A Cambridge City Council website

Cambridge City Council

Council and democracy

Home > Council and Democracy > Issue

Issue - meetings

New Museum's Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document

Meeting: 16/06/2015 - Development Plan Scrutiny Sub-Committee (Item 30)

30 New Museum's Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) pdf icon PDF 141 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Matter for Decision

 

To consider the approval of the draft New Museums Site Development Framework SPD.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

 

             i.        Approved the content of the draft New Museums Site Development Framework SPD (Appendix A of the Officer’s Report);

            ii.        Agreed that if any amendments were necessary, these should be agreed by the Executive Councillor in consultation with Chair and Spokes of Development Plan Scrutiny Sub Committee;

           iii.        Approve the draft New Museums Site Development Framework SPD  for public consultation from 13 July to Monday 7 September 2015;

          iv.        Approved the consultation arrangements as set out in paragraphs 3.39 to 3.41 and the proposed schedule of consultees in Appendix B of the Officer’s report.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Joint Urban Design (Environment),

 

The report referred to the draft SPD which had been produced in order to set out the joint aspirations of the Council and the University of Cambridge regarding future changes to the site. These should improve the urban form with changes to the public realm, provide better access for all and adopt more sustainable forms of development while respecting the site’s heritage and surroundings. Future development on the site offered an opportunity to create an improved, more coherent development and especially to improve the public realm on the site.

 

Comments from the Sub-Committee

 

     i.        Noted the public consultation ran from 13 July to 7 September, a period when many academics and administration staff would be away and asked if the time frame could be extended so that future and present users of the site could take part in the consultation.

    ii.        Queried what improvements had been made to the site to negate the impact of traffic. 

   iii.        Enquired if the masterplan envisaged a single architect or architectural practice.

 

Officers and representatives from Cambridge University stated the following:

 

     i.        The masterplan had been developed over a number of years through various Committees which had been cascaded down to staff and academics and a number of exhibitions and information sessions had been held. Therefore the University was confident that the staff and academics had been sufficiently consulted.

    ii.        The site had been overdeveloped over a number of years and the aim was to reduce the amount of useable space which would improve access.

   iii.        Detailed plans to the improvements for pedestrian access were available for further viewing.

  iv.        Changes to access from Downing Street would further be investigated.

   v.        A detailed traffic management plan had been put in place to elevate the impact on traffic to the area during construction.

  vi.        As each phase of the build came forward there would be a procurement process to allow for open tenders process but the masterplan consultants would be retained. 

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

 

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.