Decision details

Matter for Decision: To note and approve that the draft Cambridge Neighbourhoods Design Code for Arbury Kings Hedges and parts of West Chesterton goes forward for formal public consultation, as part of the process of adopting it to become a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The public consultation will be from the 6^th January 2025 to 17^th February 2025.

 

Why the Decision had to be made (and any alternative options): The Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service (GCSP) wishes to take draft Cambridge Neighbourhoods Design Code for Arbury Kings Hedges and West Chesterton for formal public consultation with residents, statutory and non-statutory consultees. Following this consultation, GCSP then intends adopting the Design Code as Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Formal consultation is necessary because the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations (2012) requires a local planning authority to consult the public and stakeholders before adopting a SPD.

 

An alternative option would be to not take forward the Design Code as an adopted SPD. However, this would represent a missed opportunity because SPDs are a material consideration when planning applications are being assessed. The purpose of the code is to help guide investment, set a framework to co-ordinate, guide, and assess development through the planning process as well as enable and empower individuals and landowners to improve their homes and surrounding landscape. The Code has been prepared to assist with the implementation of policies within the adopted Cambridge City Council adopted Local Plan, 2018.

 

The Executive Councillor’s decision: Noted and approved the draft Cambridge Neighbourhoods Design Code for Arbury Kings Hedges and West Chesterton to go forward for formal public consultation, as part of the process of adopting it to become a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

 

Reason for the decision: As out lined above.

 

Scrutiny Consideration: The Chair and Spokesperson of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised.

 

• The consultation can be viewed at the following link:
• Project: Cambridge neighbourhoods design code: Supplemen... | Cambridge City Council

 

 

Conflict of interest: None.

 

Comments: Councillor Porrer, Liberal Democrats, Opposition Spokes said the following (The Built Environment Team Leader’s response is in Italics): 

 

Thanks very much to officers for this very detailed and well set out piece of work.   I found the Design Code accessible and easy to read.

 

I have three minor points relating to the Design code document which I'd be grateful if officers and the Exec Cllr might consider as follows:

 

1) p42 - I think there is a minor typo as it suggests that Policy 50 supports shared gardens whereas I think this should read private garden (or space).  It currently reads:

 

"Every new home must have access to a usable private or private shared garden, roof garden, or balcony that allows for effective and practical use by its residents"

 

Could this be amended to make clear that whatever amenity space a dwelling has, it should be private (though obviously they could have a shared garden in addition to this).

 

This statement takes account of private amenity for both houses as well as apartments. Where it relates to apartments, it will need to be private shared and where it relates to homes it will need to be private.

 

2) I could not find reference to single aspect homes - it would be good to highlight that these are less desirable or that if built, they need to have additional mitigations in place to ensure that they won't overheat.

 

P48 on Highly sustainable new buildings states that ‘All new-build homes must seek to provide dual aspect wherever possible, and demonstrate adequate access to daylight and sunlight where they are not. This is to help provide sunlight at different times of the day and support natural ventilation and cooling (policy 53, 57, 60)’ which is the same as less desirability of single aspect. There is also guidance on overheating:  ‘ Must Avoid overheating homes. Dynamic thermal modelling for overheating must be carried out prior to detail planning submissions for all major developments of 10 homes or more. This is to promote a holistic approach to sustainable building design including installing shading for windows.’

 

3) And finally, could we add something about accessible letter boxes (either being at a minimum height for house doors or accessible from the outside for flats), as this is already in our local plan, so I think it would be useful to highlight it here too.

 

We will add this point within the p42 Identity of Home section under bullet 3

‘To ensure development quality is captured at planning stage, critical details and description of materials must be provided as part of building design reserved matters applications, including:

• Window reveals, sills and heads

• Roof eaves and verges

• Decorative features

• Bins, bikes, car ports and services

·       Convenient location and accessibility of letter boxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Briefing Paper

 

Introduction

Greater Cambridge Shared Planning (GCSP) and Cambridge City Council embarked on a pilot project in 2023/24 on developing a design code for the Neighbourhoods of Arbury, Kings Hedges and parts of West Chesterton as part of the National Design Code Pathfinder Programme. This was a pilot project focusing resources to work with communities and neighbourhoods with the most need, helping raise design standards, tackle inequality, inform and assess small and large-scale developments that may come forward in the area.

 

Design codes are illustrated documents that are informative and inspiring and provides guidance for the physical development of a site or area, in line with local requirements and aims to raise design quality and standards.

 

Purpose of the code

The purpose of the code is to help guide investment, set a framework to co-ordinate, guide and assess development through the planning process as well as enable and empower individuals and landowners to improve their homes and surrounding landscape.

Design codes are a tool that can:

·     provide a platform for the local communities to share their vision into how their neighbourhoods should evolve sustainably.

·     help guide investment to support healthy active lifestyles such as healthy travel, community activity, and play.

·     address the climate emergency by improving efficiency of homes, planting trees, and enhancing green and natural spaces.

·     help protect and enhance distinctive local character by creating and maintaining beautiful and sustainable buildings.

 

Engagement Process

Pollard Thomas Edwards architects were commissioned by GCSP to work collaboratively with the community and council to develop the design code. The design code was produced with extensive engagement with the community in three phases

•  Phase 1 asked the community what they valued about the neighbourhood.

•  Phase 2 developed principles of the design code based on the response received.

•  Phase 3 tested the detail of the document based on the feedback from earlier phases.

 

The various stages of engagement culminated with the ‘Draft Design Code, Feb 24’ document published on the Cambridge City Council Citizens-lab website from 13^th February 2024 to 11^th March 2024 inviting comments from residents online. These comments have further informed the design code, which is now being put forward for formal consultation, prior to adoption as an SPD. The code has been developed based on over 250 conversations, comments and detailed survey over the lifetime of the project using Citizen Lab, a user-friendly digital engagement platform together with in-person meetings and workshops. It has engaged with women, the elderly, disability groups ethnic minorities at local events held at Arbury Court, Baptist Church, Good Shepherd, Meadows Community Centre and with over 67 children and their parents at Gove Primary School. The code has been developed in collaboration with a core group of officers/stakeholders from Cambridge City Council, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning, Cambridgeshire County Council, jointly reviewed by the Greater Cambridge Design Review Panel and Cambridgeshire Quality Panel and the Disability Consultative Panel.

 

You can find more about the results of the engagement process here:

Folder: Inspired Living – A design code to enhance desi... | Cambridge City Council

 

Outcomes of the coding process

The code is based on five principles based on community priorities and are as follows:

•      Principle 1: Making Space for nature: Provides design guidance for access to and conserving green space, tree planting, hedge planting, and sustainable urban drainage to absorb rainwater within natural planted areas.

•      Principle 2: Prioritise walking and Cycling: Promotes creating a safe joined-up network for walking and cycling that can be combined with green space and nature

•      Principle 3: Create thriving Public Spaces: Provides guidance for well-integrated public spaces and local community facilities next to homes that can help to support businesses and bring people together

•      Principle 4: Enhance Character: Promotes strengthening the green and leafy character of the area, maintaining gentle scale, and providing a mix of homes suitable for different generations. The single most important characteristic of the neighbourhood is its people.

•      Principle 5: Increase Sustainability: Promotes access to public transport and provide sustainability guidance for both new buildings, as well as the improvement of existing ones.

 

Process of adopting a SPD

SPDs are a powerful planning tool because they are a material consideration when future planning applications are being assessed. The GCSP officers have completed the necessary documentation (Equality Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Statement of Community Consultation) for preparing a SPD and would be taking the Design Code for formal consultation from the 6^th January 2025 to 17 February 2025 before bringing the document to the council for adoption.