Object

Draft North East Cambridge Area Action Plan

Representation ID: 55730

Received: 05/10/2020

Respondent: Brookgate

Agent: Bidwells

Representation Summary:

Policy 19 ensures that land is safeguarded for the CAM and other public transport
hubs.
The north portal for the central core section of the CAM is likely to be located within
the North East Cambridge AAP boundary. An area of land in close proximity of
Cambridge North station (shown on Figure 38) is proposed to be safeguarded for
the operation of the CAM, including land for the portal/tunnel entrance as well as
for construction and maintenance.
The indicative area safeguarded for CAM portal construction includes the existing
station turning circle, bus stops and cycle parking. It also includes land to the west
of the guided busway associated with utilities/drainage for the consented office and
hotel development at Cambridge North and the next phases of development.
It is acknowledged that the proposed safeguarding land for CAM is indicative at this
stage, However, as it is currently shown in figure 38, the shaded area is wholly
Network Rail owned land including Network Rail’s station lease area and
operational railway land. Any proposed safeguarding of the land would need to be
agreed with Network Rail and further engagement with Network Rail is required on
this matter as and when it progresses.
Brookgate understand the aspirations of the Combined Authority to provide a new
rapid transport system of Cambridge. However, they are concerned over the lack
of information on this important issue and the extensive area of land that is
considered necessary to be ‘safeguarded’.
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There is no information within the document on the justification for the extent of the
area proposed to be ‘safeguarded’ or its intended use, as tunnel portals or station
concourse or construction compounds etc. Brookgate would expect that an
evidenced based approach would be driving this exercise and that the area
indicated on the plan would be based on the requirements to deliver the CAM
scheme.
Providing a ‘safeguarding’ area without any detail of what the area is to be used for
or indeed why it is required is very unhelpful and will lead to uncertainties during
the masterplanning of the area around the station, and significantly affect the ability
of the landowners in this area to effectively plan this very important area, to
enhance the existing transport interchange (a key requirement of NEC AAP policy)
and necessary to achieve further support and enhance sustainable transport
modes in the area.
The land should not be safeguarded in any planning document unless it is clear
that CAM Metro is deliverable and funded, any formal designation of land prior to
this would be premature. In this context Brookgate would therefore welcome
discussions with all stakeholders to understand the extent and scope of land
potentially safeguarded in the context of existing/future development in this area.
The AAP will be subject to external scrutiny and it is clear from the North Essex
Examination that the presiding Inspector will scrutinise the deliverability of the CAM
metro.

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