Comment

North East Cambridge Area Action Plan Issues and Options 2019

Representation ID: 33036

Received: 25/03/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

Representation Summary:

It is noted that a considerable area of land which has 'Opportunity for Residential and Mixed Use' (shown on Figure 5.1: Concept Plan) is adjoining the aggregate railheads and which falls within the railheads designated Transport Safeguarding Area. Residential development (including hotel development) immediately adjacent to the railheads would not be appropriate, as this could prove to be prejudicial to the operation of the railheads. The Concept Plan should therefore be revised to remove residential use from the immediate proximity of the railheads.

Full text:

The eastern part of North East Cambridge AAP area (i.e. the area east of Milton Road referred to as CNFE) has two railheads which are critical to the supply of mineral which cannot be found locally, in particular crushed rock. It is vital that these railheads continue to operate in order to ensure a steady supply of mineral to support the development planned in Greater Cambridge and beyond. These facilities are currently safeguarded under the adopted Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Plan (Policies CS23 and SSPT2C), and will continue to be safeguarded under the new Minerals and Waste Local Plan. Safeguarding seeks to ensure that only development which is compatible with the railheads will take place in the safeguarded area; and that new development will not be permitted where it may give rise to activities which could prejudice the ongoing operation of the these facilities. This situation should be explicitly recognised in the AAP, and future proposals must have regard to the provisions of the adopted safeguarding policy.

In this context it is noted that a considerable area of land which has 'Opportunity for Residential and Mixed Use' (shown on Figure 5.1: Concept Plan) is adjoining the aggregate railheads and which falls within the railheads designated Transport Safeguarding Area. Residential development (including hotel development) immediately adjacent to the railheads would not be appropriate, as this could prove to be prejudicial to the operation of the railheads. The Concept Plan should therefore be revised to remove residential use from the immediate proximity of the railheads. If residential development is within the Transport Safeguarding Area, but not adjacent to the railheads such development must demonstrate that it would not be prejudicial to the ongoing operation of the aggregate railheads. Similarly it appears that mixed use development will be residential led development and therefore this must also be compatible with the railhead uses, and not be located in a position where it could be prejudicial to the ongoing operations of the railheads. Consideration of this matter should include the wider implications of the ongoing operation of the railheads for potential new neighbouring development, including the impact of any HCV movements, dust and noise emissions.

Please note that the railheads have been reconfigured since the adopted Transport Safeguarding Area was designated. However, this has been taken into account and the emerging Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Further Draft Plan 2019), which is due to published for public consultation in 2019, has a revised Safeguarding Area proposed.

The overall approach with regard to movement through the site is broadly supported, accepting that this is an early indicative concept plan and that the detailed work on making the two sites work in transport terms has yet to be undertaken. The indication of specific green links connecting these two sites is welcomed. Last mile links will be particularly important within the area, especially for connecting Cambridge North Station to the more westerly parts of the AAP area. It will also be important to be mindful of how the Greater Cambridge Partnership's thinking evolves on their Waterbeach to Science Park public transport link and to ensure that this is reflected and included in the AAP.

Any education facilities on site would be best located in, or close to, the District Centre.