Comment
Draft North East Cambridge Area Action Plan
Representation ID: 54492
Received: 05/10/2020
Respondent: Cambridge Cycling Campaign
Camcycle supports a co-ordinated approach to development at North East Cambridge, but is concerned that a piecemeal delivery may already be locked in by construction and planning applications currently underway and the reliance on individual landowners and developers. We support Cambridge Past, Present and Future’s recommendation to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle such as a locally-controlled Development Corporation to ensure that the vision for the area can be properly realised.
We think the requirement within this policy for at least 8,000 new homes and 20,000 new jobs needs to be rethought: the number of jobs implies that the new site would create demand for more housing outside the area and the likelihood is that these journeys will be made by non-sustainable means, increasing local issues of congestion and pollution.
The phasing of delivery of homes, jobs and infrastructure should be designed to support the ambition to achieve 75% of trips by walking, cycling and public transport and we suggest following the example of high-density neighbourhoods where this has been successful, such as the ‘Living First’ campaign in Vancouver (see Marshall, 2008*). It is important that infrastructure for walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing is in place before any residents move in.
*Marshall, Julian D. (2008). Reducing urban sprawl could play an important role in addressing climate
change. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 9, 3133–3137.
Camcycle supports a co-ordinated approach to development at North East Cambridge, but is concerned that a piecemeal delivery may already be locked in by construction and planning applications currently underway and the reliance on individual landowners and developers. We support Cambridge Past, Present and Future’s recommendation to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle such as a locally-controlled Development Corporation to ensure that the vision for the area can be properly realised.
We think the requirement within this policy for at least 8,000 new homes and 20,000 new jobs needs to be rethought: the number of jobs implies that the new site would create demand for more housing outside the area and the likelihood is that these journeys will be made by non-sustainable means, increasing local issues of congestion and pollution.
The phasing of delivery of homes, jobs and infrastructure should be designed to support the ambition to achieve 75% of trips by walking, cycling and public transport and we suggest following the example of high-density neighbourhoods where this has been successful, such as the ‘Living First’ campaign in Vancouver (see Marshall, 2008*). It is important that infrastructure for walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing is in place before any residents move in.
*Marshall, Julian D. (2008). Reducing urban sprawl could play an important role in addressing climate
change. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 9, 3133–3137.