Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

The University supports this policy in particular paragraph 6 in respect of Lord’s Bridge.

For completeness - the Observatory contains unique radio and optical telescopes which are of international importance and must be safeguarded. The facilities measure signals that are very weak, and hence highly susceptible to many forms of interference, specifically electromagnetic interference (EMI), light pollution and mechanical vibration from domestic, industrial plant and other sources such as vehicles and aircraft.

The Observatory has been home of some of the largest and most advanced radio astronomy instruments in the world since it opened in 1957. Notably, these instruments have supported research leading to 2 Nobel prizes and countless discoveries which have placed Cambridge and the UK at the forefront of astronomy research. Currently, the observatory is home to several state-of-the-art aperture synthesis radio telescopes, such as the Large and Small Arcminute Microkelvin Imager arrays and the 32m dish which is part of the e-Merlin national facility. It is also important for several internationally leading instrument development projects. In these cases, instruments are developed in Cambridge and via collaboration elsewhere and tested at the observatory before being deployed (often in large numbers) to other sites. Most important of these are the developments that Cambridge leads for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) which is under construction in South Africa and Australia, and which currently brings ~£3M/year to the university in research funds. The SKA is a €1.2bn construction project in its first phase. Cambridge leads the design of several elements of the telescope including the software and, importantly, the low-frequency telescope which will be deployed to Western Australia. There are two test arrays at Lord’s Bridge and a third currently in construction. Furthermore, phase II of the SKA (~ 10x the size of phase I) will start its development phase in the coming years, with the observatory expected again to take a central role in the international development efforts due to its unique characteristics.

The policy does not highlight the ‘what if’ where two of the safeguarded elements within the policy conflict which may need some thought given the proposed alignment of East West Rail.

The University supports the general direction of the policy to densify the site and make the best use of the available land. There are a number of detailed comments in relation to the policy wording which are attached in a table with comments set against the relevant policy/paragraph numbers.

There is inconsistency across the plan of naming the site. Eddington should be used for all references to the site.

The University would be happy to meet to discuss the detailed comments.

The University supports the general direction of the policy which aligns with the approved Outline Planning Approval and offers flexibility for change across the plan period. There are a number of detailed comments in relation to the policy wording which are attached in a table with comments set against the relevant policy/paragraph numbers.

There is inconsistency across the plan of naming the site. Cambridge West should be used for all references to the site rather than 'West Cambridge'.

The University would be happy to meet to discuss the detailed comments.

The University of Cambridge is generally supportive of this policy in the Local Plan which supports the expansion and enhancement of the Biomedical Campus. The site is of national and international importance and is a key location for education, research, and practical application of life sciences. The Vision and Objectives of this policy are supported and should aim to help fulfil the sites role as Europe’s leading centre for medical research and health science.

The allocation itself and much of the wording proposed is generally supported, and detailed comments have been suggested (see attached document) to help clarify parts of the policy in line with other landowners.

You will note that the University has concerns about some elements as set out in the “Lifespan” section of the policy in particular. There remains a lack of clarity on the phasing and delivery aspects of the expansion proposals. The Development Strategy section of the plan states that:
‘To meet the future needs of the campus and to enable the improvement of the existing campus the Draft Local Plan identifies the release of an area of green belt south of the campus, accompanied by enhancement of green spaces and the landscape adjoining it. However, development will only be allowed if it is accompanied by the right infrastructure, that will deliver the range of supporting services, facilities and infrastructure that workers, visitors and residents need that deliver the goal of making it a world class campus.’

To gain greater confidence that expansion of the campus will deliver the desired objectives the University feels that (consistent with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and CBC Limited), greater focus is needed in this section of the policy to detail a coordinated approach to the masterplan, its infrastructure, and the timing of delivery to ensure that all development that comes forward is capable of and contributes the wider vision set out in the plan.

The University remains willing to engage in overcoming these concerns and will continue to work with partners and the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service to help shape the Infrastructure Delivery Strategy, and importantly the legal mechanisms to secure delivery.

The University of Cambridge fully supports the allocation of this site for Class B2 and B8 uses including lorry parking which can provide a range of small to medium-scale units to meet the identified need set out in the evidence base for the Draft Local Plan.
The vision document submitted on behalf of JAYNIC PROPERTIES LTD (JAYNIC) AS LAND PROMOTOR AND DEVELOPER - ON BEHALF OF THE PEARSON FAMILY AND WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE sets out the identified need, and how this allocation can successfully meet the policy requirements.
The detailed analysis around the visual impact of the site and the environmental constraints show that the proposal can deliver on a landscape led masterplan working with the natural surroundings successfully integrating the proposal into its context.
The University of Cambridge fully endorses the Vision Document for Land to the South of Cambridge Services, A14, South Cambridgeshire.