Agenda item

The Deputy Leader introduced the North East Cambridge Area Action Plan (NECAAP) which Planning Policy Officers presented.

Officers informed the committee of the following:

·       Officers explained the complexities, opportunities and development potential of the North East Cambridge Site.

·       The AAP was predicated on the relocation of the waste water treatment works.

·       The ambitious and forward looking vision for North East Cambridge, which would be consulted on. The emphasis was on creating a low carbon district with sustainability at its core.

·       Officers were looking at best practice in sustainable development both nationally and internationally, such as for example how different streets and spaces were managed in the Netherlands.

·       Officers informed the committee that the key principles of the AAP were planning for streets rather than roads and that the car was not being planned for as car use was being actively discouraged on the site. No additional parking spaces were being created and there would be much less parking per home than normal. This was unique in the UK. Officers were mindful of the risks of parking displacement  and were exploring parking enforcement for the site.

·       There would be a phased approach to development and parking reduction across the site.

·       The committee was informed that parking on the Science Park was significantly under-utilised and and officers were proposing it was reduced and dispersed across North East Cambridge. Officers were discussing this with the owners of the Science Park to negotiate relinquishing parking from their tenants.

·       Although a walkable, cyclable neighbourhood was being promoted, officers informed the committee that access to a vehicle was not being prevented as access to shared use vehicles and car barns was being considered. The infrastructure would be in place so residents did not need a car when they moved in to the development.

·       20,000 jobs would be created, which were in addition to the existing jobs within the AAP area.

·       There would be around 8000 homes with 40% affordable homes.

·       Land was safeguarded in case a secondary school was needed.

·       There was a strong emphasis on community, recreation and cultural facilities.

·       This was a unique opportunity to take advantage of the scale and location of the site.

·       A sense of place would be created through mixed use development. Officers wanted to ensure a lively mixed-use area was created, which went beyond the hours of 9am-5pm. The cultural place making strategy detailed this and would be available as part of the consultation.

·       North East Cambridge would contribute to the strategic needs reflected in the emerging joint Local Plan.

·       Chesterton Bridge would be a key cycle route to the site and provide access to the city rather than via Milton Road.

The committee considered and commented on the AAP:

·       Members congratulated officers on the aspirations of the AAP.

·       Committee members raised concern about shared use paths for cyclists and pedestrians and the potential conflict between users, particularly considering the increased use of electric bikes and scooters. Officers informed the committee that there would be segregated paths on the main streets through the development and shared paths on the secondary routes due to the more limited space. Officers were considering how to plan for electric bikes and electric scooters, which it was anticipated would be legalised in future, and were looking at speed limits on shared used paths. Amendments would be made to the plan to address mobility scooters. Officers would also investigate the powers the Council had in relation to shared use paths.

·       In response to concerns raised about the potential conflict between users of shared paths, the committee was informed that as the car was not being planned for in the AAP, space would be freed up for other users and reduce the conflict between users of shared paths.

·       Committee members noted the active discouragement of car use and the reduced parking provision but queried how parking would be enforced to prevent parking displacement. Officers acknowledged that a comprehensive approach to the parking management and enforcement was needed. Officers were looking at good practice elsewhere and were engaging with officers across both councils and the highways authority.

·       Committee members emphasised the need for a sense of place to be created and that developers needed to be brought onboard with these concepts.

·       Committee members expressed concern regarding green space and emphasised the need for enough of this to be provided within the development to allow families space to play without having to leave the development.

·       Members highlighted and expressed concern about the potential impact on neighbouring green space such as Milton Country Park, if insufficient green space was provided in the development. Officers informed the committee that they had been talking to the community about these requirements and that there were large areas of open space in the AAP. Officers explained the four levels of open space provision in the development.

·       The committee was informed by officers that open spaces needed to be mixed use, flexible and serve the needs of the people living and working in the area. Officers assured the committee that they did not want increased pressure and footfall from the development to destroy the existing habitats of neighbouring green spaces such as Milton Country Park.

·       In response to the concerns raised about the potential impact of the development on Milton Country Park, officers informed the committee that they had been engaging with the operators of Milton Country Park who were members of the NEC community forum. The committee was assured that the existing green spaces neighbouring the development had the capacity to cater for the potential increased use by future North East Cambridge residents.

·       Committee members queried access to and parking at Cambridge North Station and emphasised that the station served the villages to the north east of Cambridge. Officers assured the committee that existing station users who travelled to the station by car, had been considered. More efficient parking such as multi-storey parking provision was being considered. Members were assured that the road infrastructure would be sufficient to deal with the traffic travelling to the station.

·       Some concern was raised that discouraging car use may be unrealistic as residents may want to access more green space than the development and Milton Country Park could offer and would want to travel further afield to do so. Officers assured the committee that they fully acknowledged the need to work with Milton Country Park so that it was able to accommodate the potential increased number of users from North East Cambridge.

·       Officers noted a request from the Lead Cabinet Member for Housing to consider running a sewerage pipe to the Chesterton Fen travelling community.

·       Officers noted concern raised by the Lead Cabinet Member for Housing regarding surface water drainage and infiltration, that the ground would not be able to cope with this. In response to this concern, officers informed the committee that they were confident with the infiltration proposals.

·       Officers informed the committee that the area by the River Cam would be set aside for biodiversity and landscape enhancements.

·       Concern was raised by committee members that the development needed to be carbon zero or carbon negative if zero carbon targets were to be met. Officers informed the committee that the climate change standards in relation to the housing were higher than government standards but were not net zero carbon. Officers expected that over the life of the NEC AAP, there would be exemplar sustainable development and requirements and policies would be reviewed and modified on an ongoing basis to address issues and realise benefits.

·       In response to a query regarding the decarbonisation of the energy grid, officers informed the committee that they were looking at a local network of alternative energy generation such as ground source heat pumps and anaerobic digestion. This was part of the energy masterplan.

·       Members were pleased to see acknowledgement that the site was in an area of water stress, however there was concern that the targets for water efficiency may not be enough to ensure sustainability of the water supply. Officers informed the committee that work was ongoing on the water cycle study and to understand how water consumption could be reduced across the site. Several options and measures were being considered to help reduce water consumption.

·       Members highlighted the importance of making this a place where older people also felt comfortable to live. Officers informed the committee that they were looking looking at the full range of demographics for the site, which included the housing requirements for those aged over 55.

·       Members queried whether thought had been given to providing individual or collective space for homeworking. Officers informed the committee that they were monitoring the potential implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on requirements for new office floor space and the potential for increased home working.

·       Officers were seeking to facilitate fast broadband and open wi-fi on the site. There was a separate workstream which addressed digital connectivity and utility providers, and Smart Cambridge was being engaged with regarding aspirations for the site. Open wi-fi also formed part of the sustainable transport measures so that users could connect to the different modes of transport through smart technology and access timetables while on the go.

Subject to the committee’s comments being considered, the Scrutiny and Overview Committee: