Agenda item

Approx: 10:00 am – 11:30 am

 

Purpose of Briefing:

 

The purpose of this briefing note is to advise Members of a forthcoming ‘hybrid’ planning application that would comprise both full and outline detailed proposals for new development at the abovementioned location. Further information relating to the precise nature of the proposals are set out below.

 

Site Context:

 

The hybrid planning application is expected to relate to 3 separate sites which are (herein) referred to as ‘Parcels A, B and C’, and are located to the east of the city centre in between Cherry Hinton (east) and Cambridge Airport (north).

 

Historically, the sites were pit works until their closure in the 1950s. The pits to the north of the site (comprising Parcels A and B) were used for domestic and commercial landfill and the southern part of the site (Parcel C) were allowed to fill with water to form lakes (locally known as Burnside Lakes). Formal public access into the sites have since been restricted on health and safety grounds.  

 

Parcels A and B are accessible via Norman Way off Coldhams Lane. Parcel C can be accessed from the south via Burnside. An existing hotel and leisure centre and a group of warehouse buildings are located between Parcels A and B, also accessed from Norman Way. An existing cycle/pedestrian greenway (The Tins) runs through the middle of Parcel A and forms a strategic active transport link from Fulbourn via Cherry Hinton to the city centre.

 

Residential land uses are sited to the east and north of the site, all of which are traditional in scale (2-3 storeys max). There is a small area of industrial and commercial buildings off Coldhams Lane immediately north as well.

 

The 3 parcels are in mixed ownership; Parcel A is owned by Mission Street (Applicant) and Parcels B and C by the Anderson Group. 

 

Local Plan Context:

 

The Cambridge Policies Map (2018) designates all three parcels within an Area of Major Change (AMOC) where wider regeneration which involves appropriate redevelopment and the creation of an urban country park, could be supported. Within this strategic designation, further site-specific planning uses are indicated for each parcel of land including City Wildlife, County Wildlife, Local Nature Reserve and protected open space.

 

 

Proposals Description:  

 

In summary, the hybrid application would seek planning permission for a maximum of c. 93,000m2 (GEA) of research and development lab/office on Parcel A comprised across a total of 8 individual buildings; and enablement of managed public access into both Parcels B and C for leisure and wildlife/nature purposes.

 

The detailed element of the future application would include:

 

1. The first building plots on Parcel A (3 buildings in total) with supporting (new) road access, car parking, landscape, and community facilities.

2. New public access points into Parcels B and C which are retained and managed in perpetuity for community open recreation and nature/wildlife reserves.

 

The remaining “outline” elements apply to areas to the north and south of Parcel A and excludes detailed design. However, maximum building parameters (location, height and scale) of 5no. buildings including green/blue infrastructure are to be agreed. 

 

Background:

                               

The proposals are at pre-application stage. A Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) was originally agreed between the applicants and GCSP in February 2023 and has been updated since to reflect the need for further discussions. The PPA envisages that a formal planning submission could be made by end of October 2023 with determination targeted for Spring 2024.