Welcome to Cambridgeshire Horizons' E-newsletter.
This is the sixth in a series of newsletters from Cambridgeshire
Horizons in which we share information on the implementation of the
Structure Plan.
Cambridgeshire Horizons is responsible for
driving forward the delivery of the Structure Plan targets and
sustainability standards including 47,500 new homes, 50,000 jobs and
£2.8 billion of infrastructure by 2016. The company brings together
the six Cambridgeshire Local Authorities, English Partnerships, the
Housing Corporation, Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, EEDA and
other members from the public and private sectors.
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Long Term Delivery Plan Key to Sustainable
Growth
Cambridgeshire Horizons, with
funding support from EEDA, have appointed consultants Deloitte to prepare
a Long Term Delivery Plan for the sustainable growth of the Cambridge
Sub-region. The Plan will set out the requirements, funding issues and
implementation of infrastructure required for the period to 2021 and an
outline of likely infrastructure requirements to 2030.
A steering
group comprising representatives of Cambridgeshire Horizons, EEDA, the
County Council and district councils is overseeing the work.
John
Onslow, Director for Development, said "We are delighted to have Deloitte
working with us on this important piece of work. It is vital that we have
a clear roadmap for implementing the growth strategy and ensuring that the
full range of infrastructure is put in place at the right time. The Long
Term Delivery Plan will help integrate the work of all organisations
involved in the growth project, demonstrate joined up planning in the
sub-region and will support bids for future funding."
The
consultants report will be complete by end of March 2007.
Cambridge Southern Fringe
In
addition to the Trumpington Meadows application received by Cambridge City
and South Cambridgeshire District Council in July 2006, the following
applications have now been submitted to the City Council for
consideration:
Bell School - 347 homes and 100 student bed living
accommodation.
Clay Farm/Showground - up to 2300 homes.
Addenbrooke's - Clinical/biomedical/research uses.
This is
a major step forward for the development of the Southern Fringe and
details of the applications can be found on the City Council website.
Creativity in St Neots
Plans are
underway to build a "Creative Industries Hub" in St Neots on the Longsands
Campus. The £1 million project, which is a beneficiary of Growth Area
Funding and funding from Huntingdonshire District Council, will create a
Creative Innovation Centre. The Centre which is being designed by
Architects 5th Studio is part of the regeneration of the Longsands Quarter
of St Neots.
The new building, which is expected to be in use by
Spring 2008, will provide space for fledgling creative industries as well
as forging links with education and training institutions. It will have
close links with Longsands College, which has special status in media,
technology, and the Arts and St Neots Community College, which is a centre
of excellence for manufacturing and management and which also, has
excellent photography and design facilities.
For more information
contact Corrine Garbett Corrine.Garbett@huntsdc.gov.uk
or telephone 01480 388459.
North West Cambridge
As part
of the Area Action Plan (AAP) Issues & Options Consultation, three
public exhibitions were organised to highlight the key issues and options
identified for consideration by Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire
District Council (SCDC). Over 650 people attended the exhibitions which
also provided an opportunity to view the masterplan work carried out by
the University, the latest work on the masterplan for the NIAB sector and
the proposals for the NIAB headquarters, along with information relating
to the North West Cambridge Transport Strategy and the provision of waste
facilities.
Following the AAP consultation, Cambridge City Council
and SCDC will consider the feedback on the issues and options put forward,
develop a preferred approach and draft the AAP.
In terms of the
NIAB sector, David Wilson Estates are currently finalising their proposals
and are aiming to submit an outline planning application to the City
Council at the end of November.
Boost for Affordable Housing
Delivery
Sue
Beecroft joined the Cambridgeshire Horizons team in August 2006, as
Sub-regional housing strategy co-ordinator. In this role, Sue will be
working with the five Cambridgeshire, St Edmundsbury Borough and Forest
Heath District Councils and their partners, to help and support the
delivery of affordable housing across the housing sub-region.
Upcoming projects include:
- A housing market assessment to help us
understand the dynamics of our markets
- Working with the Housing Corporation and
other partners to develop the "Cambridge Challenge" - a proposed pilot
to investigate ways of updating and maximising the affordable housing
investment framework
- Reviewing and updating the sub-regional
housing strategy, action plan and investment priorities
- Analysing the pipeline of affordable
housing, including housing for key workers
To
contact Sue email sue.beecroft@cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk.
Monitoring shows the sub-region is meeting
housing targets
The
County Council undertakes a comprehensive survey in April/May each year to
identify the number of housing completions as at the end of March. The
survey for 2006 has been completed and the results show that for the
period April 2005 up to March 2006, there were 2974 housing units
completed which takes the cumulative total (from 1999) to 14602.
Referring to the projections identified in the Structure Plan, the
indicative phasing and delivery identifies 17000 dwellings for completion
in the Cambridge Sub-region by the end of 2006. Given 14602 units were
completed for 1999-2005 and 2974 of these were completed in 2005, it is
probable this target will be met by the time of the annual survey in March
2007.
Of the 2974 housing units that were completed, 900 were
affordable, which equates to 30.3% for the year. Although this is still
below the 40% target set by the Structure Plan, this year's results have
continued the upward trend from a baseline of 11% in 1999.
Of the
2974 housing units that were completed, 900 were affordable, which equates
to 30.3% for the year. Although this is still below the 40% target set by
the Structure Plan, this year's results have continued the upward trend
from a baseline of 11% in 1999.
Balanced and Mixed Communities - Applying the
Lessons
The
creation of balanced and mixed new communities in the Cambridge Sub-region
was discussed and debated at the Cambridgeshire Horizons half-day seminar
Balanced and Mixed Communities - applying the lessons.
Cambridgeshire Horizons invited stakeholders to hear from guest
speakers: Lord Richard Best (Director, Joseph Rowntree Foundation); Liz
Bisset (Director of Community Services, Cambridge City Council); Nigel
Howlett (Chief Executive, Cambridge Housing Society) and Alan Carter
(Director of Housing and Care, Papworth Trust).
Full details of
the event and copies the presentations can be found on our website.
Green Infrastructure Development Officer
Appointed
The Green
Infrastructure Strategy, one of the three sub-regional Quality of Life
Strategies, has a new champion to ensure that the vision is taken forward.
Helen Ryde has joined Cambridgeshire County Council as Green
Infrastructure Development Officer and will be working on behalf of all
the partners involved, to make the strategy a reality. Cambridgeshire
Horizons and Natural England have provided funding for the post.
The Green Infrastructure Strategy has already helped secure £4.2
million of funding for four projects through the Growth Area Fund. The
Wicken Fen Vision, Forest of South Cambridgeshire, Great Fen Project and
Fen Drayton Lakes are all currently working on management plans and
progressing with land purchasing.
To contact Helen e-mail helen.ryde@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
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In this
Issue
Long Term Delivery Plan Key to Sustainable
Growth 
Cambridge Southern Fringe
Creativity in St Neots
North West Cambridge
Boost for Affordable Housing Delivery
Monitoring shows the sub-region is meeting housing
targets
Balanced and Mixed Communities - Applying the Lessons
Green Infrastructure Development Officer
Appointed
Papworth Trust 'Foundations for Living'
project
Northstowe
A14
Guided Busway Construction
Consultation on Draft Minerals and Waste Plan
National Planning First for South
Cambridgeshire
Faith Communities Best Practice Research
Cambridgeshire Design Manual
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Papworth
Trust 'Foundations for Living' project
Cambridgeshire Horizons is contributing
to a research project being led by the Papworth Trust on
good practice in integrating supported housing for
people with physical and mental disabilities into new
developments. It is looking in particular at lessons
that can be learnt from its 'Foundations for Living'
project in Huntingdon, which combines supported housing
integrated with market housing as part of a town centre
development, alongside the new Saxongate community
learning centre that integrates learning for disabled
members of the community with mainstream activities.
For more information contact Julian Garner,
Director of Marketing and Communications, Papworth
Trust. Tel: 01480 357 205 Email: julian_garner@papworth.org.uk
Information is also available on the Papworth
Trust website.
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Northstowe
National
regeneration agency English Partnerships and master
developer Gallagher Estates are now jointly promoting
Northstowe. Together they are currently reviewing the
Northstowe Masterplan and will be consulting in the New
Year, with a joint planning application submission
scheduled for spring next year. The Project Board
continue to consider programme delivery, community
infrastructure, transport, housing and sustainability
matters.
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A14
The Highways
Agency has announced that its road improvement plans for
the A14 south of Huntingdon, between Ellington and Fen
Ditton, are back on track to complete by 2015, following
a legal challenge.
The Agency now plans to carry
out public consultation on options for the route between
Ellington and Fen Drayton but plans for the rest of the
route between Fen Drayton and Fen Ditton will remain
unchanged.
Implementation of the scheme is a
vital part of the development strategy. Work is
continuing with the Highways Agency and developers to
ensure that early measures are put in place so that
development at Northstowe can commence before completion
of the A14 improvements.
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Guided
Busway Construction
Preparations
for the construction of the Guided Busway are well
underway.
Cambridgeshire County Council's
contractor, Edmund Nuttall Ltd, is about to start
building their main site offices in Longstanton, on land
that will ultimately be used for one of the new Guided
Busway Park & Ride sites.
The project will
take just over two years to build. When completed it
will be the longest guided busway in the world and
provide thousands of people with high quality, reliable
and frequent bus services along a segregated route that
does not have to contend with local traffic.
Construction will start at Longstanton and work
towards Cambridge. The section between Cambridge Railway
Station and Trumpington Park & Ride site will then
be built, with the final section from St Ives to
Longstanton being completed by February 2009 at the
latest.
For more information about the project,
please contact the Guided Busway team on 01223 716972 or
email guidedbusway@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
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Consultation on Draft Minerals and
Waste Plan
A new Draft
Minerals and Waste Plan has been prepared by
Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City
Council, and will be subject to consultation between the
6th of November and the 18th of December 2006. This
draft plan will be vital in ensuring that construction
materials are available to support planned growth in
this area, and that sustainable waste management is in
place for existing and planned new communities. It sets
out the Council's preferred options in terms of policies
which will guide minerals and waste development until
2021, and includes site specific proposals.
Some
of the site-specific proposals have already prompted
interest from local communities, including the proposed
relocation of the Milton Waste Water Treatment Works,
and the proposed locations for new Household Waste
Recycling Centres. Full details of all consultation
arrangements will be on the County Council's website from the 6th of November. This
consultation is the first formal stage of the Plan,
there will other opportunities to comment as the Plan
progresses, including a public examination due to be
held in 2008.
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National
Planning First for South Cambridgeshire
South
Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) has received the
report of the independent Inspectors who carried out the
public examination into the Core Strategy for the
district in July 2006, and they have declared the plan
sound, with a limited number of amendments. The Core
Strategy sets out the overall planning strategy for
development in the district up to 2016. The report is
binding on SCDC, who will now progress the plan to
adoption. It is the first Core Strategy in the country
to be found "sound" under the new system of plan making,
known collectively with other plans that provide more
detailed policy as the Local Development Framework. This
is a major milestone in the delivery of new housing in
South Cambridgeshire and paves the way for the approval
of site specific policies for major sites such as the
Northstowe Area Action Plan, by Easter 2007.
For
more information visit www.scambs.gov.uk or contact Keith
Miles on 01954 713181.
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Faith
Communities Best Practice Research
Cambridgeshire Horizons is developing a
brief for research into best practice in providing
facilities for faith communities in new developments.
This will also explore the potential role of faith
communities in building successful, well supported and
socially cohesive new developments in Cambridge growth
areas. This is in response to discussions with the East
of England Faiths Council and with local authorities.
The research will embrace the needs and aspirations of
all faith communities including minority faiths. The
final brief will be available on the Cambridgeshire
Horizons website at the end of November. Stakeholder
workshops will be held in early 2007 and the report will
be available in late Spring 2007.
For more
information contact lianne.parrett@cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk.
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Cambridgeshire Design
Manual
Alan Baxter
and Partners have made good progress on the preparation
of the Cambridgeshire Design Manual, which aims to give
Local Authorities, Developers and their consultants a
clear, consistent approach to good design of streets and
public places in new developments. A technical workshop
for local authority officers was held in September with
over 70 attendees. This identified key issues to be
addressed by the manual. A second workshop involving
developers, consultants and other interested parties as
well as local authorities was also held in October.
During November, members of local authorities will visit
exemplar sites in Kent that showcase good design
practice. Throughout the day the group will visit the
housing developments of Lacuna, Chatham Maritime and
Ingress Park.
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