Consultation on 8,000-9,000-home new town for Waterbeach to begin
Railway station set to move as part of the plans
Plans for a huge new town north of Cambridge which will be home to 25,000 people have taken a step forward and the public will soon have the chance to have their say on the plans.
A new town at Waterbeach with an expected 8,000 to 9,000 new homes is on its way.
It is proposed that Waterbeach railway station would move to the new town, enabling commuters to reach Cambridge’s central station in seven minutes. A “vibrant” town centre, schools and shops are also envisaged.
Today (September 5) South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet approved a supplementary planning document (SPD) for public consultation.
From Friday, September 14 until Tuesday, October 26, people will be able to have their say on the scheme, and bring up any concerns they may have about the major new development.
Cllr Aidan Van de Weyer, south Cambridgeshire’s lead cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: “This is a huge project and it is vital for the future of the district.”
Stephen Kelly, joint director of planning and economic development, said: “We are working on a set of questions to help people to focus on the important aspects of the consultation.
“This is a consultation we want to be meaningful and we want to help the community to understand the proposals.”
The scheme’s SPD says that walking and cycling should be prioritised within the new town in a bid to reduce the use of private cars. There will also be an on-site Park and Ride.
Cycle routes to Cambridge and linking to neighbouring communities should also be part of plans put forward.
Developers must contribute funding to “strategic transport improvements that could include on or off line dualling of the A10”, as well as upgrades to the junctions on the A10.
They will also be asked to make contributions to improvements to the Milton Interchange, and to new public transport and cycle links to Cambridge.
A drop-in session for residents to ask questions and look at plans will be held in Waterbeach. A date and venue are yet to be confirmed.
The move follows a government inspector approving the South Cambridgeshire local plan.
:: Don’t miss the four-page covering in this week’s Cambridge Independent (Sep 5-11) on the development blueprint for the region.
Read more
Plans for new 44,000 jobs and 33,500 homes backed by Government inspectors
Inside Waterbeach’s new town: How developers will focus on people instead of cars
Have your say on revised proposals for new town north of Waterbeach
Calls to suspend incinerator plans over pollutants
Decision to replace 291 Hills Road in Cambridge with 14 flats ‘to be reviewed’
Archaeologists digging trenches at Bourn Airfield ahead of planning application for 3,500 homes
