Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Strategic Sites Manager which provided an update in respect of the Darwin Green BDW2 development site, situated to the north of Huntington Road, Cambridge.

 

Before any discussion was permitted, the Chair advised those Councillors who sat on Planning Committee and / or the Joint Development Control Committee that Darwin Green was a live application, those members should not fetter their discretion and should be mindful of expressing any view which compromised this.

 

The Chair advised that the following questions had been submitted by members of the public in advance of the meeting which the Strategic Sites Manager had responded to.

 

1.         Are there any further updates on when exactly demolition work will begin as the start of October seems quite ambitious?

 

Before demolition work can commence, information must be submitted to the Councils building control and planning teams for approval. The approval proves will take a number of weeks, and it is unlikely that a decision will be made before the end of October. Officers have made BDW aware of this timeline.

 

2.         During the last public meeting, the demolition of 70 homes was mentioned whereas previously the figure of 96 was referenced in June. What is the reason for this difference?

 

The discrepancy relates to the variance in numbers that require a demolition notice (section 80) under the Building Act.  Where there are properties with only limited construction work undertaken, ie foundations, they do not require to be notified to Building Control. 

 

3.         (a)  Will all of the new homes on phase 2 be built with piled foundations? 

(b)  Are the homes on Franklyn Gardens all built with piled foundations?

(c)  If so, should we be concerned on phase 1 that ours are not?

 

(a)             BDW have confirmed that they will be utilising NHBC as the building control body for Phase 2, therefore 3C Building Control will not be able to confirm the foundation details. 

(b)             (b) BDW have advised that Franklin Gardens have piled foundations and any queries should be referred to BDW.

(c)             (c) Foundation designs are based on ground conditions and an assessment by a competent person.  This may vary across sites, depending on the results of any surveys undertaken.

 

4.                Is there any news about when any of the retail units may open as we have no such facilities at all still?

 

It is understood enquiries have been received regarding occupying some of the units on the recently completed local centre but at present residents have to travel to Eddington or Histon Road.

 

5.                BDW seem not to be consulting with our local councillors as our elected representatives. Can anything be done about this, otherwise resident views risk being misrepresented or dismissed?

 

The Council has actively encouraged BDW to consult with local councillors and resident associations.

 

6.                Will we be issued with any safety advice when it comes to the demolition e.g. will it be safe to leave windows open, advice for asthma sufferers etc.

 

Potential amenity impacts will be assessed as part of the review of the information submitted to the local planning authority. The Council is also encouraging BDW to provide updates to local residents about the demolition process via the website, letter drops to nearby residents etc.

 

7.             Regarding the green way opening between Darwin Green and Windsor Road. BDW are proposing motion activated lighting. I am a little uncomfortable with that. Does such lighting fit with whatever rules the council have about lighting and in particular the planning conditions for DG?

 

The details of the proposed lighting will need to be submitted to the local planning authority for approval.

 

Members expressed disappointment that no Planning Officer was present who could facilitate further discussion and respond to follow up questions in the meeting. West Central Area Committee was a much smaller relaxed forum, to some of the community meetings, which had been held on this issue which residents would have attended if an Officer would have been present.

 

It was stated that BDW were not consulting with councillors in any way on this matter and were described as appalling in their lack of response.

 

The company seemed to be immune to any issues which had not been delivered on site over time such the lighting that had been referenced in one of the public questions. There was an issue with the footpath and motion sensor lighting, the path was opened for walking and cycling but was open until 7am from 6pm. This should be a main route to Mayfield Primary School so not accessible, the footpath was surrounded by high fencing which users found intimidating.

 

Those Councillors who were not on Planning and JDCC asked that the Council show their support to residents and ask BDW to consult properly with residents and elected councillors as they needed to be accountable.

ACTION Councillor Porrer to pass this request and copy of the minutes on this item to planning officers with a request for an update prior to the next WCAC meeting.