both pipes around the site be explored, as the potential increase in developable land / value resulting from the diversions of either or both pipes might justify the costs of the diversion works and result in the more efficient development of the site.
Red
Page 16 of 51
Site development capacity
The proposal would need to take into account the demands for open space, strategic landscaping and sustainable drainage solutions and therefore the overall capacity may be less than 230 units.
Amber
Layout & appearance of development
Future development on the GB2 site should seek to harmonise with existing neighbouring development, particularly along the Babraham Road frontage where large properties fronting onto Babraham Road will be encouraged. Such properties could potentially be small apartment blocks.
Amber
D. Housing delivery
Affordable housing provision
It is recommended that there are early discussions at the pre app stage with officers from the City Council’s Housing Department attends to discuss and agree on the affordable housing offer in terms of; the social housing provider, tenure split, mix, accessible homes, etc.
Red Red
Housing mix The housing mix for the private element of the housing offer will be expected to mirror the mix for the affordable housing.
Red
Residential space standards
It should be noted that all new residential units will be expected to meet the residential space standards set out in Policy 50 of the Cambridge Local Plan (2018).
Red
E. Transport
Vehicular access from Babraham Road
Vehicular access to both the GB1 and GB2 sites will only be permitted from Babraham Road. As clarified in Policy 27 Wort’s Causeway will be used by buses only during peak periods with limited car access at other times. Careful consideration will need to be given to the siting of traffic controls on Wort’s Causeway. The new vehicular spine road will cross the GB2 site to a single point on Wort’s Causeway and continue onto the GB1 site. The exact position of the new junction on Babraham Road and alignment of the spine road is not yet fixed.
Amber
Pedestrian & cycle linkages
Future development will be expected to provide adequate connections including pedestrian cycle routes to its surroundings, including to GB1. A key cycle route into the City runs on the footpath along the Babraham frontage of the site. The formation of a major new road junction along this frontage is likely to disrupt the journeys of cyclists who are likely to need to wait at a signalised crossing. You are advised to investigate other arrangements where potentially the cycle route could be diverted into the site away from the junction. It should be noted that a major new cycle route will be delivered across Babraham Road from the GB2 site through the Bell School development to Addenbrookes / Cambridge Biomedical Campus and to the rest of the City.
Amber
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Policy 27 requires the establishment of appropriate public footpaths linking the development with the surrounding chalk farmland and should include a footpath to the nearby Netherhall School. The permissive footpath along the site’s western boundary and the bridleway alongside Wort’s Causeway will need to be retained and incorporated into the scheme.
Car & cycle parking
Policy 82 of the Cambridge Local Plan (2018) clarifies the developments will be expected to be compliant with parking standards. The site although located at the edge of the City is still a highly accessible location with excellent access to more sustainable modes of transport, notably cycle routes and regular bus services. Other transport improvements in the area including the Bell School cycle route and in the longer term the planned new train station at Cambridge Biomedical Campus will further improve the site accessibility. It is anticipated that the Transport Assessment, which will need to be provided with a planning application, is likely to help justify a substantially lower provision of car parking and higher provision of cycle parking within the development. Officers will expect resident parking to be on-plot.
Red
Transport mitigation The transport assessment will be expected to identify wider transport mitigation measures including walking and cycling connections.
Red
F. Other
Community facilities
Policy 27 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018 requires that contributions be made towards improved community facilities and services in this part of the City. As stipulated in Policy 73 of the new plan this community facility should be in the form of a new, dedicated community centre and where necessary, education and childcare facilities. With development also coming forward on the GB1 you should investigate the possibility of delivering a community facility which will serve the future residents of both developments as well as existing residents in the area. It is recommended that there are early discussions at the pre application stage with officers from the City Council’s Community Development team in order to explore the feasibility of providing some form of community facilities as part of this development or off-site in conjunction with other developments within the same area.
Red
Environmental impacts
Under the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 as the project is listed in Schedule 2 and exceeds the relevant thresholds or criteria set out in the second column the proposal needs to be screened by Cambridge City Council to determine whether significant effects on the environment are likely and hence whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required. A screening is required because the proposals exceed both the following criteria;
Amber
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• The development is more than 150 dwellings
• Overall the site area exceeds 5 hectares
The environmental issues officers will be concerned with include; visual impacts, air quality impacts, water quality, contaminated land/ gas, noise and artificial lighting.
Ecology A preliminary ecological assessment (PEA) for the site, in line with CIEEM Guidelines (2013), incorporating habitat and protected species surveys, will need to be provided to inform the EIA and outline development proposals. Existing habitats should be measured and assessed for distinctiveness to enable assessment of proposed habitat loss and gains using the DEFRA Biodiversity Offsetting metric. The PEA should identify both constraints and opportunities and seek an overall biodiversity net gain for the development. The sites ecological value should be assessed as part of a wider landscape scale network and how it might help deliver the Cambridgeshire Green Infrastructure Strategy (2011). The site is in close proximity to a number of designated sites including Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits SSSI/LNR, The Beech Woods and Limekiln Hill SSSI. Protected species potentially present include scarce breeding farmland birds (Corn Bunting, Grey Partridge), Bats (Brown Long Eared, Barbastelle), Badger, Barn Owl.
You are encouraged to consider adopting the recently launched voluntary Local Nature Partnership (LNP) Developing with Nature Toolkit, offering guidance and accreditation for those developments demonstrating best practice.
Useful links:
Local Nature Partnership (LNP) Developing with Nature Toolkit:
Stakeholder / Community Engagement Strategy report
The Council requires a commitment to a programme of community engagement as the scheme moves forward and is developed further. Please provide a report outlining your strategy for community engagement before the next pre-app can be arranged. The Council recommend that you attend a Southern Fringe Community Forum meeting. Further details can be found on our website www.cambridge.gov.uk/southern-fringe-community-forum
communicated by email on 23/04/2019 to Andrew Mills; however I must mention these
dates are now out of sync due to the late agreement to hold a joint highways meeting
(arranged for 3rd June 2019 at CCC offices) which has delayed arranging technical
meetings and will delay the final programme further i.e. beyond September 2019.
In addition you have requested PPA in which we determine the application in 13 weeks as opposed to the required 16 weeks; this will not be possible given the sensitivities around this site.
Should you have any queries regarding any of the above please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours Sincerely,
Enc.
Next steps are summarised in Table 1 below.
Date (2019) - tentative Subject
4th April Second pre-app meeting held with CCC
April – May Technical meetings with follow-up meetings: - Highways/UD & LA - Parameter/Block plans - Drainage/Landscaping - Housing - Ecology/noise & landscaping - Sustainability. - Noise plus other Environmental health issues
May Preferably Joint (GB1 + GB2) Consultation Events
June Third pre-app meeting at CCC offices
July Further joint (GB1 + GB2) consultation events
25th June Disability Panel
3rd July Quality Panel
14 August Member Panel
September Submission of Outline Application
Page 10 of 51
Table 1: Issues Log
Issue Comments Status
C. Principle of Development
Principle of
development
The principle of residential development on GB2 is considered acceptable and will be supported by
Officers. The proposals will however need to satisfy all the other policy requirements of the
development plan.
AMBER
Coordinated
development
Development on both the GB1 and GB2 sites will be expected to be carefully designed to reflect
their prominent location on the southern edge of the City and to ensure they are integrated with
existing and planned new neighbouring development.
RED
D. Green belt, landscape and open space
Impact upon the
Green Belt
To enable officers to assess the acceptability of such proposals a Landscape Visual Impact
Appraisal (LVIA) will need to be provided including verified views.
RED
Character of Wort’s
Causeway
The section of Wort’s Causeway which passes between GB1 and GB2 is rural in its character and
appearance with mature hedgerow planting alongside both sides of the lane. On the western side
and parallel is you suggest a permissive bridleway with mature planting alongside both sides of
the bridleway. To confirm the status of the bridleway you should contact James Stringer the Asset
Information Definitive Map Officer at Cambridgeshire County Council