Press Release: Vision released for sustainable, high-quality neighbourhood in South West Cambridge

Written By Guest User

A public engagement programme has been launched to explain the Vision of how a sustainable, high-quality new neighbourhood for up to 2,800 new homes and new, accessible green space and parkland can be delivered at land to the north of Barton Road in the South West of Cambridge. 

The North Barton Road Land Owners Group, a consortium of landowners comprising Corpus Christi College, Downing College, Jesus College, St. John’s College and the University of Cambridge, has submitted their Vision for the site in response to the Greater Cambridge Local Plan’s Call for Sites.

Jenny Raine, Bursar of Corpus Christi College, commented:

“The Vision for South West Cambridge is a high-quality new neighbourhood that will provide the homes Cambridge needs in the most sustainable location.

“Located next to the growing employment area of West Cambridge and providing easy access to the centre of the City, the proposals meet the requirements for new development laid out by Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Councils. The new neighbourhood will also be at the forefront of environmental sustainability, both with respect to the homes that are built and the new, publicly accessible green spaces created.

“Now that our Vision has been submitted to the Councils, we want to ensure that our proposals are fully explained to both the local community and everyone living in the Region. We are therefore proposing a series of webinars where people will be able to hear from the project team and ask any questions that they may have.”

The Vision for the new neighbourhood at South West Cambridge is one that: 

  • Provides up to 2,800 high quality new homes that will encompass a range of housing types, densities and tenures; 

  • Is delivered in an extremely sustainable location, which is highly accessible by walking, cycling and public transport;

  • Located close to growing employment cluster at West Cambridge and providing easy access to many other employment hubs in and around the City;

  • Provides a significant amount of accessible green infrastructure including open spaces and parks, sports pitches, green corridors, meadows, wetland habitat and the rewilding of Bin Brook. Over 55% of the site would be greenspace;

  • Connects the green infrastructure proposed with Coton Countryside Reserve, greatly improving access;

  • Maintains the landscape setting of Cambridge and the character of the area;

  • Will provide community facilities such as a primary school, health centre, public square and local centre;

  • Has ambitious design standards for public realm and buildings, including high levels of energy performance that seeks to exceed best practice in energy and carbon reduction;

  • Achieves net biodiversity gains with the creation of a variety of habitat types and extensive sustainability measures that will include district heating, underground waste collection and water recycling;

  • Is viable and deliverable.

The Vision document prepared by David Lock Associates and submitted to the Greater Cambridge Local Plan’s Call for Sites is available here

Guest User