The Updated Masterplan

The current masterplan was developed in response to the comments received at the public exhibition held on 14 and 15 July 2006. Some 4,000 households were invited and some 300 visitors attended the event.

click here for a full version of the updated masterplan

Many more accessed the proposals on the website (www.greenissues.com/niab). Comments were received either on the day or in the weeks that followed. All comments were forwarded to the relevant consultants for consideration in the development of the masterplan.

The comments we received were generally supportive of the proposed masterplan. Most residents agreed with the proposed distribution of land uses, public open space, local centre and primary school.

Many commended our decision to retain existing hedgerows and locate lower density housing along the existing urban edge. However, some residents also highlighted areas requiring further consideration. The main areas of concern were as follows:

Drainage:
Residents asked if the masterplan provided enough balancing ponds, if wildlife would be encouraged along the ditches and how water levels would be maintained in the Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS). Residents also enquired about the existing ditch lining the Christ’s and Sydney Sussex sports ground. These points have been taken into consideration and further details of our drainage strategy are shown on the second board.

Transport:
Residents asked for reassurance that Windsor Road, Blackhall Road, Brownlow Road and Howes Place in particular would not be used for vehicular access; enquired about the level of car parking provided for new residents and visitors; and asked if traffic lights would be used to access Huntingdon and Histon Roads.

Residents also raised concerns regarding the impact of additional traffic on the wider road network and on the two proposed access points. Cambridge City commented that the main vehicular route should run through the local centre to increase the viability of shops and foodstore.

These comments have been taken into consideration in our transport strategy which is shown on the second board, and will be dealt with in the ongoing transport analysis.

Design:
Residents asked for reassurance that the development will be of high quality, sensitively designed, energy efficient and sustainable. Whilst David Wilson Homes is committedto a high quality and sustainable development, many aspects of the design are too detailed to be part of the outline planning application to be submitted in November 2006.

However, following the submission of the outline application, the consultancy team will start working on a Design Strategy to be agreed with Cambridge City and to legally bind future developers of the site to specific design and quality criteria.

Community facilities:
Residents suggested a variety of facilities which they would like to see in the local centre. Discussions with the Local Authorities are still on-going but the local centre is likely to contain half a dozen shops, a foodstore and a combined community centre / primary school. This facility could also contain health provision, subject to approval by the Primary Care Trust.

Landscape and ecology: Residents liked the consideration given to wildlife and commented that too many football pitches were shown and that other sports should be provided for. Residents also enquired about the provision of facilities for children and teenagers. The team took these comments into consideration when developing the landscape framework, shown on the third board. Wetland area with drainage ponds. This will include tree planting and possibly earth mounding towards the new access road, landscaped areas along the existing public right of way and a network of ponds and swales to accommodate water run-offs in storm events. Access road linking development with Histon Road.