1.4

David Henry BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI FRICS FRGS
AIEM
Unex House
132-134 Hills Road
Cambridge CB2 8PA
savills.com

Registered office: 33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD
Dear Sir/Madam,
RE: LAND NORTH OF CHERRY HINTON, DRAFT SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT:
REPRESENTATIONS MADE ON BEHALF OF ANDERSON DESIGN & BUILD LIMITED.
We write, as agents, on behalf of Anderson Design & Build Limited, an operating subsidiary of The Anderson Group ('Anderson Group' hereafter), to provide you with representations in respect of the above draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
As you will be aware, land south of Coldham's Lane (LSCL) is proposed within the emerging replacement Cambridge Local Plan as an Area of Major Change (AMC), and is identified for that purpose on both the Key Diagram and the Policies Map of the emerging Local Plan. A specific policy, Policy 15, then sets out the City Council's intended approach towards supporting the wider regeneration of this area. This AMC neighbours the land to the north of Coldham's Lane which is subject of the draft SPD.
Principal Comment
The City Council, the Environment Agency and other local stakeholders are aware that The Anderson Group intend to bring forward shortly comprehensive proposals for its land holdings as part of the wider regeneration of the LSCL AMC. At present, the draft SPD does not make any obvious reference to the adjacent LSCL AMC. It thus presents an incomplete picture to the reader of the strategic plans for the area. It is considered that the draft SPD should include due consideration of the LSCL AMC. This deficiency can be remedied by minor modification of the SPD. The following representations propose how this might be undertaken.
Paragraph 1.4: Support in Principle
The purpose of the SPD is stated as being to support policy in both the draft Cambridge City Local Plan and the draft South Cambridgeshire Local Plan. If that is so, then it is appropriate to take into account the adjacent LSCL AMC as a material consideration in the preparation of the SPD. Failure to do so would result in the SPD being deficient in terms of the 'plan led' requirements established by national planning policy.
Paragraph 1.8: Support in Principle
The vision for the land north of Cherry Hinton is described as being to create a vibrant, high quality and distinctive extension to the existing settlement, reflecting and enhancing the special character of the surrounding area, whilst working in synergy with Cambridge as a whole. This vision is supported in principle, although it is considered reasonable for the development in seeking to fulfil these aims to have due regard to both its current and proposed surroundings, including the AMC just metres away south of Coldham's Lane.
26th September 2017
CAPL401107/A3/DH/BW
Planning Policy
Cambridge City Council
PO Box 700
Cambridge
CB1 0JH
By post and email
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Paragraph 2.6: Support in Principle
The acknowledgement that national and local policy has evolved since the adoption of the Cambridge East Area Action Plan February 2008 is supported. So, as stated within paragraph 1.4 (see above), the draft SPD ought to have due regard to the more recent policies and proposals of the draft City Local Plan, including the adjacent AMC, as well as its South Cambridgeshire counterpart.
Paragraphs 2.8 - 2.13: Suggested Amendment
Whilst no objection is made in principle to the allocation of the land north of Cherry Hinton for development, this section of the SPD, headed 'Local plan policies', is considered to be incomplete. It fails to make reference to other significant, material policies and proposals within the emerging Cambridge City Local Plan, contrary to the aims of the SPD set out in paragraph 1.4 of the document, for example.
Policy 13 of the emerging Cambridge City Local Plan, and the associated Proposals Map, identifies a number of AMCs and Opportunity Areas in and around the City. These are described in Paragraph 3.18 of the emerging Cambridge City Local Plan as being "extensive areas of development comprising defined and known sites collectively shaping the spatial structure of Cambridge". No reference is yet made within the draft SPD to one such neighbouring extensive, defined and already known AMC. Policy 15 of the emerging Local Plan then goes on to describe that the aim of the City Council is to encourage the regeneration of the LSCL AMC, which is directly adjacent to the area covered by the SPD.
To remedy this omission, an additional sentence should be added within this section of the SPD to inform the user that; "The emerging Cambridge Local Plan also allocates adjacent land to the south of Coldham's Lane as an Area of Major Change, under Policies 13 and 15 of the draft City Local Plan".
Figure 5: Object
Neither Figures 4 nor 5 of the SPD present the reader with the important, relevant contextual information to be found within the Key Diagram of the City Local Plan and on its associated Policies Map. In short, the draft SPD makes a significant "jump" between the Area Action Plan (Figure 4) and the partial information provided by the Proposed Modifications to the emerging Local Plan (within Figure 5). It does not show the proposals of the emerging City Local Plan itself.
The Key Diagram to the Local Plan, or the relevant part thereof, as proposed to be modified, should be included as an additional Figure.
Paragraphs 3.1 - 3.3: Suggested Amendment
This section of the draft SPD is titled 'Surrounding areas and adjacent uses'. Regretfully, it fails in this aim by not acknowledging existence of the important AMC immediately to the south of Coldham's Lane, and only metres away from the area covered by the SPD.
It is proposed that a new paragraph is added, as paragraph 3.4, to say that 'Land to the south of Coldham's Lane is allocated under Policy 15 of the emerging Cambridge Local Plan as an Area of Major Change. Here regeneration is being encouraged by its appropriate redevelopment and the creation of an urban country park to serve the east of the City'.
Paragraph 3.47: Suggested Amendment
Objection is made to the description that the southern edge of the site made within this paragraph. Although it is predominantly characterised by residential streets, this is an incomplete description. Part of the southern edge of the SPD area abuts Coldham's Lane, and is proposed to gain access from it. This frontage faces onto the AMC, which at this point is of a distinctly and prominent commercial character. Therefore, it is proposed that 3.47 should be modified to add at the end of the sentence "except where it abuts Coldham's Lane".
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Paragraph 3.54: Suggested Amendment
This paragraph is headed 'Safeguarded Land'. Correctly, it identifies the area immediately to the west of the site as having long term potential for further development. However, it fails to identify the LSCL AMC to the south of the SPD's location. Since the AMC is a similarly important policy consideration, this is a significant omission.
It is proposed that the heading to the paragraph should be altered to say 'Safeguarded Land and Area of Major Change'. An additional sentence should then be added to the end of the paragraph to say "Land to the south of Coldham's Lane is identified within the emerging Cambridge Local Plan as an Area of Major Change, for regeneration, appropriate redevelopment, and the creation of an urban country park". This should be shown accordingly on Figure 28 and the title of the Figure modified likewise.
Paragraph 5.11: Suggested Amendment
Although the principles set out in this paragraph are supported, the first bullet point could be misleading by implying that there is only a need to reduce travel by car 'within the development'. This aim should apply both to trips within and beyond the development. The phrase 'within the development' should be deleted in the interests of clarity.
Paragraph 5.13: Suggested Amendment
It is clearly important that a balanced and inclusive view is taken of possible traffic impacts arising from the development of this area. Hence, in acknowledgement of the commitment to the LSCL AMC, for completeness, the list of local junctions that should be included within a Transport Assessment ought to include the junction between Coldham's Lane and Norman Way. This provides an access into both an existing Protected Industrial Site and the AMC. Similarly, it is proposed that the important local junctions at Brooks Road/Brookfields Road, plus the Cherry Hinton High Street railway crossing, should likewise be included.
Paragraph 5.19: Suggested Amendment
This section concerns main vehicular access points to the site. Yet it fails to have regard to the implications of the adjacent strategic AMC. To remedy this omission, it is proposed that an additional sentence is added at the end of the paragraph to read: 'Similarly, the design of the access point will need to have regard to the implications of the forthcoming regeneration of the Area of Major Change on the opposite side of Coldhams Lane'.
Paragraph 5.24: Object
Objection is made to the suggestion that a bus gate is a 'possibility 'on the spine road to restrict through connections between Cherry Hinton Road and Colham's Lane. If this were implemented, then traffic from the proposed development could have a greater impact on Coldham's Lane, especially at the High Street signalised junction. In the absence of sufficient justification, it is proposed that this option is omitted.
Paragraph 5.29: Suggested Amendment
The intention of connecting the proposed development to the wider cycle network mooted in paragraph 5.25 is, of course, supported, as is the requirement to demonstrate an appropriate walking and cycling strategy. Figure 44 suggests indicative pedestrian cycle routes, including a connection to the TINS route. To achieve this, in a safe and convenient manner, a crossing point would likely be required over Coldham's Lane to Norman Way. Although this is supported in principle, again, this needs to acknowledge the requirement to integrate such proposals effectively with other significant committed and planned developments. In this case, the connection to the TINS route will need to also have regard to the continued operation of the Protected
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Industrial Area and the intention to regenerate the Area of Major Change. Therefore, it is proposed that an additional phrase is added, after 'the proposals' to say 'where practicable'.
Paragraph 5.33: Suggested Amendment
The proposal that any strategy for public transport must be lead by the County Council in partnership with local authorities, bus companies and developers is supported. The reference to 'developers' is capable of misinterpretation as being only the developers of the NCH site. It is important to acknowledge that there is need to harmonise proposals with the emerging strategy for the surrounding area as a whole, including the adjacent LSCH AMC. Therefore, it is proposed that after the term 'developers' the phrase is added 'of the NCH site and adjacent strategic proposals'.
Summary
The Anderson Group remain highly supportive of the proposed development of land north of Cherry Hinton, the vision for it and the general principles set out within the draft supplementary planning document. These representations are provided with the positive intention of assisting the process of bringing forward this vibrant and distinctive extension to the existing settlement. Support is given where appropriate, therefore. However, objections and suggested amendments are also made. This has been done with the aim of improving the document, particularly to ensure that it recognises other nearby strategic development proposals. This will make it an even more practical, accurate and up to date delivery tool.
The Anderson Group and their team remain keen to continue to engage with the Local Authorities and other stakeholders to explore and explain any of the points made in further detail. To that end, please contact the undersigned in first instance to continue these discussions.
We look forward to hearing from you shortly and thank you for the opportunity to provide these comments.
Yours sincerely
David Henry
Director

Planning Policy
Cambridge City Council
PO Box 700
Cambridge
CB1 OJH
Via email: policysurveys@cambridge.gov.uk
29 September 2017
Our Reference: 234603/HRPR
Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference: Draft Land North of Cherry Hinton SPD, Cambridge

On behalf of landowners Marshall Group Properties and Endurance Estates (acting on
behalf of the White family), we are writing in relation to the Draft Land North of Cherry Hinton SPD, for which consultation commenced on 7th August for 8 weeks. Land North of Cherry Hinton is allocated for development in the Cambridge East Area Action Plan. The site is also proposed for allocation in the emerging Local Plans for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. The SPD supports delivery of the emerging allocation. The SPD also builds on the extensive suite of evidence submitted by the landowners in support of the proposed allocation.

We write to confirm the commitment that the landowners have for these exciting
proposals, as set out in the SPD. The landowners are keen to evidence their enthusiasm for this important residential-led mixed-use neighbourhood, by contributing to the SPD process and fully supporting the Land North of Cherry Hinton SPD as currently drafted.

SPD's in general articulate and provide detailed guidance on the policies in the Local
Plan and form an important part of a process that ensures the delivery of a high quality development. The SPD sets out the aspirations for the Land North of Cherry Hinton area and objectives in terms of creating a local centre, providing market and affordable housing, employment, leisure and community facilities, and improved pedestrian and cycle connectivity, as well as guiding principles relating to landscape, biodiversity, water strategy and sustainability, which the landowners support.

We support the wording of the SPD, but also importantly, the flexibility included in certain parts of the SPD, at this stage of the proposals. We fully support the wording of paragraph 2.10, which acknowledges the importance of ensuring flexibility in relation to the function of the spine road, as to whether it provides a through-route to vehicular traffic or not. Whilst discussions with County, City and District councils will continue in respect to the precise nature of the spine road, there is no guarantee at this time that the function of the spine road will be agreed prior to submission of the application. Therefore, in the interests of good planning and the delivery of new homes and associated facilities to meet local needs, the flexible approach adopted in the draft SPD is entirely justified.

The vision for Land North of Cherry Hinton is that of a vibrant, high-quality and distinctive new neighbourhood of Cherry Hinton, reflecting and enhancing the special character of the surrounding area and establishing a new neighbourhood that will be an exciting place with a strong identity, which is supported by the landowners.

The proposed residential-led mixed use scheme will represent a considerable benefit to the local area, with high quality facilities that will be provided and made available to the residents and wider community.

While the primary purpose of the proposals is to provide much needed new market and affordable homes and community facilities to meet both the city and district council's needs, the project will also create many other planning benefits for the wider community. Much of the social infrastructure that is proposed will be accessible to the wider public (including schools, local centre, public open space) and transport connectivity will also create better connections for pedestrians and cyclists.

The housing proposed will also be of a high quality that will help contribute towards the important housing targets set for the City and District.

With the above in mind, we trust this letter of support and commitment from the
landowners helps support the adoption process and welcome further continued
engagement as the document progresses.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Rogers,
Technical Director
cc. Richard Oakley, Development Director, Marshall Group Properties Ltd
cc. Duncan Jenkins, Projects Director, Endurance Estates