Moving from Planning to Delivery Ground Prepared for Alconbury
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Key Phase 1 – moving Ground prepared for Latest from local Bringing you up-to- from planning to Alconbury Weald’s authority and date with the latest delivery first homes business partners community news Alconbury Weald Newsletter | Autumn 2015 Issue 4 Welcome to the fourth edition of our community 04 Planning into delivery newsletter. We’ve been incredibly busy moving the 08 Key Phase 1: A new site forward from planning into delivery and hope you community find this a useful catch up on our progress to date 10 Key Phase 1: A natural and plans for the next few months. setting 12 Contractor focus: As well as details on the first key phase of ProDem development at Alconbury Weald, this edition of the 14 The Club 15 Campus news newsletter provides an update from some of our 16 Partner update Campus tenants (page 15) and our local authority 18 Providing the EDGE and business partners (page 16-17). 20 In the community 22 Urban&Civic update As ever, it has also been fantastic working with and 24 Meet the team being part of the local community: supporting and hosting local events and activities – some of which are featured on page 20-21. We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and welcome any comments/suggestions for future editions. Very best wishes, Becca Rebecca Britton Communications, Communities & Partnerships E: [email protected] T: +44 (0)1480 413 141 / M: +44 (0)7739 339 889 www.alconbury-weald.co.uk | www.urbanandcivic.com Follow us on Twitter: @beccaU&C This is an exciting time for the project as it moves from the planning stage to delivery of the first new homes and further businesses on site: Key Phase 1. Tim Leathes Project Director, Urban&Civic Planning into delivery Autumn 2015 | 03 04 | Autumn 2015 Extensive work has been carried out to bring forward Part of this work includes Design Codes, developed the first phase of development at Alconbury Weald. in conjunction with the District Council’s planning So far £20m has been invested to clear the site, team, which provide a legally binding set of remediate the ground and prepare for the first new guidance for Urban&Civic, as well as all contractors homes and associated development. In addition, and housebuilders on site, to ensure the highest £5m of Government funding has supported the site levels of quality and consistency – of design, build, preparation for the first 70 acres of the Enterprise materials and finishes. The Code also sets standards Campus. for all aspects of the first phase of development, Specialist contractor Professional Demolition and including buildings, roads, footpaths/cycleways and Remediation (ProDem) and local firm J Breheny landscape. have carried out most of this work. Reserved matters for all new buildings on site, like ProDem used specialist equipment when breaking the school and new homes, need to be granted down hardened aircraft shelters and hardstanding permission by the local planning authority to help so that the concrete and steel removed could be bring forward a quality new community and recycled on site. Enterprise Campus at Alconbury Weald. J Breheny has reused 7,000 tonnes of crushed concrete produced by ProDem’s work to install 2,500m of kerbs, 50 gulleys, 90 manholes, 3,000m of plastic pipe and 350m of clay pipe. Alongside this preparation work, the team has been turning the outline planning permission granted in October 2014 into more detailed plans (submitted as reserved matters applications). Autumn 2015 | 05 BESPOKE BUILDINGS UPTO 47,000 SQ M (500,000 SQ FT) THE MID-TECH CAMPUS C B ● HCV ENTRANCE OFFICE A ZONE D Alconbury Weald is not just about building houses; it is about creating new communities. When establishing the location for the first new homes, we looked at the way settlements historically developed in the area and the facilities that should come forward in the first phase. They include: sports facilities; parks and open spaces; community facilities; access – a new secondary road; primary school; 1-2 retail units; and 80,000 sq m employment. Throughout Key Phase 1, we will be investing in: ● the expansion of local doctor’s surgery ● MAIN ENTRANCE ● local bus services ● new landscape, green space and tree planting ● pedestrian connections to the Great Fen through investment in local footpaths and bridleways ● new facilities for local sports clubs and residents ● the first community facility on site ● a temporary library/mobile library ● a Community Development Worker ● recording, securing and storing heritage assets on site for later display ● a new pedestrian and cycle access point to Huntingdon within the site ● the first Community Shop ● a Jobs Brokerage Scheme to help ensure that new jobs created on site go to local people. In addition, work to plan and agree the traffic calming and environmental enhancements for Ermine Street have already started in partnership discussions between Urban&Civic, Huntingdonshire DIstrict Council and the Stukeleys Parish Council. 0006 | AutumnSummer 2015 2013 A THE INCUBATOR B THE CLUB (DUE FOR COMPLETION WINTER 2015) C WWII WATCHTOWER/WATCH TOWER GREEN D CRICKET PITCH E PRIMARY SCHOOL (OPENING SEPTEMBER 2016) THE MID-TECH CAMPUS VILLAGE FIRST PHASE COMPLETE SUMMER 2016 E Summer Autumn 20132015 | 0007 A new community New Homes Site preparation, including infrastructure work, has started on Alconbury Weald’s first residential community. Urban&Civic has entered into a joint venture partnership with Hopkins Homes, an independent house builder working across East Anglia, to build the first 128 of the 897 homes within Phase 1. The high quality properties – ranging from two to five bedrooms – will provide a mix of sizes and styles that comply with the site’s Design Codes. These will be developed alongside retail, community space, sports and play provision, as well as the new primary school, to create a sustainable community that benefits new residents as well as the existing local community. Tim Leathes, Development Director for Urban&Civic, said: “This is good progress and keeps our delivery on track for the first homes at Alconbury Weald. Most importantly, in Hopkins Homes, we have found a partner who shares our commitment to high quality design. “I am also pleased that we have been able to work with a local housebuilder, who has a long term commitment to quality housing in the area and who is committed to supporting our jobs and skills targets through the construction process.” Hopkins Homes plays a key part in the supply chain and creates, supports and sustains many hundreds of jobs locally and regionally, both directly and indirectly, through its construction work. Simon Bryan, Development Director at Hopkins Homes, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Urban&Civic to build the first new houses at Alconbury Weald. The first phase will establish the gateway into the wider development. “All Hopkins Homes developments are founded on a commitment to excellent design and quality that reflects the tradition and character of each community.” The new entrance, off Ermine Street, was opened up in August but will not be in use until construction is completed in Summer 2016. 08 | Autumn 2015 A new community Primary School Throughout the planning process for a love of learning, achieve well and are The new primary school Alconbury Weald, all partners agreed encouraged to become successful that a primary school being on site early learners and responsible citizens. is going to be an amazing would be a real benefit to new residents “The school will act as a community place: great design, and the surrounding area. resource and the Diocese has already stunning setting, and an Following a rigorous selection process started talking to Urban&Civic about of four potential sponsors, the working with partners to promote integral part of the new administration of the new primary community cohesion and development. community. We are so school was awarded to the Diocese of “We believe that engaging with parents, Ely Multi Academy Trust. The Trust was pleased it will be opening carers and the wider community is vital particularly praised for its: to supporting the successful opening in September 2016, in ● leadership and governance of the school and we will hold regular time for the first children ● knowledge, experience and expertise consultation meetings with all partners to deliver and maintain high quality as the project progresses.” on site, but also at the teaching and learning The new primary school will have three heart of the whole new ● understanding and commitment to wings, located within extensive external supporting schools and partnership community. play space, which converge to create working in the locality a double-height school hall that will be Nigel Hugill ● detailed curriculum delivery plan accessible to the wider community out ● effective systems and processes to Chairman, Urban&Civic of school hours. monitor pupil progress and provide support to improve attainment in the The new primary school will be built in core subjects two phases. The first phase will provide ● robust mechanisms to deliver 420 places (with two forms for each improvements within a school. year) and 52 early years and childcare places. The core facilities such as the Tricia Pritchard, Director of Education hall will be designed and built large for the Diocese of Ely said: “We are enough to provide sufficient space for delighted to have been chosen to a three form entry school. sponsor a new inter-church primary school for Alconbury Weald. The school Work started on site in August and the will be designed around creating a first phase will be completed and open stimulating and supportive learning in time for the new school year in environment in which all pupils develop September 2016. Autumn 2015 | 09 A natural setting Key Phase 1 landscape and public realm works to support the delivery of the first new homes and primary school at Alconbury Weald have started.