Local Councils have drafted plans for a new city district in North East Cambridge – which could create 8,000 homes and provide space for 20,000 jobs over the next 20-plus years – and they now want to know what residents and businesses think of the draft plans.
The councils’ vision is for the area between the A14, the Guided Busway and Cambridge North station to be a walkable and lively mix of homes, workplaces, services, and green spaces that is inclusive and fully integrated with surrounding neighbourhoods.
The plans by the Greater Cambridge Planning Service (a partnership between South Cambridgeshire District and Cambridge City councils), developed in collaboration with stakeholders and communities, build on case studies from around the world on creating low-carbon, low-car-use districts.
As part of a formal statutory consultation, leaflets are being delivered to 20,000 homes across the local area to gain residents’ feedback. The Councils are running online Q&A sessions where residents can find out more about the proposals and ask questions to the team. The draft plan is published online where people can comment. And you can find out more by watching the proposed vision for the new district.
Everyone can help shape the future plans for North East Cambridge by visitingwww.greatercambridgeplanning.org/nec and submitting comments during the consultation, which runs from 9am on 27 July to 5pm on 5 October.
The 20-year vision for the new district:
- To be inclusive, with a lively mix of homes, workplaces, services, and social spaces that are fully integrated with surrounding neighbourhoods
- Meeting robust targets for energy use, water conservation and discouraging car use, with developers having to prove they can increase biodiversity
- With a 10 hectare network of new green spaces linking Milton Country Park to Chesterton Fen, and down to Nuffield Road, to encourage active and healthy lifestyles
- For people to be able to easily walk and cycle to work, school or college, local shops and leisure activities – a place where the car is not king, reducing car use and air pollution
- To include 8,000 new homes, with a target of 40 per cent affordable rented and shared ownership homes
- To have space for around 20,000 jobs
- Four new centres within the district for shops, restaurants, community and cultural facilities
- To include three new primary schools
- With 10 new and improved walking/cycling crossings to reduce current barriers to people getting around safely and quickly, such as the A14 and the railway line
- To be an innovative and forward-looking neighbourhood
