5. Creating the Place - Section 1: A Well Connected Place

Object

Representation ID: 168106

Received: 22/07/2019

Respondent: Toft Parish Council

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS ANF PRIMARY STREET

Toft Parish Council is very concerned about access and egress to site as undoubtedly it will impact traffic through Toft and surrounding villages.

Comment

Representation ID: 168115

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: N & J Pearson

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS AND PRIMARY STREET

Dear Sirs,
There must be no direct access from the new Bourn airfield Development into Bourn village and no access onto the Broadway from this new development
Many thanks
Nigel Pearson

Object

Representation ID: 168116

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Dr Neil Blair

- No access for traffic directly onto A428. This would allow easy access to / from the village without having to drive along the old A428 roads to Hardwick or Cambourne to access A428. Lack of direct access will create excessive traffic through surrounding villages.
- Village centre is offset to north west of site meaning residents in south of village will have a long way to get to the amenities in village centre and so will use their cars. It would be better to relocate village centre to a more central location so that all villagers could easily walk to the shops etc.
- Vehicular access onto Broadway will cause congestion and traffic flow through Bourn village, even with restricted left turn from airfield site.
- Busway only travels along top of village. It would be better to route it through centre of village making it easier to access by all residents and not have to drive to reach the bus route.

Object

Representation ID: 168129

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Mrs Ann Griffiths

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS AND PRIMARY STREETS/2.4 ACCESS, MOVEMENT AND CONNECTIVITY

As residents of Caldecote we are extremely concerned about the inevitable massive increase in traffic numbers, the vast majority of which will be funnelled onto the Caldecote roundabout and narrow local roads. There will be massive congestion at peak times resulting in long tail backs in all directions, gridlock in villages such as Hardwick, and on the Madingley Road all the way to Cambridge. The addition of commercial vehicles from the proposed Aitchinson development (which must be taken into consideration alongside this application) will create further pressure on the roundabout which is too small for this volume of vehicles. Drivers will become impatient and take risks when exiting the development. Vehicles entering and leaving the petrol station will complicate the situation further. Accidents have already occurred here - see attached photograph.

Drivers frustrated with the long queues on the A1303 are likely to rat run through Caldecote (as admitted by a representative of Countryside Properties at a consultation event). At the moment the road through Caldecote (Highfield Road) is safe for pedestrians and cyclists, including small children. Safety and amenity will be threatened when drivers use Highfields Road/Main Street and amenity will be threatened when drivers use Highfields Road/Main Street to access the B1046 into Cambridge, the M11 via Barton, Addenbrookes or the A1198 for Royston and the station, in order to avoid the hold ups at Caxton Gibbet and on the A1303. These will be major destinations for residents as there is little employment offered by the new development for the population influx and it will in no way be self sufficient for jobs. The children and teenagers from the development will, in years to come, also be looking to get out of Bourn Airfield for jobs and leisure. They will not be satisfied with football pitches and a linear park.

Efforts at mitigating the impact on Caldecote will be ineffective. We already have numerous speed cushions and a narrowing road with blind bends in Main Street. This does not stop vehicles hurtling round the bends in the middle of the road even now. What will it be like when a large proportion of Bourn Airfield traffic is added to the traffic numbers? We have little faith in the transport surveys which will be conducted by client friendly commercial transport consultants. The suggestion in the leaflet that the development will be 'well connected ... locally' seems optimistic.

The only viable solution to ameliorate the horrendous traffic implications is to have a direct access from the development onto the A428 and a rethink of the transport provision, ensuring that Caldecote receives some bus provision and that people are able to access it safely.

Object

Representation ID: 168130

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Mrs Ann Griffiths

FIX C CAMBOURNE TO CAMBRIDGE HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTE AND STOPS

It is laudable that a high quality public transport route is provided, although we have doubts that many will undertake a trek from the southern reaches of the development to use it, and will probably drive instead. It appears from the consultation leaflet, however, that the bus stop will be moved further away from Caldecote roundabout, making it very difficult for Caldecote residents to use - we already need to walk between one and two miles to avail ourselves of the existing bus services - and how will Caldecote residents be able to access any bus stop safely when they will have to negotiate a steady stream of traffic entering and leaving the development at the roundabout? For elderly residents and younger members of the community, who may need to use the buses more, this will be hazardous and very difficult. It will involve walking through 'new and existing woodland to ensure separation with existing communities' - this will compromise personal safety, especially after dark. An adequate and safely accessible bus service must be provided to serve the communities whose freedom of movement will be severely curtailed by the effects of congestion.

Comment

Representation ID: 168133

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Network Rail

Network Rail would like to express a concern that there doesn't appear to be much consideration of the impact on infrastructure in general i.e. road/bus/rail as a result of this development. The SPD is focusing on walking, cycling, in a garden village where a proportion of the people living in the area are assumed to work locally. It is recommended that some assessment is made and a consideration given to where the people who would live at this development would work? There is a concern that significant numbers out of the 3500 homes will add additional pressure to the road and rail network. There would be significant impact on both St Neots and Cambridge stations and Network rail would like to know if any consideration has been given as to whether there is enough parking at these stations?

The proposal does include references to 'high quality public transport' but it is unclear what this means. Public transport links to both stations rather than private car would be preferable as to not add pressure on the local road network or on passenger parking.

The council should refer to East West Rail company for further input.

Comment

Representation ID: 168149

Received: 30/07/2019

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS AND PRIMARY STREET

Consideration should be given to direct access to the A428 to avoid conflict with the HQPT at point 1 and 3.

Comment

Representation ID: 168150

Received: 30/07/2019

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS AND PRIMARY STREET

Consideration should be given to direct access to the A428 by a new junction onto the A428 from Bourn Airfield. It seems like a missed opportunity not to do this in the Town Council's view. The Town Council is also worried about the following statement 'a western access from the Broadway which reconfigures the existing highway to provide priority to the primary street entering the site and ensure there will be no direct vehicular access for southbound traffic from the new village (subject to availability of third party land). If third party land may be needed to achieve this option, it raises the question of its deliverability and the potential need to consider direct access onto the A428.

Comment

Representation ID: 168151

Received: 30/07/2019

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

FIX C CAMBOURNE TO CAMBRIDGE HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTE AND STOPS

Cambourne Town Council is still concerned regarding the route of the HQPT. The stops are a long way from a lot of the houses and it means that the village centre is pushed towards Cambourne. The Council is concerned that the proposal does not provide an integrated transport network for Bourn Airfield.

Comment

Representation ID: 168178

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Aitchison Developments Ltd. on behalf of Savills Investment Management

Agent: Neame Sutton Ltd

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS AND PRIMARY STREET

it is important to ensure that the SPD is not too prescriptive and binding such that they become an unnecessary burden at the decision making stage, that could ultimately prejudice the delivery of this existing employment site.

Figure 27 on Page 38 identifies the main points of access and primary street but fails to reflect the requirement imposed by Fix A for the primary street to "serve the village centre and provide direct vehicle access to the existing employment site.". This should be amended to reflect Fix A and show the existing employment site being served by the primary street.

Comment

Representation ID: 168179

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Aitchison Developments Ltd. on behalf of Savills Investment Management

Agent: Neame Sutton Ltd

FIX B STRATEGIC WALKING AND CYCLING CONNECTIONS

Fix B (page 39) identifies a strategic pedestrian and cycle network cutting through the existing employment site to link the proposed public transport corridor to the north with residential areas to the south. Whilst this is not objected to in principle, and indeed is provided within the Development proposals for the site, the spatial fix needs to be applied flexibly to allow the proposed employment layout to make the most efficient use of the space available.

Comment

Representation ID: 168193

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Dr Tumi Hawkins

1D MANAGING PRIVATE AND SERVICE VEHICLES

The last paragraph on page 37 states "the new village will not be served by direct access from the A428".

This statement is making new policy, contrary to the requirements of an SPD. It MUST be removed. Ruling out an option at this stage is completely unacceptable.

Comment

Representation ID: 168194

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Dr Tumi Hawkins

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS AND PRIMARY STREET

The western access from the Broadway should be configured to give direct access to the A428.

The existing Childerley Roundabout must not just be enhanced, it must be reconfigured to take account that this is the current 'planned' main access to this site. It is inadequate to say the least and will be even more dangerous than it already is, if not properly reconfigured.

The existing pedestrian crossing is too close to the roundabout itself and there have been near misses with cars coming too fast from the Hardwick direction turning into Highfields Road. This is a busy junction in the morning peak hours already and visibility must be improved in the direction of Cambridge Highfields Road.

Recommendation
SPD to require the Childerley roundabout Highfields Road/St Neots road to be reconfigured and made safe, not just enhanced.

Comment

Representation ID: 168196

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Dr Tumi Hawkins

FIX B STRATEGIC WALKING AND CYCLING CONNECTIONS

Connections to Highfields Caldecote: Include access to Highfields Road at the top of West Drive. There is no possibility of access to Furlong Way (it would have to cross the village sports field and that is impossible). So this leave access only to Grafton Drive through the proposed 58-dwelling development granted planning at appeal for Welbeck Strategic Lands.

Recommendation
Please add: Cycling and walking access provision to the existing employment site including DB Group and Diageo site.

Comment

Representation ID: 168197

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Dr Tumi Hawkins

FIX C HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTE AND STOPS

Whilst we appreciate the need for a fast public transport, it is doubtful that any bus will be able to reach speeds of 55/60mph within the development site. This negates the need to fix the bus route at the top of the site.

Recommendations:
The shelter for waiting passengers should be enclosed to protect from inclement weather.

Cycle stores should also be covered to provide protection and security. Use of the multi-storey cycling pods should be considered. See examples

Object

Representation ID: 168207

Received: 31/07/2019

Respondent: Kristie Taormina

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS AND PRIMARY STREET

There should absolutely be no access to Broadway from the new settlement given the great detriment the increase of traffic through the village would cause.

Object

Representation ID: 168215

Received: 28/07/2019

Respondent: Hardwick Parish Council

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS AND PRIMARY STREET

It is disappointing to note that the SPD endorses much of the outline application with particular regard to the transport infrastructure, and seems to have disregarded recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee again on transport provision.

Hardwick Parish Council held a Village meeting last week attended by about 60 residents, and again the main topic of debate was the transport infrastructure, and particularly the provision of an all ways junction onto the A428 from the Bourn Airfield development.

The traffic movement figures provided seem to considerably under estimate the traffic movements, when compared to other surveys carried out for other developments in the area. A no left turn at the Broadway exit/entrance, and two lanes for a short distance at the Caldecote roundabout for traffic from the east, is a poor solution for a settlement of around 3500 houses.

A proper access to the settlement needs to happen before building commences, mitigation of the problem after this is too late. If the Broadway is kept as a country road by preventing traffic from the settlement turning left, then why is it the St Neots Road is not classified the same. It surely can't be too late for SCDC planners to lobby Highways England for a junction onto the A428, as it seems from the SPD that HE have not closed the door for any further discussions.

At a meeting with Hardwick Parish Council, the developers admitted that providing a junction onto the A428 would mean less facilities on the settlement, should this be at the surrounding villages expense and quality of life or their bottom line?

Object

Representation ID: 168220

Received: 26/07/2019

Respondent: Ms Elaine Miles

FIX C CAMBOURNE TO CAMBRIDGE HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTE AND STOPS

Creation of massive loads of stress for new residents who will have to commute as no local work. A bus into the centre of Cambridge will not answer the needs of people working at the Science Park, Addenbrookes or outside of Cambridge.

Comment

Representation ID: 168225

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: British Horse Society

Access to the countryside for all users should be included in this section. It is not included in any of the other Strategic Objectives.

Under the 'Well Connected Places' heading, horse riding should be included in the new networks.

Under the bullet point page 35 'Contributions to the enhancement of the surrounding cycle network, including potential new routes that link eastward to Cambridge along the A428 corridor' - these should be non motorised user routes.

Under the bullet point on page 39 'Connections to Highfields Caldecote, including footpaths through the woodland on this edge of the site, providing access to Furlong Way and Grafton Drive. Routes through woodland areas should be sensitively designed and lit.' - NMU routes should be considered for the woodland?

Under the bullet point on page 39: 'Connections to the existing bridleway running along the southern edge of the site, with enhancement to existing paths that link the site with Bourn and Highfields Caldecote' - Currently the wording with the title as is, only gives walking and pedestrian access to the existing bridleway network and the word 'path' in this context currently relates only to shared pedestrian and cycle access. Any links to the bridleway network need to be NMU. 'Enhancement' also needs to be defined - putting a tarmac surface on a bridleway is not an enhancement.

Comment

Representation ID: 168244

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

1A A STREET NETWORK THAT INTEGRATES MOVEMENT AND PLACE

Page 34 bullet point 1 should read, "This should prevent access onto the Broadway for southbound traffic and also northbound traffic from the Broadway south to prevent rat running through the existing village of Bourn as per policy SS/7".

Comment

Representation ID: 168245

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

FIX A MAIN POINTS OF ACCESS AND PRIMARY STREET

Page 38 Point 1 should read "This should also prevent northbound traffic from the south accessing the site. To prevent rat running through the existing village of Bourn. It should be made clear that the junction design should restrict these left turn out and right turn in movements even if additional third party land is not able to be secured".

Comment

Representation ID: 168246

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

FIX B STRATEGIC WALKING AND CYCLING CONNECTIONS

Page 39 Figure 28 - The colour difference between the traffic free and the alongside streets pedestrian/cycle routes is not very clear. Different colours would be clearer.

Comment

Representation ID: 168265

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

1A A STREET NETWORK THAT INTEGRATES MOVEMENT AND PLACE

The inclusion of "...street network that integrates movement and place" is welcomed, greater clarification is needed on the commitments to deliver segregated cycle routes and segregated pedestrian routes at present the SPD is unclear if separate routes will be delivered or if shared surfaces will dominate. The term "alongside streets" needs to be defined/clarified to understand the level of segregated routes which will be expected to be provided. The plan on page 39 showing the "strategic walking and cycling connections" appears to show a gap in provision to the South West corner of the site, this may be due to lack of residential housing in this area or provision of green space, either way the reasoning behind this gap should be made clear.

Comment

Representation ID: 168266

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

1B AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMTES WALKING AND CYCLING

This section of the SPD should make reference to the upcoming "South Cambridgeshire Cycle Design Toolkit".

Comment

Representation ID: 168267

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

1C ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES

The commitment to provide "seating suitable for all age groups" is welcomed.

Comment

Representation ID: 168269

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

1A A STREET NETWORK THAT INTEGRATES MOVEMENT AND PLACE

The inclusion of dementia friendly design principles is welcomed.

Object

Representation ID: 168277

Received: 25/07/2019

Respondent: Mrs Helen Strutt

1C ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES

One of the strategic objectives of the Bourn Airfield Development is started as the avoidance of coalescence, ensuring Bourn Airfield is a 'distinct new village'. Providing direct transport links to Cambourne and Bourn Broadway from the west side of a new development at the airfield fundamentally undermines this strategic statement. Locating the village 'centre' in the North West corner of the airfield fundamentally undermines this strategic statement.

Object

Representation ID: 168295

Received: 25/07/2019

Respondent: Knapwell Parish Meeting

1C ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES

One of the strategic objectives of the Bourn Airfield Development is stated as the avoidance of coalescence, ensuring Bourn Airfield is a 'distinct new village'. Providing direct transport links to Cambourne and Bourn Broadway from the west side of a new development at the airfield fundamentally undermines this strategic statement. Locating the village 'centre' in the North West corner of the airfield fundamentally undermines this strategic statement.

Comment

Representation ID: 168318

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Associates

5 CREATING THE PLACE

CP agree the broad principles of setting a series of overarching guiding principles and key spatial fixes which are required to deliver on site. First sentence "which explain how the strategic objectives should be delivered" is considered too prescriptive, rigid and inflexible. Purpose of SPD is to provide guidance in the form of a framework to guide preparation or determination of planning applications. 'Spatial Fixes' identified to reinforce 'Guiding Principles' are currently very specific and prescriptive.

Clear when comparing with equivalent parts of Waterbeach SPD, i.e. Section 4 'Towards a Spatial Framework' - sets out separately key Structuring Elements or 'Fixes' and Guiding principles. In contrast Bourn Airfield SPD sets out Guiding Principles and Spatial 'Fixes' which are mixed up throughout Section 5. Style of language, which is less prescriptive and inflexible in Waterbeach SPD to be more effective and ask SCDC to revise document accordingly.

Unclear within SPD as drafted whether diagrams are intended to be treated as Guiding Principles or Spatial Fixes. It is assumed that they are Guiding Principles as these are more detailed than an SPD should rightly determine, but SPD places diagrams under Spatial Fix sections of text. It is requested that page layouts are reordered to avoid any confusion.

Comment

Representation ID: 168319

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Associates

1A - A STREET NETWORK THAT INTEGRATES MOVEMENT AND PLACE - NORTH WESTERN ACCESS

CP are fully aware of key importance of junction onto the Broadway both as an entrance to new village but also in light of its interaction with the existing community at Bourn. Junction has been a key area of focus during both preapplication discussions and during application process itself with key stakeholders and the local community.

Following publication of SPD, CP have revisited proposals for the Broadway access as shown in design appendix to seek to respond to aspirations but within land which is currently available - and which is shown within Local Plan allocation. Whilst through application process, and in particular the meeting on 10th May 2019, CP advised that they were prepared to consider a contingency arrangement this was only on basis that it was fully accepted by SCDC that there were no constraints in delivery of access as shown in application, pursuant to responses received from CCC. Contingency arrangement explained by Mayer Brown related to an obligation to submit a revision to access at an agreed date in 2020, if formal confirmation was provided by CCC that transfer of land required to form part of public highway was complete. At this stage there is no further certainty that land will be transferred and as such it is considered the spatial framework should be based on land included within Local Plan allocation.

In relation to enhancement to the existing junction of St Neots Road and the Broadway, CP note that the capacity assessments are not showing that any improvements are required at this junction.