A Cambridge City Council website
A Cambridge City Council website
Council and democracy
Home > Council and Democracy > Agenda and minutes
Venue: Meeting Room - Wesley Methodist Church, Christ's Pieces, CB1 1LG. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services Committee Manager
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
Apologies Minutes: None |
|
|
Declarations of Interest Minutes: None |
|
|
Pre-Application Briefing by the Developer - GB1 (Netherhall Gardens), Land north of Worts' Causeway, Cambridge. The Proposal and site
context The pre application
proposal is for the provision of up to 200 dwellings in this site located in
the city’s south-eastern edge. The proposed development will be formed by three
character areas to provide terraced, detached and semi-detached typologies,
which range from 2 to 3 stories in height. The Netherhall Farm Meadow protected Open Space and City and
County Wildlife and Local Nature Reserve is located within the pre application
site and adjacent to Netherhall Farm, a Building of
Local interest. A Tree Protection Order Area also forms part of the site. The site also falls
within the Impact Risk Zone of Cherry Hinton Pit Site of Special Scientific
Interest and mainly visible from those sites and from along Granham’s
Road and eastwards along Worts’ Causeway. The
development would fall within the immediate setting of the Netherhall
Farm. The site is at high
risk of surface water, particularly in its southern portion along Worts’s
Causeway. Planning History and policy context The site is
identified as ‘GB1’ in the Cambridge Local Plan (2018) and has been released
from the Green Belt to deliver housing. Along with ‘GB2’ (Newbury Farm,
situated south of Worts’ Causeway opposite to GB1),
both sites are to be developed to deliver up to 430 new dwellings. Policy 27 identifies
the sites as ‘Site specific development opportunities’ and sets out overall
requirements subject to which any proposed development will be supported: (a)
Any amelioration and mitigation needed to address issues of flooding and
contamination; (b) Design considerations; (c) Satisfactory access and other
infrastructure provision; and (d) Any other requirements, where applicable. The Local Plan
through Policy 27 also sets out specific requirements for both sites, among
which that development assesses their potential for biodiversity enhancement
and the creation of an ecological corridor between both sites; and the early
establishment of a generous landscaped area to help create an appropriate
buffer with the Green Belt. The Local Plan also requires through Policy 27 that
the development of the GB1 site includes the retention of sufficient buffer
areas around the Netherhall Farm Meadow Wildlife
Site, to protect and enhance the ecological value of the meadow. In terms of
Highways, Policy 27 requires the provision of a single point of crossover
between GB1 and GB2 and a single access on to Babraham
Road; along with the retention of Worts’ Causeway
country lane appearance and character, with limited car access. Policy 27 also
requires development of GB1 and GB2 to be subject to contributions being made
towards community facilities and services in this part of the city. A Screening Opinion
was issued on 02 July 2019 concluding that an Environment Statement is required
to accompany a planning application. A Scoping Opinion has been issued on 22
November 2019 and an outline application is expected to be submitted early
February 2020. There is no further relevant planning history for the site. A public
presentation was held at Netherhall School on 03 July
2019. Areas of focus The key ... view the full agenda text for item 19/10/Plan Minutes: Key
Points from the Developer Presentation Scope
of the outline application – all matters reserved except for access, with main
information submitted with parameter plans (PPs) and illustrative masterplan to
support; proposal to provide up to 200 homes. Community
Engagement –
report main findings at consultation related with lack of community facilities
(i.e. shops and community centre) and advised intention to continue with public
engagement. Masterplan
principles –
demonstrated how existing community facilities north of the site are within
walking distance; previous iterations of the masterplan and key concept of
having the green areas embedded in the masterplan; design principles of car
parking areas and hard and soft standing treatment, street lighting. Sustainability
– explained
strategy for climate change and sustainability and confirmed enough
infiltration on site to move forward with proposal for sustainable drainage;
confirmed climate change increase can be managed within the site. Biodiversity
– explained the
aims to maintain and enhance the Netherhall Farm
Meadow County Wildlife Site (CWS); proposal for a footpath to connect the
residential areas east of the CWS to the allotments proposed west of the CWS,
within the development site. Member
questions/comments Location of biodiversity and green spaces and
opportunity to enhance protected green corridor along Worts Causeway and
further east. Developer
comments Something
developer can consider. Consideration
of the role of street trees in overheating, acknowledge issues relating with
adoption and highlights number of benefits from street planting. Developer
comments Any
opportunity will be further detailed in the future when landscape detail is
submitted, and this should respond to climate change. Consideration can be
given on the masterplan with the inclusion of a ‘green pocket’ every 20m on the
Landscape PP. Food opportunity (allotments) to the west, many
opportunities in more central locations of the masterplan. Developer
comments The
dominance of this area west of the CWS is the maintenance of the chalk grass,
with some provision of food production/ opportunity. Developer can consider
other opportunities within the site. These
can be small spaces that communities are interested to take ownership and food
growing is a potential opportunity in this site. This
is one of the driest areas of the country with potential effect on trees and
open parks, particularly to drought intolerant species, and going forward we
need to include ‘lack of water’ as well as flood issues in development
proposals. Developer
comments Developers
have provided a package with information on how they already address these in
other sites nationwide. Future
proofing for residents willing to reduce water use, in case they want to be net
zero; ‘future proof’ development for issues which may not be a policy
requirement at the present, but something the developers can consider. Suggest
looking into Marmalade Lane as a reference for grouping car parking, which
allowed for residents who have given up their car parking spaces for shared
cars, spaces for pedestrians and cyclists or for community buildings to be
provided. Developer
comments Proposal reduces car parking and garages, and spaces can use as storages ... view the full minutes text for item 19/10/Plan |
PDF 270 KB