Outline planning permission for developing the 32 hectare site on land north of Cherry Hinton was granted by the Joint Development Control Committee including councillors from Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.
Once completed the new city area will include:
- Up to 1,200 new homes, 40% of which will be affordable or designated specifically for retirement age residents
- A local centre including a community hall and a food store
- New primary and secondary schools
- Open spaces, recreational facilities and allotments
- A new spine road connecting Airport Way and Coldham’s Lane
- Measures to secure a net gain in biodiversity and to mitigate the effects of climate change
The proposals for the site are in line with the requirements of the two councils’ local plans from 2018, and will build on an existing document for the area - known as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
This set out a vision and development principles for the area, which were drawn up following a series of workshops and consultation with local residents, businesses and interested groups.
Cllr Katie Thornburrow, Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport at Cambridge City Council, said: “I am pleased that we have taken the first steps towards creating a new neighbourhood in the east of Cambridge, one that will provide the new homes and community facilities we desperately need in the Greater Cambridge area.
“The development we have approved fits well with the existing character of the area and makes the most of its setting, where the city meets the countryside. We want to encourage active transport, and the integration of pedestrian and cycle connections to other parts of the city is an important part of this, while the new allotments help us deliver our food policy. As our proposals take shape in the coming months and years, we will be consulting widely with local people to ensure it is a forward-thinking development that will really enhance the area.”
Chairman of the Joint Development Control Committee, South Cambridgeshire District Councillor Douglas de Lacey, said: "We desperately need more affordable homes in our area, and this development will make a contribution of 480 affordable homes. Another 90 properties will be reserved specifically for those who have retired; with an ageing population, this is another important consideration. I'm pleased to see a mix of services put forward for this site, such as schools, shops, parks, play areas, allotments and other outdoor areas along with a community centre too. These will all benefit not only future residents of this site, but also those living nearby."
“An agreement with the developer will fund local transport upgrades such as new walking and cycling connections, further public transport and improvements to road junctions. The debate was searching, and Members were concerned about some aspects of the scheme, but on balance the Committee concluded that this will be a beneficial scheme for future and current residents."