Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest from Members on matters arising in this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest. 

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th February 2005 as a correct record.

Members authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th February 2005 (Cambridge Southern Fringe Results and Approach).

RESOLVED that paragraph D3.3 of the Cambridge Southern Fringe Area Action Plan be amended to read as follows:

“Employment development at Trumpington West will be subject to Policy EM/1 of the Core Strategy and Development Control Policies DPD that reserves employment land for development that can demonstrate a clear need to be located in the area, to serve local needs, or contribute to the continued success of the Cambridge Sub-Region.”

RESOLVED

Members considered the emerging content of the draft Cambridge Southern Fringe Area Action Plan, noting that a final version would be presented to them at the Special Council meeting scheduled for 9^th May 2005 in order to adopt the plan for publication. 

In presenting his report, the Planning Policy Manager corrected an error on page 51 of the draft Area Action Plan.  In Policy CSF/15, paragraph 1(a), the reference in line three to Haverhill Road should have been to Granhams Road.  Members considered the Area Action Plan as follows:

A.            Introduction

In response to a Member’s question, the Planning Policy Manager informed Members that the development would consist of about 1,200 dwellings in total, of which about 600 would be in South Cambridgeshire at a density of approximately 50 to the hectare.  Plans for landscaping around the Bell School had been published by Cambridge City Council, and South Cambridgeshire District Council would be developing a strategy for addressing that issue in due course.

B.        Vision and Development Principles

In response to a Member’s question, the Planning Policy Manager said that Cambridgeshire County Council had the long-term objective of improving the public Rights of Way network around Cambridge.  South Cambridgeshire District Council would be consulted about the proposals in due course.  Among other things, the District Council will be eager to secure unbroken public access between the Cambridge Southern Fringe and Wandlebury and the Gog Magog hills.  This envisaged the development of a golf course (with its associated rights of way) in Great Shelford: if this project did not come to fruition, the County Council would have to reassess the situation.   The Planning Policy Manager undertook to place copies of the Rights of Way proposals in the Members’ lounge.

The issue of cycle paths was discussed, and Members noted that the County Council’s aspirations in this regard had not been updated since their discussion document published 18 months’ ago.

C.            Trumpington West and the southern setting of Cambridge

Members noted this part of the Area Action Plan.

D1.      The Structure of Trumpington West

Members noted Policy CSF/6 covering the physical structure of Trumpington West and the Concept Plan showing the distribution of its key components.  This addressed the main land uses, services, facilities and infrastructure, the character, design and landscaping with particular reference to the importance of this approach to Cambridge and its relationship with the River Cam valley. It sought to provide the basis for subsequent masterplans required by the AAP, which could be prepared by developers or by the Council to show in more detail how the principles of the Structural Policy should be interpreted for the development of the area.

In response to concern about the buildings fronting onto the M11 motorway being of up to four storeys, the Planning Policy Manager reminded Members that they had addressed this issue, and accepted it in principle, at the meeting on 11^th February 2005.  He commented that substantial landmark buildings on the city edge were characteristic of Cambridge,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.