East Barnwell ‘transformation’ plan goes under the community’s microscope

The second and final drop-in discussion for members of the public to ask questions and find out more about the redevelopment in East Barnwell took place on Monday (January 16) at Christ the Redeemer Church on Newmarket Road.

Cambridge City Council aims “to transform the East Barnwell central area to create a new vibrant heart to the community with improved facilities and services and high-quality public open spaces and housing”.

The council announced the East Barnwell Conversation in February 2020, and in September the city council and county council agreed to work together and create a new centre for East Barnwell.

The first public drop-in consultation took place in August 2022.

The proposals will result in a new library, community centre, pre-school and bowls club, plus 131 new homes – of which officials have said 40 per cent will be ‘affordable’.

The drop-in at Christ the Redeemer Church allowed members of the public to meet representatives from the council and ask questions about the project.

Among the key themes will be what happens to the current residents above Barnwell Shops, and how many homes will actually be made available under affordable housing protocols.

The consultation was a huge success in terms of attendance: there were queues outside at 2.45pm waiting for the 3pm start, and more than 60 people crammed into the church hall in the first hour of the four-hour session.

Visitors were able to view the plans and talk to councillors while enjoying free hot drinks from VG Coffee.

The regeneration plans will involve three sites. Site 1 involves the area around Rawlyn Close, near the junction of Newmarket Road and Barnwell Road – opposite Barnwell shops. The plan features new homes, a new library and community centre, and a café or pre-school (to be decided before the final submission for the planning document in the spring).

Site 2 pertains to the Barnwell shops area, including the current library. The vision here is “to maintain a parade of commercial spaces, offering retail and possibly a café, the details of which are still being explored”.

Site 3 features a range of four-bedroom, three-storey houses, and three-bedroom, two-storey houses, plus new landscaping.

In addition, there are two options for the redevelopment of the area around the Abbey Leisure complex. Option 1 sees the new bowls green in what is now the overflow car park (on the right as you drive in from Whitehill Road). The new tennis court would be beside the existing astroturf. Option 2 locates the bowling green on Coldham’s Common. Various options are available for the four pavilions near the bowling green.

The height of the new flats was of concern to some of those who attended the drop-in event on Monday afternoon.

One Abbey resident at the event, who did not wish to give his name, said: “The number of facilities on site one is a concern – a library, community centre, parking, pre-school nursery and 59 residential units... I don’t think the space can support it unless you build upwards and they’re talking about building five storeys upwards – anything above three shouldn’t happen, it’s protected open space.

“Since the first proposal they’ve reduced the footprint but the buildings have gone up in height.”

Cllr Naomi Bennett (Abbey, Green) defended the decision to build upwards, saying: “I don’t think the five or six storeys are terrible as it means there will be more green space.

“A lot of people want to see these flats because there are so many people trapped on the waiting lists. We have a lot of people on the housing waiting list locally who really want to stay in Abbey.

“The regeneration plan is giving people hope, that’s why so many people are coming here. Having a proper community centre is really impportant.”

Cllr Alex Bulat, the Cambridgeshire County Council member for Abbey, said: “Abbey residents have waited for a new community centre for over a decade now. It’s really refreshing to see the city council and county council finally working together.

“It was great to see so many Abbey residents attend the East Barnwell in-person consultation on Monday, as well as the continued support of Abbey People, local churches and community groups. Everyone I spoke with seemed very pleased to see some long overdue investment in Abbey and had positive things to say about the plans.

“It was also good to see that feedback from the summer consultation was taken into account, for example including the library in the new community centre building plan. For a lot of residents it’s really important to have as many services as possible in one place, including a community café, the library and hopefully the food hub too.

“There are still some details to be decided, such as whether the nursery would be within the new community centre or on the Barnwell Road shops site. I am looking forward to the finalised plan including the feedback from this last round of consultation and reflect the community’s preferences on these final details.”

If you missed the in-person consultation, there is still time to have your say during an online webinar on January 23 at 6-7pm.

The feedback will be considered before the final submission for the whole project is made in the spring. Printed information can be found in the Barnwell Road Library or at the Abbey Hub. Surveys or printed material can posted on request by calling 01223 457000.