4.4.13

2.3.2 The scale of Grafton has increased. This does not give license to increase other buildings in the low rise area!
2.2.9 Yes cycling occurs 10-4 but is a hazard for the infirm and families. An alternative cycle route should be provided for non-shoppers (I think most of the cyclists are not shopping!)
2.2.16 and 2.2.3 Access to Adam and Eve car park is poor. Visibility to traffic approaching from Paradise Street is poor.
The rear of East Road premises which back onto car park should not be considered as 'frontage'.
2.4.9 Agree with designation oh historical buildings. They are delightfully 'small scale'.
2.4.9 What are these improvements to green and hard areas in John / City / Paradise?
2.4.19 Agreed
2.5.3 Photo 23. Charlie's Coffer Companay overspills its space - delightful as it service is. A cart; The tables / chairs exceed allowance. Difficult corner with Paradise Street. Large seating area outside Valeries restricts pedestrians.
2.5.7 Opps for green space (not just hard landscaping).
2.6.2 New student accommodation open between Newmarket / East / New Street. Create housing for workers!
2.7.2 Area let down by poor quality shops. Charity, betting, cheap food. Why not encourage controls / craft ("Auk" went to central area!) instead of just "artisan food".
3.2.7 Area not suitable for hotel.
4.2.1 Extend primary route to East Road but connect with busses, car park and buke park.
4.4.13 Agree no.17 should dominate. That means surroundings must be lower.
4.4.14 Respect to low buildings. Don't smother them by 5-6 stories nearby.
4.4.17 Tall blocks make the nearby conservation area feel disrespected, absurd, and in time (as can be seen by the language used to describe hoe much bigger Grafton and how courts are) will lead to increased heights becoming the norm - I see its suggested 'up to 6 or 6 storeys". This is disproportionate - even 4 storeys should be exceptional. The illustration F.39 is bland and detracts from the beauty of no.17 which gives me pleasure everytime I look upwards. Flat squares do not draw the eye to the beauty!
4.4.24 Taxi movement is an issue and 'after hours' access would encourage vehicular access.
4.4.28 Figure 42 is imaginative.
4.5.3 Add an extra chair to each of those tables and there is little space for pedestrians. And cyclist will be weaving between pushchairs. Please be realistic. Add mobility scooter. Older people with shopping bags on wheels. The vision is unrealistic. Re-route cyclists. Restrict café fronts. Give priority to pedestrians.
4.5.7 Trees on East Road look good but surely reducing lanes for vehicles will cause huge problems?
Biggest concern - Height! Bland, uniform architecture. Safety of pedestrians.
Thank you for organising this consultation (even if I received notice rather late). Commenting on such a long document online is difficult.

I am writing to you about the outline consultation papers for the Grafton Centre plan and outline proposals for development. My general concern arising from the outline is about size, height, mass and scale. In particular I would like to focus on the implications of the outline envisaged for the Grafton Centre Car park which is by Salmon Lane.

As you will know Salmon Lane is part of the Kite Conservation Area. It provides the setting for the rear terrace and gardens developed through 1820/30s. The houses, mostly are grade II listed and have small scale outbuildings to the rear, mostly dating from the period of the houses. The look and feel of Salmon Lane is by and large harmonious, small scale , with brick walls, small rear buildings, over which gardens and greenery lead the eye to the rear terraces of the houses, with wooden sash windows yellow brick walls and slate roofs.

My particular concerns are about:-

(1) A potential increase in vehicle traffic accessing Salmon Lane. Salmon Lane cannot accommodate any more traffic. Residents of Maids Causeway use it for their vehicle access, because they have no on street access for cars on Maids Causeway. It is also busy because of deliveries and bin collection, and also for pedestrians and cyclists, both residents and those using it as a short cut for the Grafton Centre.

No further access to cars to Salmon Lane should be permitted. This means the approach for vehicles to any new dwellings should be via the Grafton Centre not Salmon Lane.

(2) Scale, Height and Density of Buildings. The outline speaks of 2-3 storey houses being built. Buildings of such a height, scale and density facing Salmon Lane will be inconsistent with its character and be detrimental to the setting and rear aspect of the Grade II listed terrace.

The scale and density of any proposed new building on the Lane side of the Centre should be in keeping with the look and feel of the rear terrace and in line with the one storey building recently approved for Willow Walk.
https://idox.cambridge.gov.uk/online-applications/files/4E380D513A8EC0B6CFA17EA9B8662DA6/pdf/16_1942_FUL-REVISED_PROPOSED_WILLO_WALK_BUILDING-2078722.pdf

(3) Salmon Lane is at the rear of a Regency terrace, mostly grade-two listed, with original sash windows, slate grooves and bricks seen through gardens and low garden walls. Any new development on the Salmon Lane side of the Grafton Centre, should not only be kept to one storey, but it should be built in the same style as the Maids Causeway terrace, following the precedent recently set by John Simpson's renovation of the University Arms Hotel.

The architecture of any new dwellings should fit the Regency style of Maids Causeway and the Kite area.