Description of Ely
East Cambridgeshire Local Plan Draft Version (October 2012) Part Two: Village/Town Visions – Ely ELY © East Cambridgeshire District Council Description of Ely Ely is England's second smallest city1, and the main market town in East Cambridgeshire with a population approaching 18,000. Nestled in the Fens approximately 15 miles north of Cambridge, it is famous for its magnificent Norman cathedral known locally as “The Ship of the Fens”. Rich in history, Ely was the stronghold of Hereward the Wake and home to Oliver Cromwell. Ely is an important tourist destination for day trips, and has a range of other attractions including the attractive riverside, the award winning Jubilee Gardens, Ely Country Park and Ely Museum. The city has undergone rapid growth in recent years, with a significant amount of new housing development on its north-western edge, and on a range of other ‘infill’ sites. However, employment, services, and infrastructure have not kept pace with the rising population. As a consequence there are high levels of out-commuting to jobs in London, Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, placing pressure on an overloaded transport infrastructure. One of the key challenges is to promote future commercial and employment growth to reduce this out-commuting. Ely is a compact city, with the medieval town layout still clearly evident. The city centre remains relatively healthy, with a good mix of retail, commercial and leisure, although some uses are in need of updating/expansion. However, the historic fabric limits opportunities for new development in the central area; some ‘edge of centre’ sites will therefore need to be developed.
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