Agenda

Application No:  24/00622/FUL

Site Address: Westbrook Centre Milton Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 1YG

Description:       Demolition of existing buildings, retention and re-use of part of the undercroft parking structure, erection of employment floorspace (Class E(g)) and cafe (Class E(b)) and alterations to the site layout including revised car and cycle parking, new drainage, associated hard and soft landscaping with a play area, and associated accesses and infrastructure works.

Applicant: Savills (UK) Limited      

Agent: Mr Timothy Price

Address: 33 Margaret Street London W1G 0JD

Lead Petitioner:  Resident of Lilywhite Drive, Cambridge

Case Officer: Alice Young

Text of Petition:

The Westbrook Centre is part of a large block in West Chesterton that is impermeable to walking. The lack of walking links make it difficult for residents to access nearby schools, work, or other community facilities by foot.

We are asking for a Forum on application 24/00622/FUL because it fails to provide new pedestrian access to the Westbrook Centre from Gilbert Road, Corona Road and Lilywhite Drive that are included in the Mitcham’s Corner Development Framework. These links would serve to improve the walking network in the area, enabling quicker and safer walking routes (especially for children walking or cycling to nearby schools), reducing congestion and air pollution. The application therefore does not meet the following policies of the Cambridge Local Plan (2018):

• Policy 5 (Sustainable Transport and infrastructure) which requires development proposals to “aim for a joined-up city-wide cycle and pedestrian network by addressing ‘pinch-points’, barriers and missing links’
• Policy 22 (Mitcham’s Corner Opportunity Area) which requires development proposals within the Mitcham’s Corner Opportunity Area to “promote and coordinate the use of sustainable transport modes”
• Policy 80 (Supporting sustainable access to development) which requires developments to prioritise “access by walking, cycling and public transport” by “conveniently linking the development with the surrounding walking, cycling and public transport networks”. This policy also states that “Areas where public transport, pedestrian and cycle movement is difficult or dangerous will be improved”

We do not hold an in principle outright objection to the application and our concerns could be overcome by providing the walking and cycling links described in the Mitcham’s Corner Development Framework. These connections should be wide and well-lit with good sightlines and natural surveillance.

Application No:  24/00622/FUL

Site Address: Westbrook Centre Redevelopment, Westbrook Centre Milton Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 1YG

Description:         Demolition of existing buildings, retention and re-use of part of the undercroft parking structure, erection of employment floorspace (Class E(g)) and cafe (Class E(b)) and alterations to the site layout including revised car and cycle parking, new drainage, associated hard and soft landscaping with a play area, and associated accesses and infrastructure works.

Applicant: Savills (UK) Limited      

Agent: Mr Timothy Price

Address: 33 Margaret Street London W1G 0JD

Lead Petitioner:  Resident of Corona Road, Cambridge

Case Officer: Alice Young

Text of Petition:

We have noted that a petition has been filed regarding a new cut-through between the Westbrook Centre and Corona Road. This cut-through was removed from the original proposal after the developer consultation period based on strong, united objection from local residents. We are filing this petition to ensure that, as neighbouring residents, we have the opportunity to be heard at the same DCF. We wish to reiterate at this forum why the cut-through would be unsafe, inappropriate, and not in keeping with Cambridge planning policies.

 The cut-through to Corona Road has already been subject to a consultation period, the conclusion of which was to remove it from proposals based on strong resident opposition combined with planning and safety concerns. We are concerned that this is now being revisited outside of the consultation period, and wish to see the outcome of the planning consultation remain in place, with no new cut-through to Corona Road.