Policy 12b: Industry, storage and distribution

Support

Representation ID: 54439

Received: 05/10/2020

Respondent: Orchard Street Investment Management

Agent: Turley

The proposal to ensure that there is not a net loss of either Class B2 or Class B8 uses is supported. Further, the intention to increase this provision is a positive response to the needs of the Cambridge economy ensuring that a mix of uses can be provided across the wider site, allowing the retention and provision of jobs for a wide mix of residents with a variety of skill sets. This is a key location for employment floorspace in industry, storage and distribution in Cambridge. This should be protected and where demand exists expansion should be facilitated for the long term.

In adopting this approach there should be recognition that where a mix of uses are proposed to be consolidated, including residential, that this does not restrict or prejudice the delivery of much needed Class B2 and Class B8 provision. This is supported by the findings of the G L Hearn study, Mixed Use Development: Overcoming barriers to delivery at North East Cambridge, which emphasised the importance of the ‘agent of change’ principle introduced through the NPPF 2018 which places responsibility on new development to take responsibility for mitigating the impacts of existing uses and particularly cites the relationship between residential development and existing industrial units.

Comment

Representation ID: 54512

Received: 05/10/2020

Respondent: Cambridge Cycling Campaign

Camcycle supports Cambridge Past, Present and Future’s recommendation to relocate industrial units and the aggregates railhead to the north-east corner of the site with a separate industrial access road added alongside the A14, which would remove large amounts of heavy traffic from the main route through the district.

Object

Representation ID: 55681

Received: 02/10/2020

Respondent: St John's College

Agent: Savills

It is agreed that there is space to intensify existing business parks. The support in Policy 12a for the redevelopment of St John’s Innovation Park to support existing and future business needs (including the redevelopment of existing under-utilised premises, including associated car parks, and the introduction of other supporting uses) is also supported.

Policy 12a references up to 234,500m2 net additional B1 floorspace, including up to 35,000m2 on the St John’s Innovation Park. Capacity analysis previously provided to the Councils and included as part of applications 20/03523/FUL (South Cambs) and 20/03524/FUL (Cambridge City) demonstrates that some 50,000m2 of additional commercial floorspace can be satisfactorily accommodated on the Park. The capacities in the AAP need to be reassessed. The acknowledgement that “Proposals which exceed these figures will need to be justified in terms of the impact on the trip budget and Area Action Plan wide infrastructure and where the character, role and function of an area will not be compromised” is welcomed and should also be retained in the final version as an acknowledgement that the floorspace figures should not be treated as a ceiling.

Further clarification of the requirement in Policy 12b to provide 10% of the new floorspace as affordable industrial workspace, subject to scheme viability, is required particularly as to what constitutes affordable workspace. It is not appropriate to leave it to the Council’s Economic Development Team to work with developers to agree appropriate terms of affordability on a case by case basis as proposed.

Comment

Representation ID: 55736

Received: 05/10/2020

Respondent: Brookgate

Agent: Bidwells

Neutral:
Policy 12b states that development should ensure there is no net loss of B2 (general industrial)
and B8 (storage or distribution) floorspace in North East Cambridge. It continues in stating that
the redevelopment of existing premises and the provision of new industrial floorspace should
consolidate current activities and promote a mix of uses that includes light industrial, offices,
storage and distribution.

The Policy identifies the following development areas in respect of the Chesterton Sidings site:
● 4,800 sqm of B2 (General Industrial) (min. floorspace)
● 4,000 sqm of B8 (Storage and Distribution) (min. floorspace)

Brookgate are broadly supportive of the aims of Policy 12b in terms of no net loss of B2 and B8
floorspace in North East Cambridge, subject to ongoing market conditions. However, as referred to
under Policy 12a, the quantum and distribution of employment floorspace across the NEC site should
be informed by both market conditions and successful place-making and bespoke solutions to maximise
economic and employment benefits should be secured as part of individual
applications rather than through a generic and inflexible policy approach.

Comment

Representation ID: 55927

Received: 05/10/2020

Respondent: Ridgeons Timber & Builders Merchants and Turnstone Estates

Agent: Carter Jonas

A residential use is supported on the site with a higher value use necessary in order to generate
sufficient value to Ridgeons to make relocation viable either within the AAP area or elsewhere.
Ridgeons is an established Cambridge business that needs to be located in close proximity to
Cambridge and its existing customers. If Ridgeons is to relocate from its existing site, then an
alternative suitable site should be identified at either Cowley Road Industrial Estate or elsewhere
within the wider North East Cambridge AAP area or close by; criteria (b) and (c) of Policy 12b
supports such an approach but it would assist if an alternative site could be identified for
Ridgeons should they decide to relocate from Nuffield Road.

Policy 12b is broadly supported, although it may not be possible or appropriate for a builders
merchant operation to operate as part of a mixed use multi storey building, and as such some flexibility would be needed if Ridgeons decide to relocate into land within Cowley Road Industrial Estate or elsewhere within the AAP area.

Comment

Representation ID: 56147

Received: 05/10/2020

Respondent: U+I PLC.

Agent: We are Town

Welcome proposals for 10% ‘affordable’ industrial floorspace and small ‘last mile’ delivery & distribution hubs.