New plans promised for Cambridge Sport Lakes complex

A 300-acre masterplan is being created to set out the possible future of an expanse of countryside between Milton and Waterbeach.

It follows the withdrawal of £25million plans for a water sports complex by Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust. The complex proposed sports facilities and competition venues for rowing, triathlon, BMX, cycling, canoeing, long-distance swimming, equestrian and fishing.

Outline planning permission was granted in 2013, but the project’s environmental impact assessment dates back to 2005 and it has now been agreed that the information is not sufficiently up to date.

Mick Woolhouse, the trust’s CEO, said: “There are things that we would update now. One example would be cycling – British Cycling would like closed-road cycle circuits that are 1.5km or above for off-road racing and there is funding available. There is the opportunity for us to integrate that into a fresh application.

“It’s not doom and gloom, it’s not the end of the project, it’s a new beginning. The feeling was that we were constantly trying to put a patch on a proposal we had made years ago.

“We will do the updates the council has asked for. What will emerge is a masterplan for the whole corridor. It needs that vision and that will be the basis of a new plan.”

He said the trust, which has an 89-year lease on the land, would like a new plan in about six months.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s lead for planning, Cllr Dr Tumi Hawkins, said it wants to have an up-to-date environmental impact assessment as the scheme could affect roads, birds and drainage.