Comment

Draft North East Cambridge Area Action Plan

Representation ID: 55743

Received: 05/10/2020

Respondent: Brookgate

Agent: Bidwells

Representation Summary:

Neutral:
Policy 8 sets out how the AAP area is proposed to create a functional and beautiful
open space network, including improving existing open spaces and making the
most of assets such as the First Public Drain. Regard is proposed to be had to the
Cambridge City local standards of provision of all relevant types of open space
(see Cambridge Local Plan 2018, Appendix I or any future replacement) and the
Councils’ open space and sports strategies, where applicable.
Policy 8 states ‘for development proposals requiring the provision of strategic open
space, this must secure in the first instance the siting and amount of strategic open
space shown in Figure 19’.
The expectation is that all open space requirements will be met on-site. However,
Policy 8 states that any underprovision in the total amount of strategic open space
required of a development, beyond that provided as per Figure 19, can be met
through new or enhanced offsite provision, including:
● Bramblefields Local Nature Reserve (way-finding)
● Milton Country Park (increasing capacity and way-finding)
● Chesterton Fen (way-finding and accessibility to River Cam including
pedestrian and cycle bridge crossing over railway)
The potential locations for off-site provision are broadly supported but this should
not preclude alternative off-site locations coming forward.
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For non-strategic open space requirements, where there are deficiencies in certain
types of open space provision in the area surrounding a proposed development,
the Councils will seek to prioritise those open spaces deficient in the area.
The regard to the Cambridge City Council standards is broadly supported but
applying the standards uniformly across the NEC AAP area fails to recognise the
very different character and functionality of public open space around a major
transport interchange and its hinterland. There are numerous examples of
successful urban schemes where public open space has been limited in terms of
quantum but is of high quality. Small intimate spaces often create the most
successful urban experiences.
The emerging Cambridge North proposals accommodate an area of public open
space broadly in the location of ‘Station Place’. However, it should be stated that
Figure 19 is indicative only and development proposals should instead be informed
by successful place making with solutions to open space and public realm secured
as part of individual applications rather than through a strict policy approach.
The proposals for the next phases at Cambridge North offer a series of public open
spaces, creating a green network that would include:
● The existing public realm at Cambridge North Station and extension of the
tree avenue along Cowley Road;
● A central triangular park of informal open space, south of Cowley Road;
● A green hub at the ‘knuckle’;
● A spine of linear green spaces, north of Cowley Road; and
● Secondary pocket parks, green walking routes, areas of natural and equipped
children’s play spaces, and private communal garden and rooftop amenity spaces.
These spaces will form a comprehensive, high quality landscape, that integrates
with the proposed new residences, shops, cafes and offices. Cambridge North
proposals to the north of Cowley Road, still the in early stages of design, will
ensure that new green spaces form a coherent and legible network with other AAP
proposed spaces and wider existing spaces such as Milton Park. Green
infrastructure proposals would comprise a balanced mix of planting, tree
infrastructure, amenity lawn, biodiverse rooftop planting, and hard materials in
order to complement and assimilate the building structures into the site and local
context; the use of high quality hard materials; a range of street furniture with
multiple seating areas; vibrant planting mixes; and trees of varying levels of
maturity, including specimens at key junctions.
In regards to qualitative elements of Policy 8, in addition to the high standards of
quality, the green spaces will generally reach standards for low maintenance, water
efficiency use and climate resilience, through careful selection of materials and
plant species and through well-considered maintenance specifications. The green
spaces will be publicly accessible and appealing throughout the year, with some
exceptions within the residence courtyards and rooftops.
In terms of the reference to the ‘retained and enhanced landscape buffer to
infrastructure’, shown on Figure 19, and the provision within Policy 8 to protect this
area for the purpose of environmental amenity and landscaping, again it should be
acknowledged that Figure 19 is indicative only and bespoke solutions are capable
of being delivered under individual applications.
Furthermore, it is assumed that this ‘buffer’ includes the area between the bus road
through the Cambridge North site and the station. We support the principles here
of, ‘no development’ on this section of land however the emerging proposals for
management of surface water on the Cambridge North site include some SUDS
(swales) within this area. We consider that these proposals are appropriate for
this area of the site and would suggest that the use of SUDS measures be included
in the list of supported ‘ancillary development’ in these areas.

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