Rest of the rural area
33. CPRE does not support development S/RRA/H Land at Highfields (phase 2), Caldecote. On its own as a
village development this would have made sense. However, given the proximity of the nearby major
development at Bourn Airfield, CPRE considers this will eventually lead to coalescence and a continuous
urban sprawl alongside the A428 from Caldecote to Cambourne.
34. CPRE is concerned by proposal S/RRA/CR Land to the west of Cambridge Road, Melbourn. At first sight,
there is logic to this proposal but it could further industrialise the centre of this historic village which has
already been badly visually affected by the existing Science Park.
35. CPRE would not support further development at the Cambridge Services site close to the A14 as proposed
by S/RRA/SAS, Land to the south of the A14 Services. There is no natural barrier to prevent further
expansion into the wide-open landscape at this location which has already been damaged by the necessary
but unfortunate location of the services. Such development will lead to further, unsightly, road freight
driven sprawl.
36. For similar reasons, and the potential for additional traffic through the centres of Swavesey and Over, CPRE
would not support the further expansion proposed by S/RRA/BBP, Land at Buckingway Business Park,
Swavesey.
37. CPRE would like to see some form of development protection given to the nearby, former private, outdoor,
laboratory of the late Dr Norman Moore at Boxworth End, Swavesey. Dr Moore was one of the UK’s most
significant conservation scientists of the 20th century. He founded the former Monks Wood Research
Station and established the link between wildlife mortality and widely-used pesticides. The site itself has
some local value as habitat and a landscape amenity. However, its overwhelming significance is as a site of
scientific study, in particular of ecology and wildlife conservation. This small site was created and studied
minutely by a scientist who led the world in his chosen fields - the ecology of hedges and the chemistry of
certain pesticides. Boxworth End could show future generations how these issues were first confronted.
CPRE’s ongoing national campaign, supported by Lord Deben, to protect and enhance hedgerows nationally
attracted a lot of support at a day in Parliament recently, demonstrating just how important hedgerows are
to the future health of the countryside and at what level this is recognised.
38. CPRE is not in favour of proposal S/RRA/SNR, Land to the north of St Neots Road, Dry Drayton. This small
land parcel forms a green buffer between St Neots Road and the A428 and development would create
further coalescence along the A428.
6
39. CPRE would support the redevelopment proposed by S/RRA/OHD Old Highways Depot, Twenty Pence Lane,
Cottenham, providing it was limited to employment Class E(g)(i) (offices to carry out any operational or
administrative functions) and/or E(g)(ii) (Research and development of products or processes). CPRE would
strongly oppose development of this site for Class B8, storage and distribution use. Cottenham already
endures significant disturbance from HGV traffic arising from the industrial site further north along Twenty
Pence Road.