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 application for flexible uses (E(g)(ii), E(g)(iii), B2, B8, sui generis) with detailed permission for two units (66,372sqft) and outline permission within 1.29ha for Mid-tech units.

Site Context:

The application site is located within the development framework of Cambridge. The application is located at 6-7, 8, 9-11,13, 14-16 Mercer’s Row Cambridge. The site is included as part of a wider protected industrial site under Policy 41 of the Local Plan. The site is bound by the railway line to the east, over the railway line lies some residential properties.   

The site is an industrial area within the city. However, the area is surrounded by the  Riverside and Stourbridge Common Conservation Area. The Chapel of St Mary Magdalene (known locally as the Leper Chapel) is a grade I listed building to the south of the site, and the Barnwell Junction Station Platform Building, a building of local interest (BLI) and therefore, a non-designated heritage asset (NDHA) is to the east. Both the Listed building and the NDHA are in the conservation area.

Stourbridge Common is also a designated Protected Open Space, Green Belt and a City Wildlife, County Wildlife and Local Nature Reserve. The application site is located within flood zone 1 (low risk) there is no surface water identified on site.  The Barnwell Pastures City Wildlife Site and Site of Local Nature Conservation Importance are situated to the east of the site on the other side of the railway line.

The site lies within Flood Zone 1. It is situated just outside the Cambridge Air Quality Management Area, the boundary of which is Stanley Road, which runs parallel to Garlic Row.

The site itself comprises the existing DS Smit Recycling Report (Sui Generis use) and an area of open storage to the north this is planned to be delivered as part of phase 1. As part of phase 2 to the south of the site lies a children’s nursey (use class D1) and the surrounding the site is a variety of B1, B2 and B8 use classes.

The surrounding industrial units are all of a similar age, and generally dated. They include a wide range of uses including a children’s soft play unit, car showrooms and self-storage, highlighting the aged nature of the units, which are no longer fit for the purposes of modern commercial and industrial users. Vehicular, cycle and pedestrian access to the Site is from Mercers Row, which is accessed from Swanns Row, leading to Newmarket Road (A1134). Newmarket Road provides access to the major road network (Junction 35 of the A14). Egress from the Site is from Garlic Row, which again leads to Newmarket Road.

The closest residential areas are located to the south-west of the Site, along Garlic Row, which are located approximately 240m from the Site. Vehicles leaving the site must pass these residential properties at present to access Newmarket Road.

The nearest bus stops are located on Newmarket Road (A1134), which is served by regular services from the Newmarket Road Park & Ride, and the No. 3 and 11 services between Cambridge and Fen Ditton and Newmarket respectively.

Cambridge North station is approximately 1.6km to the north by cycling or walking. The Site is also well linked to the Chisholm Trail, providing a pedestrian/cycle link across Cambridge.