Comment

Representation ID: 167492

Received: 25/10/2018

Respondent: Historic England

4.2 KEY STRUCTURING ELEMENTS (FIXES)
Welcome guidance in relation to sports facilities, flood lighting, buildings, green infrastructure, aspirations for an expansive parkland, reference to former military uses and proposed enhancement of historical features. Additional detailed comments for clarification.

Broadly welcome section on setting of Denny Abbey and proposals to respond sensitively to setting and explore opportunities to enhance. Delete 'visual' in first bullet point as setting relates to more than just visual.

Welcome guidance on location of sports facilities and restrictions on floodlighting and changing facilities and other buildings. Parking would be unacceptable beyond northern boundary - suggest mentioned in SPD.

Welcome reference to maintenance of views of key landmarks, and aspirations for an expansive parkland with views to fenland landscape and Ely Cathedral with pockets of planting.

Welcome reference to former military uses and reflection of former runway in layout of Park.

Welcome locating green infrastructure along former historic routes such as causeways and droves, including proposals for A Causeway Link, between lake and Abbey.

Welcome proposed retention and enhancement of number of other historical features and reference to many of other heritage assets in and around site.

Include reference to Waterbeach Conservation Area and listed buildings, in particular church tower. Welcome the reference to Car Dyke.

Concerned at proposed heights in open flat landscape. May be inappropriate height and density for small fen-edge town. Suggest more appropriate to keep to 4-5 storeys as at Northstowe with tall punctuating buildings being limited to 6 storeys.

Points of clarification / corrections:
* Figure 21 - causeway link annotation is confusing and does not match key on either p50 or 70.
* Concerns about yellow annotation of setting of Denny Abbey - could imply setting is limited to this area, when it is much wider. Figures 22 and 27 introduce different interpretations of setting.
* P53 para 1 'listed building' should be plural