Cambourne boards

South Cambridgeshire Investment Partnership (SCIP) The South Cambridgeshire Investment Partnership (SCIP) is an equal partnership made up of South Cambridgeshire District Council and The Hill Group.

The partnership seeks to utilise the skills and expertise of both partners to deliver highquality, environmentally friendly housing to support local communities and economies.

Formed in October 2020, SCIP’s first and flagship project is Land North of Lower Cambourne.

SCIP’s aspirations for Cambourne: Create a new sustainable neighbourhood designed for the future whilst meeting the needs of the present Integrate the residential development with the business park, creating new spaces for residents and employees to meet, share a coffee and build a community Improve local connectivity with new green routes and walking/ cycling infrastructure Provide a range of generously sized, high quality 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes to meet a range of needs Deliver 40% new affordable housing for South Cambridgeshire District Council

The Site The proposed development is located to the north of Lower Cambourne, south of the Business Park Road.

Measuring 8.5 hectares, the site was allocated for housing in the Council’s 2018 Local Plan.

A key feature of the Local Plan was the planned expansion of Cambourne through the delivery of a new linked village to the West, known as Cambourne West. However, a significant challenge was how the new community would be integrated into the rest of Cambourne.

Cambourne Business Park

Allocating the site for residential use was deemed necessary to enable the new Cambourne West community to be integrated into the rest of Cambourne. As such, connectivity is a key theme that has been incorporated into these plans.

The proposed development site

A bridleway and existing tree belt wraps around the west and south of the site. The site is well connected to the centre of Cambourne with an extensive network of pedestrian and cycle routes. The site also benefits from public transport links, with a regular bus service from the Business Park Road between Cambourne and Cambridge and less frequent services towards St Neots, Huntingdon and St Ives.

Lower Cambourne

Site map

The Site

The existing public square in front of SCDC offices

Connectivity The site is within easy reach of community facilities, sports facilities and an early years nursery within the Cambourne West development as well as local primary and secondary schools, shops, employment areas and open spaces. Most of these facilities can be reached with a 5-10 minute walk.

A large Morrisons superstore and other small scale retail are located in the centre of Cambourne with employment areas concentrated in the business park to the north and east of the site.

Connectivity diagram

Outline Permission and Planning Context When the original masterplan for Cambourne was approved, the application site was designated for employment use, forming part of the wider business park area. Despite this longstanding allocation, the site has remained vacant.

Through the preparation of the updated and now adopted Local Plan, the Site has now been reallocated for residential development to help meet the local housing need.

The Site is situated to the East of the Cambourne West village development which was granted outline planning permission in 2017. Permission was granted for up to 2,350 new dwellings together with 7.45ha of commercial/retail floorspace, new schools, community and leisure uses.

The development of this site presents an opportunity to help integrate the proposed Cambourne West development into the rest of Cambourne, helping to create a coherent place where communities can come together and interact with each other.

The Cambourne West illustrative masterplan. Image: randallthorp.co.uk

Cambourne masterplan 1995 - with the site designated for employment use

Constraints When considering a new development, it is important to consider all the opportunities and constraints. Some constraints that need to be considered are: y The existing gas and water pipes which dissect the site. y The existing footpaths and bridleways around the site which will need to be integrated into the new development. y Impact of the proposed development on the existing residential development at the South. Roof-lines and profiles need to be carefully considered. y Existing tree belt wrapping around the south and west of the site. y The site is in a transitional zone between the commercial and residential areas. The change of the mass & scale between the Cambourne business park and Lower Cambourne is distinctive.

KEY:

Existing residential areas

Marketing Suite

Sensitive boundary

Proposed site (the site identified as strategic site within LP - Policy SS/8.)

Existing schools

Proposed access point for the application 20/01640/REM

Existing gas line & water main

Main vehicle route

SCDC Office

existing car park

Footpath links

Existing access points

Existing employment

Key views

Informal footpath link

Opportunity for bus/cycle link into Cambourne West

Overlooking risk - from the office block

Existing square

Avenue of trees

Existing green spaces

Predominant frontages

Bus stop

Approved residential site (20/01640/REM for 286 No. dwellings)

Sensitive green edges

Zipcar location

Bridleway Existing pedestrian connection

Opportunities PUBLIC SQUARE EXTENSION DESIGN PROPOSAL

Connectivity

New tree planting

y Opportunity to connect the existing and proposed communities around the current and proposed open spaces.

Environment

Bus link to Cambourne West y Opportunity to develop a gas-free 7 development.

y Opportunity to create a strong North/ 6 South green connection 6 that links the proposed site to its wider context.

y Opportunity to deliver water-efficient Existing trees development with measures to reduce retained water consumption and sustainable drainage features throughout the site.

4 y Opportunity to encourage walking & cycling via direct, safe and attractive 3 routes.

y Opportunity to integrate biodiversity into the development through planting, 1 flowering species and habitat creation.

6

5

y Opportunity to provide new connections 2 to the Cambourne West development, including a new bus priority link.

Character y Opportunity to design a coherent, transitional area between the employment site and residential area.

Public square existing landscape

y Opportunity to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Community 2

y Opportunity to design a pleasant and aspirational place to live, where residents meet each other and establish a sense of community.

Existing trees retained a secure place by y Opportunity to create

y Existing character, scale and mass of carefully positioning the new homes the Cambourne Business Park gives to overlook the open spaces and green an opportunity to integrate mixed size links. developments to support a range of N household sizes. (1 Bedroom apartments y Opportunity to design a coherent place to 5 Bed houses). useboth residential & commercial 1 Open lawn area with picnic tables / primarily for workplace where communities interact with each other.

Artistic landscape as a focal point y 2Proposed new sitefurniture entrances given opportunity to provide attractive 3an Existing gravel area with retained trees and updated seating y Opportunity to build attractive public and strong entrance points where the 4existing Informal open space areacommunities / primarily for residents use open spaces with new children’s play and proposed areas, connected with green links.

Local Area of Play with natural play features 5consolidate. hotel or bird bath 6 Biodiversity planting areas, flowering species and insect y Opportunity for an enhanced public

square and new community cafe, to 7 Raised road crossing point highlighting council office entrance

serve people living and working in the area.

Precedent images

Previously Proposed Scheme and Feedback In 2021, SCIP put forward a different set of proposals for the site. These plans set out to provide 275 new homes. Two central open spaces were intended to serve as the heart of the development and enhancements were proposed for the existing business park area.

“Disappointed to lose this green space”

“The examples of houses do not reflect the local character of Cambourne” “The houses should be energy efficient”

“The development should result in a biodiversity net gain”

“The development will add to congestion”

“There is too much development in Cambourne”

“Cambourne needs better transport infrastructure”

Proposed Scheme Precedent Images GREEN EDGE

After taking on board the feedback received, SCIP has decided to draw up new proposals which incorporate the comments received from local residents and will deliver a highquality scheme providing greater connectivity for Cambourne and aligning with what local residents want from the site.

The new proposals are for up to 260 much needed new homes, 40% of which will be affordable housing, alongside new open spaces, children’s play areas, cycle and pedestrian routes, a market square and a new café.

The new proposals place an emphasis on providing higher quality open spaces, treelined streets with cars hidden from view, and new homes that better reflect the local design character.

Having listened to your comments on the previous proposals, we will:

• Deliver energy efficient homes •C reate high quality cycle and pedestrian routes

• I nclude a continuous green corridor through the development

•R educe the proposed number of homes for the site

•P rovide three large dedicated areas of green open space

•B uild homes with design cues inspired by the local area

• S ecure a strategy to deliver a biodiversity net gain

Precedent Images

PARK FRONTAGE

URBAN EDGE

Proposed Scheme

Landscaping • T he development will include generous

green open spaces and planting designed to both benefit local residents and enhance biodiversity.

• T he landscape design is respectful of the

surrounding local landscape. There will be a variety of spaces and features which will be bound by the common theme of productivity. For example, there will be orchard trees and plants which bear fruits and seeds for harvesting. These will bring a specific and recognisable sense of place to the development.

• Green open spaces will be places for

neighbours and friends to come together, to meet and play. There will be space for activity and recreation and a variety of play equipment for children of all ages.

•M any new trees will be planted within the

development; along the streets, within the open spaces and within front gardens. In addition, other planting will include mixed native hedgerows, edible fruits, flowering meadows, hard wearing species-rich grass and plants that encourage play and discovery.

•A new pond will be created within the open

space towards the north east corner of the site. This will capture rainwater and other surface run-off and will be a valuable wildlife habitat.

Market Square Precedent Images

Landscaping • The square outside the council offices will be re-designed to create a larger more usable civic space, with priority for pedestrians and cyclists.

• This Market Square will be a vibrant

place which will be used by residents, office workers, passers-by and visitors. The existing trees will be incorporated into the design and the double avenue of Field Maple trees along the Business Park road will be extended to run along the length of the Square.

• There will be a central open space catering for a variety of activities and events. In this central location there will also be bus waiting facilities, cycle parking, wayfinding and a meeting space.

• There will be rain-gardens (to capture rain

fall from surrounding paved areas), new tree planting, seats and a small urban orchard.

These spaces will provide space for office workers to enjoy their lunch time break and for children and parents to relax on the way to and from school.

• The cycle route does not cut through the

Market Square but passes along the south and west sides to avoid any conflict with pedestrians and those using the open space.

Sustainability

Energy Efficiency: • The development will be entirely gas-free, with air source heat pumps fitted in every home

•A ll new homes will have thick walls and

high performance insulation, exceeding local policy requirements and optimising home comfort by staying warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer

• T he affordable rented homes will be owned

and managed by the Council and will be upgraded further to meet either Passivhaus or Net Zero Carbon standards

Biodiversity: •A strategy will be secured to deliver 20% biodiversity net gain

•W ithin the development, the landscaping will be designed to strategically enhance wildlife, including new trees, hedges, wildflowers, a pond and swales, with the existing woodland preserved

•A s part of this strategy, off-site

improvements will also be funded by the development. Our preferred option is to work with Cambourne Town Council to fund improvements to the biodiversity of Cambourne Country Park

• I f this is not possible, other options will be explored for improving biodiversity elsewhere in the district

Electric vehicle charging: •A t least 50% of all homes will have electric

vehicle charging points installed, with ductwork installed in all remaining spaces to allow for future connection

Key Benefits

£

Affordable homes for the local community

Gas-free development with energy efficient homes

Increased connectivity through new green links

A strategy to enhance nature locally

High quality design inspired by local characteristics

New children’s play areas

Next Steps

Planning Submission

Planning Decision

AUTUMN 2022

SPRING 2023

Enabling Works

SUMMER 2023

Construction Start

Initial Homes Complete

Build Completion

AUTUMN 2023

WINTER 2024

AUTUMN 2027