Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission

Knapwell is a designated Conservation Area, principally because of the pretty High Street, and the views of open countryside between the houses. Our main concerns are as follows:-
1. It appears that the new houses will encroach too close to the south end of the High Street (about 300 metres). Although mitigation, in the form of forest, is proposed, we think that there is a possibility of light and noise pollution. Elsworth has a gap of 1000 metres. See para 14a, b and c.
2. Traffic. Recent traffic counts carried out by the village show that we have around 150 vehicles per hour (vph) going through the village at peak times. That is the total for both directions. Flow tends to be tidal, that is, north to south in the mornings, and vice versa in the evenings. GCSP quote figures of 210 vph for 2023, with which we disagree.
Figures produced by GCSP suggest peak hour flows of around 886 vph once Cambourne North is completed (2046). That is an increase of a factor of six on our current figures. Instead of 2.5 cars per minute, we can expect 15 cars per minute! Elsworth have managed to get Brockley Road reduced to zero traffic at peak times!
We have proposed a bypass to be constructed from the A14 at Swavesey roundabout, north of Boxworth and the Mill at our crossroads, and to the west of Hope Farm, ending at the new station. So far this has been rejected by GCSP. However, do please read para 13d, which obliges the developers to consider the need for infrastructure improvement. Bearing in mind that the new town and station are likely to draw in traffic from north of the A14, including the new industrial units to the northeast of Boxworth, and the possibility of traffic in the opposite direction carrying workers to the new industrial units from Cambourne North (and South), we are of the opinion that a new village bypass will be essential. If GCSP have their way, all these folk will use buses. Our High Street is too narrow for buses. We implore GCSP to reconsider our proposal for a bypass.
3. In accordance with para 31, we request that all trees, hedges and verges be retained along Knapwell High Street, between the south end of the village and Knapwell Wood Farm.
4. We strongly support active travel promotion in accordance with para 32. We are supportive of any initiative which will reduce vehicle travel to Overhall Grove in particular. We are also concerned that the proximity of the new town to the village of Knapwell will increase the footfall in the Grove significantly, thereby increasing the likelihood of damage to the oxlip and bluebell plantations. See our first comment above. We really do need greater separation between our pretty village and the new town, in order to protect and preserve the conservation area, the SSSI and Hope Farm bird and wildlife sanctuaries.