Agenda item

Description: Site Wide Design Code (condition 9) for outline planning permission 22/02528/OUT for up to 1,000 residential dwellings, secondary school, primary school, community facilities, retail uses, open space, and other works.

Members raised the comments/questions as listed below. Answers and comments were supplied but as this was a pre-application presentation, none of the answers or comments are binding on either the intended applicant or the Council as the local planning authority so consequently are not recorded in these minutes.

      i.         Was the hedge shown on the plans for the existing site being retained?

    ii.         Would there be a skate park in the area? Would recommend looking at the design of the skate park at South Trumpington.

   iii.         Was there a potential to establish connections with the area north of the A14, possibly by creating underpasses that enabled circular walking and cycling routes?

  iv.         Would recommend looking at Marmalade Lane on Orchard Park. The development did not have built up street facades, achieved by breaking down and focusing on landscaping, car free spaces, shared spaces, private and semi-private and public spaces. This would be a great opportunity to produce a whole series of ‘Marmalade Lanes’ which would be transformative on how the different blocks on site worked together.

    v.         In the Marmalade Lane development, off-plot parking was in the northeast corner of the site, there had been no need for on-plot parking. A similar approach could be considered for this development to optimise space.

  vi.         Noted all the materials used on the development would be brick, would recommend looking at new forms of construction and being expressive in design.

 vii.         Recommended using the underground waste service that was used on the Eddington development which negated the use of wheelie bins.

viii.         Welcomed a gas free site.

  ix.         Sufficient car club parking on site should be considered; two spaces would not be enough.

    x.         Would discourage single aspect units on the site.

  xi.         Requested additional information regarding roofscape types and edge characteristics. Providing more visual aids on these aspects would be beneficial

 xii.         All play parks should be sustainable.  

xiii.         Recommended the installation of early landscaping on site and a long-term management plan of that landscaping.

xiv.         Water butts should be installed as standard and downpipes run through the balconies of the flats.

xv.         What plans and materials would be used for traffic calming on site?

xvi.         How would those on site be encouraged not to drive their children to school.

xvii.         Welcomed the avoidance of cal-de-sacs.

xviii.         Hoped the site would meet adoptable standards early on to enable local authority management. Early adoption would support the management sustainable, non-profit landscaping, creating a more positive experience for all site users.

xix.         Reference had been made to the potential for de-regulation in design codes; however, considered this inappropriate for the following reasons:

• During Phase 1, the developer installed over 90 incorrect foundations and initially resisted the requirement to submit planning applications for the necessary demolition works.
• Sought to rebuild according to former building regulation standards, rather than adopting the updated energy efficiency standards.
• A key planning condition remained unfulfilled until significant effort was invested to ensure compliance.
• Landscaping on plots BW5 and BW6 did not align with the approved drawings.

xx.         A positive shift in the developer’s approach had since been observed and was welcomed. It was therefore essential to ensure full compliance with approved planning applications, building regulations, and associated conditions. 

xxi.         This proposal represented the third phase of development by the same developer within the Darwin Green area. It was crucial to consider the quality of the built environment in this context.

xxii.         The first phase, Kings Court was characterised by a use of hard surfacing, resulting in an unattractive public realm. Additionally. On-street parking had become problematic and required enforcement action.

xxiii.         Looking ahead, there was a clear need to plan for reduced reliance on private car ownership and to design with future needs in mind. Emphasis should be placed on sustainable, attractive, and well-integrated placemaking such as that on Marmalade Lane.

xxiv.         It was imperative to think about the facilities required for the Country Park and the future stewardship.

xxv.         What site level adjustments were required to ensure proper drainage and gravity flow for the primary and secondary schools. What was the scope of these works, and how long would implementation take?

xxvi.         The original drawings included an entrance to the country park from Wellbrook Way, Girton, which had not been shown in the presentation plans. Why had this access point been removed?

xxvii.         Would recommend more design variety for the houses on site.

xxviii.         What was the projected forecast for heat pumps for the housing on site?

xxix.         Needed to be made clear how the management of the drainage would be maintained long term.

xxx.         Based on the master plan drawings, many of the houses would face southeast which would receive plenty of sunlight. As a result, the design should incorporate strategies and materials for passive cooling to manage heat accumulation effectively.

xxxi.         When considering areas of play, it was vital to take into the surroundings for example the installation of a skate park could be very noisy in a residential area.

xxxii.         A car free site should not be an aspiration but was a necessity. The primary school in Waterbeach was car free so this was achievable.

xxxiii.         Exploring a range of representative journeys through the development provided valuable insights into the street layout, connectivity, visibility, and overall quality of the street environment.

xxxiv.         Strive to achieve clutter free streets.

xxxv.         Mobility hubs were being created at the Hartree development which had freed up the development area to have minimal traffic through the site and on street parking. By having parking in one space would free up space on site. 

xxxvi.         Why had Cambridge City Council been referenced to adopt the park and open spaces when the land was in the boundary of South Cambridgeshire District Council?