Massive new development plans for Cambridgeshire given the green light
Plans include £45million new facilities - including swimming pool at Cambourne
Councillors have given the go ahead for new facilities worth £45m and 2,350 new homes at Cambourne.
The facilities will include an athletics track and funding towards a new swimming pool.
A series of detailed planning applications are now expected to cover issues such as the look and feel of homes, the facilities at the village, drainage and areas of open space.
Subject to planning permission, developers have said they could begin to build within two years.
South Cambridgeshire District Council included an expansion to Cambourne in the Local Plan – the strategy that guides development in the area – as it was assessed as one of the best locations to deliver high quality and well-connected new homes.
The expansion to Cambourne will be built on land around the existing new school and extends from the tree belt to the west of Lower Cambourne to the A1198, and from the A428 in the north to the Caxton Bypass in the south.
The proposals by MCA Developments (Taylor Wimpey and Bovis) also include:
* Two primary schools and a second secondary school
* Sports pitches and play areas
* Shops and community space
* An extension to the existing doctors surgery
* Offices and light industrial employment areas
* Public open space
* Surface water drainage and landscaping
* Segregated cycle and pedestrian routes
* Alterations to an existing access off the A1198 and the redesign of the Caxton bypass and Cambourne Road roundabouts.
* 705 affordable homes
A total of £8.7 million from the developer agreement has also been allocated for improving the public transport links between Cambourne and Cambridge. The money is planned to be added to funding available through the Greater Cambridge City Deal.
Proposals to add a new park and ride near the A428 and a dedicated bus route to ease congestion during peak times are being considered. The Greater Cambridge City Deal is still assessing options to find the right solution for the route. This is not part of the Cambourne application.
Cllr Robert Turner, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet member for planning, said: “I’m really pleased how we have worked with Cambourne Parish Council at an early stage to assess the needs of the local communities and make sure the developer funding from the expansion is spent on the right priorities.
“Cambourne already has some excellent facilities but this will deliver some of the missing pieces of the jigsaw that could not be delivered until now, including the athletics track and money towards a swimming pool.
“It is widely known that there is a huge demand for high quality new homes but it is vital that these are well-planned and in the right locations.
“An expansion to Cambourne had been earmarked through our Local Plan for some time and we firmly believe investment in transport links can make sure it is a positive addition for new people moving in and those living nearby.”
