Councillors have urged residents to attend the first virtual meeting of the new Community Forum for North East Cambridge on 10 March. The forum is open to the public to attend and is being managed by Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils jointly. The quarterly meetings will allow residents and businesses to find out more about the major projects planned for the area from developers, the Councils themselves, and other bodies. Residents and businesses can join the forum by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk/NEC-forum.
North East Cambridge includes 182 hectares of brownfield land and is a 15-minute cycle ride from Cambridge city centre. Funding from central government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund to relocate the Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the area and create a significant new city district. The area crosses the boundary between Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils and the Councils are working closely together to ensure that residents and businesses around the area are informed and involved with how the area develops over the next 20 years.
Community Forums are open, public meetings bringing together residents, planners, developers and stakeholders to discuss the development of major growth sites. Similar Forums have been run successfully at Northstowe, Waterbeach and other areas over many years, helping bring together those building and those most affected by the development.
At the first meeting of the new Forum, residents can find out more about how development in the area will be planned, and the timescales for key projects. There will also be an update on the North East Cambridge Area Action Plan from the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and other projects. The meeting will be held online and a recording will be published for those who cannot attend.
Cllr Anna Smith, Executive Councillor for Communities at Cambridge City Council, said: “We want all residents to be well informed and involved with the future of North East Cambridge and this Forum will provide a regular opportunity for dialogue. We look forward to bringing the different partners together and joining the dots between the projects that are in development.”
Cllr Bill Handley, lead member for Communities at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “This Forum builds on the good work we have been doing on similar major growth sites across the Greater Cambridge area and complements the community engagement undertaken by developers themselves. We hope that residents and businesses will take the opportunity to participate fully and we look forward to having the opportunity to answer their questions.”
Residents can join the forum or register for updates by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk/NEC-forum.