Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Friends of Cherry Hinton and Coldham Brook have significant concerns about the policy and proposals for this AMC. The proposals laid out in the 2018 Local Plan for this AMC have been extensively reviewed and discussed in the course of several planning applications for this site which has revealed many major concerns that the City Council and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning authority are fully aware of. We are therefore very disappointed that the new wording of the policies for this area do not take into account the recommendations that have been made previously. We would like to see the following changes to the text:

Point 1a. . Add: retain as much biodiversity and green space as possible, since this parcel of land is designated as both City Wildlife Site and protected open space

Point 1c. Reword first sentence of this point as follows; "In the area to the south-west: deliver a new urban country park through enabling periodic, highly supervised public access that will ensure the safety of all visitors whilst maintaining the important biodiversity and ecosystems of this wetland area. "

Point 2a. Add after 'public access' the following phrase "... (covering both safety of the public and protection of wildlife) ....".

Point 2d. Add to last sentence: .... streams, "as well as the variability in rainfall and water table levels which are having a major impact on drainage and periodic flooding of associated residential areas (such as Burnside and Brookfields)". This is important as the current proposal for the main entrance to the country park is in an area prone to flooding and immediately adjacent to the brook.

We propose an additional Point f, since the proposal does not address access from the south of the AMC: "Ensure a safeguarded active travel access route from Cherry Hinton, Coleridge and Romsey wards and the city centre, to help to eliminate traffic congestion and parking in associated residential areas to the south of the Area of Major Change"

In relation to the Supporting Information section:

This recognises that “Outline planning permission was granted in January 2025 for offices, research and development, along with delivery of a country park.” but fails to mention the numerous issues that have been raised since then, including (a) that 72 conditions have to be met before the application for the northern parcels of land can go further because the construction is proposed for a location that is a toxic land fill site, and (b) that the area proposed for public access and a country park is highly dangerous (evidenced by the 2024 fatality in the lakes). It is irresponsible of the Local Plan to imply that this area would be suitable for unlimited public access and what most people would consider a normal country park. We request that the Supporting Information section provides more information and appropriately flags up the constraints of this location. We have provided our objection to the 2024 planning application as an uploaded separate document.

Friends of Cherry Hinton and Coldham Brook have significant concerns about the policy and proposals for this AMC. The proposals laid out in the 2018 Local Plan for this AMC have been extensively reviewed and discussed in the course of several planning applications for this site which has revealed many major concerns that the City Council and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning authority are fully aware of. We are therefore very disappointed that the new wording of the policies for this area do not take into account the recommendations that have been made previously. We would like to see the following changes to the text:

Point 1a. . Add: retain as much biodiversity and green space as possible, since this parcel of land is designated as both City Wildlife Site and protected open space

Point 1c. Reword first sentence of this point as follows; "In the area to the south-west: deliver a new urban country park through enabling periodic, highly supervised public access that will ensure the safety of all visitors whilst maintaining the important biodiversity and ecosystems of this wetland area. "

Point 2a. Add after 'public access' the following phrase "... (covering both safety of the public and protection of wildlife) ....".

Point 2d. Add to last sentence: .... streams, "as well as the variability in rainfall and water table levels which are having a major impact on drainage and periodic flooding of associated residential areas (such as Burnside and Brookfields)". This is important as the current proposal for the main entrance to the country park is in an area prone to flooding and immediately adjacent to the brook.

We propose an additional Point f, since the proposal does not address access from the south of the AMC: "Ensure a safeguarded active travel access route from Cherry Hinton, Coleridge and Romsey wards and the city centre, to help to eliminate traffic congestion and parking in associated residential areas to the south of the Area of Major Change"

In relation to the Supporting Information section:

This recognises that “Outline planning permission was granted in January 2025 for offices, research and development, along with delivery of a country park.” but fails to mention the numerous issues that have been raised since then, including (a) that 72 conditions have to be met before the application for the northern parcels of land can go further because the construction is proposed for a location that is a toxic land fill site, and (b) that the area proposed for public access and a country park is highly dangerous (evidenced by the 2024 fatality in the lakes). It is irresponsible of the Local Plan to imply that this area would be suitable for unlimited public access and what most people would consider a normal country park. We request that the Supporting Information section provides more information and appropriately flags up the constraints of this location. We have provided our objection to the 2024 planning application as an uploaded separate document.

Friends of Cherry Hinton and Coldham Brook have significant concerns about the policy and proposals for this AMC. The proposals laid out in the 2018 Local Plan for this AMC have been extensively reviewed and discussed in the course of several planning applications for this site which has revealed many major concerns that the City Council and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning authority are fully aware of. We are therefore very disappointed that the new wording of the policies for this area do not take into account the recommendations that have been made previously. We would like to see the following changes to the text:

Point 1a. . Add: retain as much biodiversity and green space as possible, since this parcel of land is designated as both City Wildlife Site and protected open space

Point 1c. Reword first sentence of this point as follows; "In the area to the south-west: deliver a new urban country park through enabling periodic, highly supervised public access that will ensure the safety of all visitors whilst maintaining the important biodiversity and ecosystems of this wetland area. "

Point 2a. Add after 'public access' the following phrase "... (covering both safety of the public and protection of wildlife) ....".

Point 2d. Add to last sentence: .... streams, "as well as the variability in rainfall and water table levels which are having a major impact on drainage and periodic flooding of associated residential areas (such as Burnside and Brookfields)". This is important as the current proposal for the main entrance to the country park is in an area prone to flooding and immediately adjacent to the brook.

We propose an additional Point f, since the proposal does not address access from the south of the AMC: "Ensure a safeguarded active travel access route from Cherry Hinton, Coleridge and Romsey wards and the city centre, to help to eliminate traffic congestion and parking in associated residential areas to the south of the Area of Major Change"

In relation to the Supporting Information section:

This recognises that “Outline planning permission was granted in January 2025 for offices, research and development, along with delivery of a country park.” but fails to mention the numerous issues that have been raised since then, including (a) that 72 conditions have to be met before the application for the northern parcels of land can go further because the construction is proposed for a location that is a toxic land fill site, and (b) that the area proposed for public access and a country park is highly dangerous (evidenced by the 2024 fatality in the lakes). It is irresponsible of the Local Plan to imply that this area would be suitable for unlimited public access and what most people would consider a normal country park. We request that the Supporting Information section provides more information and appropriately flags up the constraints of this location. We have provided our objection to the 2024 planning application as an uploaded separate document.

Friends of Cherry Hinton and Coldham Brook have significant concerns about the policy and proposals for this AMC. The proposals laid out in the 2018 Local Plan for this AMC have been extensively reviewed and discussed in the course of several planning applications for this site which has revealed many major concerns that the City Council and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning authority are fully aware of. We are therefore very disappointed that the new wording of the policies for this area do not take into account the recommendations that have been made previously. We would like to see the following changes to the text:

Point 1a. . Add: retain as much biodiversity and green space as possible, since this parcel of land is designated as both City Wildlife Site and protected open space

Point 1c. Reword first sentence of this point as follows; "In the area to the south-west: deliver a new urban country park through enabling periodic, highly supervised public access that will ensure the safety of all visitors whilst maintaining the important biodiversity and ecosystems of this wetland area. "

Point 2a. Add after 'public access' the following phrase "... (covering both safety of the public and protection of wildlife) ....".

Point 2d. Add to last sentence: .... streams, "as well as the variability in rainfall and water table levels which are having a major impact on drainage and periodic flooding of associated residential areas (such as Burnside and Brookfields)". This is important as the current proposal for the main entrance to the country park is in an area prone to flooding and immediately adjacent to the brook.

We propose an additional Point f, since the proposal does not address access from the south of the AMC: "Ensure a safeguarded active travel access route from Cherry Hinton, Coleridge and Romsey wards and the city centre, to help to eliminate traffic congestion and parking in associated residential areas to the south of the Area of Major Change"

In relation to the Supporting Information section:

This recognises that “Outline planning permission was granted in January 2025 for offices, research and development, along with delivery of a country park.” but fails to mention the numerous issues that have been raised since then, including (a) that 72 conditions have to be met before the application for the northern parcels of land can go further because the construction is proposed for a location that is a toxic land fill site, and (b) that the area proposed for public access and a country park is highly dangerous (evidenced by the 2024 fatality in the lakes). It is irresponsible of the Local Plan to imply that this area would be suitable for unlimited public access and what most people would consider a normal country park. We request that the Supporting Information section provides more information and appropriately flags up the constraints of this location. We have provided our objection to the 2024 planning application as an uploaded separate document.

Friends of Cherry Hinton and Coldham Brook have significant concerns about the policy and proposals for this AMC. The proposals laid out in the 2018 Local Plan for this AMC have been extensively reviewed and discussed in the course of several planning applications for this site which has revealed many major concerns that the City Council and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning authority are fully aware of. We are therefore very disappointed that the new wording of the policies for this area do not take into account the recommendations that have been made previously. We would like to see the following changes to the text:

Point 1a. . Add: retain as much biodiversity and green space as possible, since this parcel of land is designated as both City Wildlife Site and protected open space

Point 1c. Reword first sentence of this point as follows; "In the area to the south-west: deliver a new urban country park through enabling periodic, highly supervised public access that will ensure the safety of all visitors whilst maintaining the important biodiversity and ecosystems of this wetland area. "

Point 2a. Add after 'public access' the following phrase "... (covering both safety of the public and protection of wildlife) ....".

Point 2d. Add to last sentence: .... streams, "as well as the variability in rainfall and water table levels which are having a major impact on drainage and periodic flooding of associated residential areas (such as Burnside and Brookfields)". This is important as the current proposal for the main entrance to the country park is in an area prone to flooding and immediately adjacent to the brook.

We propose an additional Point f, since the proposal does not address access from the south of the AMC: "Ensure a safeguarded active travel access route from Cherry Hinton, Coleridge and Romsey wards and the city centre, to help to eliminate traffic congestion and parking in associated residential areas to the south of the Area of Major Change"

In relation to the Supporting Information section:

This recognises that “Outline planning permission was granted in January 2025 for offices, research and development, along with delivery of a country park.” but fails to mention the numerous issues that have been raised since then, including (a) that 72 conditions have to be met before the application for the northern parcels of land can go further because the construction is proposed for a location that is a toxic land fill site, and (b) that the area proposed for public access and a country park is highly dangerous (evidenced by the 2024 fatality in the lakes). It is irresponsible of the Local Plan to imply that this area would be suitable for unlimited public access and what most people would consider a normal country park. We request that the Supporting Information section provides more information and appropriately flags up the constraints of this location. We have provided our objection to the 2024 planning application as an uploaded separate document.

Friends of Cherry Hinton and Coldham Brook have significant concerns about the policy and proposals for this AMC. The proposals laid out in the 2018 Local Plan for this AMC have been extensively reviewed and discussed in the course of several planning applications for this site which has revealed many major concerns that the City Council and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning authority are fully aware of. We are therefore very disappointed that the new wording of the policies for this area do not take into account the recommendations that have been made previously. We would like to see the following changes to the text:

Point 1a. . Add: retain as much biodiversity and green space as possible, since this parcel of land is designated as both City Wildlife Site and protected open space

Point 1c. Reword first sentence of this point as follows; "In the area to the south-west: deliver a new urban country park through enabling periodic, highly supervised public access that will ensure the safety of all visitors whilst maintaining the important biodiversity and ecosystems of this wetland area. "

Point 2a. Add after 'public access' the following phrase "... (covering both safety of the public and protection of wildlife) ....".

Point 2d. Add to last sentence: .... streams, "as well as the variability in rainfall and water table levels which are having a major impact on drainage and periodic flooding of associated residential areas (such as Burnside and Brookfields)". This is important as the current proposal for the main entrance to the country park is in an area prone to flooding and immediately adjacent to the brook.

We propose an additional Point f, since the proposal does not address access from the south of the AMC: "Ensure a safeguarded active travel access route from Cherry Hinton, Coleridge and Romsey wards and the city centre, to help to eliminate traffic congestion and parking in associated residential areas to the south of the Area of Major Change"

In relation to the Supporting Information section:

This recognises that “Outline planning permission was granted in January 2025 for offices, research and development, along with delivery of a country park.” but fails to mention the numerous issues that have been raised since then, including (a) that 72 conditions have to be met before the application for the northern parcels of land can go further because the construction is proposed for a location that is a toxic land fill site, and (b) that the area proposed for public access and a country park is highly dangerous (evidenced by the 2024 fatality in the lakes). It is irresponsible of the Local Plan to imply that this area would be suitable for unlimited public access and what most people would consider a normal country park. We request that the Supporting Information section provides more information and appropriately flags up the constraints of this location. We have provided our objection to the 2024 planning application as an uploaded separate document.

Friends of Cherry Hinton and Coldham Brook have significant concerns about the policy and proposals for this AMC. The proposals laid out in the 2018 Local Plan for this AMC have been extensively reviewed and discussed in the course of several planning applications for this site which has revealed many major concerns that the City Council and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning authority are fully aware of. We are therefore very disappointed that the new wording of the policies for this area do not take into account the recommendations that have been made previously. We would like to see the following changes to the text:

Point 1a. . Add: retain as much biodiversity and green space as possible, since this parcel of land is designated as both City Wildlife Site and protected open space

Point 1c. Reword first sentence of this point as follows; "In the area to the south-west: deliver a new urban country park through enabling periodic, highly supervised public access that will ensure the safety of all visitors whilst maintaining the important biodiversity and ecosystems of this wetland area. "

Point 2a. Add after 'public access' the following phrase "... (covering both safety of the public and protection of wildlife) ....".

Point 2d. Add to last sentence: .... streams, "as well as the variability in rainfall and water table levels which are having a major impact on drainage and periodic flooding of associated residential areas (such as Burnside and Brookfields)". This is important as the current proposal for the main entrance to the country park is in an area prone to flooding and immediately adjacent to the brook.

We propose an additional Point f, since the proposal does not address access from the south of the AMC: "Ensure a safeguarded active travel access route from Cherry Hinton, Coleridge and Romsey wards and the city centre, to help to eliminate traffic congestion and parking in associated residential areas to the south of the Area of Major Change"

In relation to the Supporting Information section:

This recognises that “Outline planning permission was granted in January 2025 for offices, research and development, along with delivery of a country park.” but fails to mention the numerous issues that have been raised since then, including (a) that 72 conditions have to be met before the application for the northern parcels of land can go further because the construction is proposed for a location that is a toxic land fill site, and (b) that the area proposed for public access and a country park is highly dangerous (evidenced by the 2024 fatality in the lakes). It is irresponsible of the Local Plan to imply that this area would be suitable for unlimited public access and what most people would consider a normal country park. We request that the Supporting Information section provides more information and appropriately flags up the constraints of this location. We have provided our objection to the 2024 planning application as an uploaded separate document.