Draft North East Cambridge Area Action Plan

Nothing chosen

The NECAAP has the potential to play a key role in achieving net zero carbon by 2050 within the context of the policies supporting future growth. Tied into this are the opportunities for Cambridge to play a leading role in the development of emerging technologies to accomplish local, national and international carbon targets. The NECAAP should seek to support and encourage ongoing research and development, prototype development and high-tech and skilled manufacturing to support the achievement of net zero carbon. The development at Cambridge Science Park North will commit to all of the themes highlighted above. Through the provision of circa 90 hectares of green space there will be opportunities to incorporate carbon capture through enhancement of the natural environment. The building fabric, layout and alignment with public and sustainable transport infrastructure will all work toward the achievement of net zero carbon by 2050. Crucially the co-location of Research and Development and Skilled Manufacturing will support development of market ready zero carbon solutions in expedited timeframes. Cambridge Science Park North offers Greater Cambridge and the UK an opportunity to develop and importantly deploy technologies that can transform and achieve net zero carbon. For example, Cambridge Consultants based on Cambridge Science Park partnered with Redbarn Group to develop VeriTherm, a fast and simple tool to verify the thermal performance of new buildings. In a letter of support from the UK’s Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, the Ministry stated that they are: “…keen that [VeriTherm] is further developed and a workable method to measure the thermal performance of homes comes to market" and continued, “this product could therefore contribute to reducing CO2 emissions from homes, reducing occupant bills and to the UK meeting its carbon budgets.” Trinity College Cambridge fully support the list of climate change mitigation measures provided for within Policy 2 and would recommend the addition of the following: • Supporting initiatives to increase opportunities for virtual renewable energy generation, sharing, trading and procurement, including community participation and affordability initiatives. • Supporting local and community initiatives and amenities that encourage residents to stay local and travel short distances on foot, by bicycle and non-fossil fuel transport. • Reinforcing the infrastructure required to support electric vehicles. There is a clear commitment by Trinity College to go over and above the standard approach to climate adaptation and resilience on Cambridge Science Park North. A real opportunity exists for an exemplar scheme with the potential to trial and showcase natural resilience features due to the scale and critical mass available on site. In addition, due to the nature of work undertaken there are opportunities to cultivate and trial emerging technologies on site allowing innovation to develop more quickly and solutions to move to market at enhanced speeds. Within emerging policies, support should be given to innovation in energy and renewable technologies. Cambridge has a key role to play in the research and development of solutions to the climate challenge. For example, CSP is exploring the feasibility of establishing an Energy & Renewal Technologies Centre on the Park. The aim would be to co-locate companies developing related technologies under one roof where they can share facilities, knowledge and best practice.