DennySt.Francis
Preface
A vision is, by its very nature, ambitious. It should set goals high to encourage creative thinking and to avoid the creation of an ‘anywhere place’. Great Visions need robust delivery plans, and therefore attention to infrastructure planning and financial viability are critical ingredients for success.
This brochure describes the vision for Waterbeach New Town, one which is both aspirational and deliverable.
Our Vision for Waterbeach New Town is to create a largely self-sustaining new community. The scale of the proposed development - a population of perhaps 25,000 people - has the potential to deliver truly sustainable development, opening up opportunities to provide the full array of services and amenities that underpin all successful towns. This will represent a richer alternative to the more remote service provision of smaller extension projects. Where travel is required, the New Town is ideally located to ensure choice of outstanding sustainable travel modes both locally and further afield.
It is critical that the aspirations housed within the vision also focus on delivery, and that proposals remain technically and financially viable both now and in the future. With this in mind, the vision supportsthe commercial objectives of value creation through promoting a great place where people will aspire to live and work – a place that will therefore attract long-term investment and foster the emergence of an enterprising community. This requires a commitment to doing more than simply meeting housing targets. RLW are driven by long-term investment goals that are married to an overall design objective of beautiful place-making. This is very different to the traditional house-builder’s approach of build-sell-get out quick.
Waterbeach New Town will have a clear identity and a strong sense of community that will enhance long-term value. The vision proposed reflects this aim, engaging closely with the site’s existing character and overall landscape setting. The vision provides a framework for change which has the potential to guide each phase of development and create a unique identity. This allows Waterbeach New Town to respond to changing lifestyles and remain flexible to evolving community aspirations.
July 2017. Waterbeach New Town: future Community 1. 2. 3. Helping Cambridge and Helping to deliver a Creating a new community its sub-region retain well-connected city with a clear identity that its pre-eminence as a and sub-region through takes its references from world-leading centre for the provision of new history, past and present. knowledge, learning and sustainable transport research. infrastructure in a timely fashion based upon high quality cycle and rail corridors and supported by bus priority and frequency enhancements.
Waterbeach New Town can support Waterbeach New Town will provide high From the distant past Waterbeach New this objective through the creation ofa quality transport infrastructure and multi- Town reflects the historic settlement beautiful and diverse range of new living modal public transport systems. It will patterns on the Fen Edge. From more and working environments that are of also deliver new green infrastructure that recently, it reflects its military history and the highest quality, energy and resource supports cycle and pedestrian networks Waterbeach’s role in the 20th century. efficient, equipped for the digital future, across Cambridge and its sub-region, The masterplan will also respond to the and adaptable to climate change. It will connects and extends natural areas and site’s natural assets wherever possible, operate within the regional scale of areas of ecological importance, improves embedding waterbodies, mature trees and Greater Cambridge’s thriving economy recreational opportunities and encourages ditches into the structure of the new town. and will support a sustainable community healthy living. Homes will be provided for all ages and that is connected to employment areas in needs providing opportunities for existing central and north eastern Cambridge. and new families to stay close together whether they are moving out of home for the first time, upsizing, downsizing or retiring.
2 Waterbeach New Town: future Community Close to water
Close to nature
Close to history
Close to Cambridge
3 4 context location plan including Cambridge green belt Introduction
Background accommodating growth in the CSR is long established, from previous developments such as Bar Hill, Cambourne and currently Cambridgeshire is a predominantly rural county, with development Northstowe. focused on the City and in market towns and villages beyond. The pattern of development has been determined through planning policy stemming from the 1960’s when a Green Belt was The development concept for Waterbeach established around Cambridge, displacing development to rural New Town is borne out of that tradition locations. This was recognised to be an unsustainable pattern of growth. Although it protected the historic character of the City, it but differs in two key respects. Firstly, encouraged patterns of long-distance commuting to jobs inand it relies on a fundamentally different adjoining Cambridge from market towns and rural settlements in the Cambridge Sub-Region (CSR) and beyond. approach to delivery which will ensure that the delays which have hampered Since 2000 planning strategy for the sub-region had adopted a sequential approach to the location of housing and related other major developments are not developments which prioritises the built-up area of Cambridge, repeated in this case. Secondly, a multi- followed by sites on the periphery of Cambridge on land released from the Green Belt, and then a new settlement at Northstowe. modal transport strategy – harnessing the availability of rail as well as high Current government policy as set out in the National Planning Policy quality cycle opportunities - will result in Framework (the Framework) establishes a presumption in favour of sustainable development. Sustainability is a broad concept significantly enhanced transport linkages encompassing economic, social and environmental considerations. to key destinations in the city, including Applied to the particular physical characteristics of Cambridge and its nationally important growth potential, this policy adds importantly the employment opportunities greater emphasis to the established strategy of Cambridge-focused of the Northern Fringe. Waterbeach New housing growth. Town therefore provides an opportunity to The Framework is equally clear that Green Belt boundaries, once create a truly sustainable new community, defined, should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. A series of Green Belt releases have already been implemented which encompasses the economic, social through the current South Cambridgeshire Core Strategy and the and environmental aspects of sustainable Cambridge City Local Plan. There must therefore be a presumption development. against any further releases through the next plan period if the required permanence of the Green Belt is to be protected.
The concept of using planned new settlements as a means of 5 Introduction
Planning Context and Strategy can sometimes best be achieved through planning for larger scale development, such as new settlements or extensions to existing The proposal is formulated in the context of current planning villages and towns. It adds that, working with local communities, policy at national and local levels. National policy is provided by local authorities should consider whether such opportunities the National Planning Policy Framework (‘the Framework’) issued provide the best way of achieving sustainable development. in March 2012. As a proposal to deliver development over the next twenty years, the most relevant local policy is provided by the In pursuing its objective to secure strong and sustainable economic emerging South Cambridgeshire Local Plan. growth, the government has indicated that it attaches great importance to the use of surplus public sector land to encourage National Policy the provision of new homes and jobs.
The Framework identifies that the purpose of the planning system Local Policy is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, which encompasses three distinct dimensions: economic, social The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (as submitted) sets out and environmental and should be seen as a golden thread running a vision which will be secured through the achievement of the through both plan making and decision taking. The ideologies of following six key objectives; sustainable development are threefold; An economic role - contributing to building a strong, responsive • To support economic growth by supporting South and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient landof Cambridgeshire’s position as a world leader in research and the right type is available in the right places and at the right technology based industries, research, and education; and time to support growth and innovation; and by identifying and supporting the rural economy. coordinating development requirements, including the provision • To protect the character of South Cambridgeshire, including of infrastructure; its built and natural heritage, as well as protecting the A social role - supporting strong, vibrant and healthy communities, Cambridgeshire Green Belt. New development should enhance by providing the supply of housing required to meet the needs of the area, and protect and enhance biodiversity. present and future generations; and by creating a high quality • To provide land for housing in sustainable locations that meets built environment, with accessible local services that reflect the local need and aspirations, and gives choice about type, size, community’s needs and supports its health, social and cultural tenure and cost. well-being; and • To deliver new developments that are high quality and well- An environmental role - contributing to protecting and enhancing designed with distinctive character that reflects their location, our natural, built and historic environment; and, as part of this, and which responds robustly to the challenges of climate change. helping to improve biodiversity, use natural resources prudently, • To ensure that all new development provides or has access to minimise waste and pollution, and mitigate and adapt to climate a range of services and facilities that support healthy lifestyles change including moving to a low carbon economy. and well-being for everyone, including shops, schools, doctors, community buildings, cultural facilities, local open space, and The Framework sets out the Government’s overall objective to green infrastructure. boost significantly the supply of housing and recognises that this • To maximise potential for journeys to be undertaken by
6 sustainable modes of transport including walking, cycling, bus and Policy SS/5 also states “The new town will be founded on a train. comprehensive movement network for the whole town, that connects key locations including the town centre and relocated The proposed new settlement at Waterbeach has many similar railway station to encourage the use of sustainable modes of objectives and provides a number of opportunities which would travel…..” (Policy SS/5 part 11 as proposed to be modified). help fulfil the Council’s aims over the next 20 years and beyond. Part 17 of Policy SS/5 specifically concerns the proposed One of the key issues for the Local Plan is to establish a clear Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). It states that the sustainable development strategy, in line with the 12 Core Planning requirements to be fulfilled by the SPD include: Principles set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. This • “An overarching high level vision for the new town” is reflected in various policies which include Policy S/3 which • “The broad location of the components of the new town mirrors the Government’s presumption in favour of sustainable which are essential to support comprehensive and seamless development. development….” (Policy SS/5 part 17 as proposed to be modified) Policy SS/5 sets out development principles for the Waterbeach New Town as regards capacity, phasing, design and infrastructure. It is therefore clear that development proposals that are brought The Council are seeking that a detailed development framework is forward must be in accordance with these key requirements for: established through a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for • A comprehensive movement network that connects key adoption in early 2018. locations • Provision for comprehensive development of the site as a The policy emphasises the aim to deliver an example of excellence whole in sustainable development and healthier living as well as high • Provision for essential services, facilities and infrastructure to quality public transport links to Cambridge. It contains a full range be provided in a comprehensive and seamless manner of land uses to be developed in a manner that maintains the identity of Waterbeach as a village close to the new town. Policy SS/5 also requires that Waterbeach be “an example of excellence in sustainable development” with “high quality public Whilst the Council envisages that the new town will deliver transport links to Cambridge including a relocated railway station approximately 8,000 to 9,000 dwellings, the final number is to be to enable a high modal share of travel by means other than the determined via the SPD. Likewise, there remains flexibility over the car” (Policy SS/5 part 4 as proposed to be modified) timing of development.
Policy SS/5 states, among its provisions, that “the delivery of the new town, including any individual phases, must: This Vision document sets out RLW’s • “Be in accordance with the spatial framework diagram set approach and principles to deliver out in the Supplementary Planning Document to ensure a comprehensive development of the site as a whole that will a comprehensive and seamless not prejudice the creation of a fully functioning and successful development at Waterbeach. new town.” • “Plan for essential services, facilities and infrastructure to be provided in a comprehensive manner…….” (Policy SS/5 part 16 as proposed to be modified)
7 Spatial Context
A strategic location The theme of complementary existence sits well within the knowledge-economy logic of mutually beneficial synergies and has The proposed site for Waterbeach New Town is entirely within thus been translated into the vision’s approach to service provision. South Cambridgeshire District Council’s boundary, located Once again, the New Settlement would provide its residents with approximately 6 km north of the urban edge of Cambridge. The everything necessary for day to day living at the same time as site is positioned between the A10, which defines its western maximising connections to the higher order retail and cultural boundary, and the Cambridge to Ely railway line, which marks its offerings of the nearby Cambridge, Ely and Newmarket. Sucha extent to the east. It lies immediately to the north of the existing design allows Waterbeach New Town to sit comfortably within this village of Waterbeach, and, in turn, immediately beyond the outer picturesque landscape. edge of the Green Belt that surrounds the City of Cambridge. Excellent transport links The vision for Waterbeach New Town is The site of Waterbeach New Town enjoys a wealth of public one of complementary self-sustainability, transport connections to local, regional and national destinations. with the site strategically located to Moreover, easy access to both London Kings Cross St Pancras and Stansted Airport place the site strategically for international travel. allow a new community to thrive within Finally, the sites proximity to the A10 provides strategic links via Cambridgeshire’s vibrant knowledge- the A14 and M11 to the north, south, east and west.
economy. One key element of the proposals is that those living or working in the new settlement will have easy access to a frequent and high Immediate proximity to the historic City of Cambridge, world- quality rail service. This will be provided through a modern new renowned as a centre of academic excellence and a key engine railway station within the site to serve the existing village and new of the British knowledge-economy, Waterbeach New Town and residents. A second key element will be attractive provision for its residents and employers will be well placed to profit from the walking and cycling which will be built into the New Town from areas attraction to major Research and Development employers. the outset. An attractive and comprehensive network of dedicated Moreover, the new settlement is located close to the Cambridge cycle lanes will link all key destinations including the railway Science Park, a major local employment centre easily accessible by station. This network coupled with improvements in off site cycle the proposed public transport enhancements to be delivered by the routes will make it more attractive to cycle into Cambridge from new settlement and just a 15 minute journey by cycle. Meanwhile Waterbeach and the surrounding areas. Finally, the new town the provision of additional on-site employment opportunities will will have the ability to readily link with the Cambridgeshire bus maintain the community’s status as significantly self-contained, routes, achieved both by interchange at Cambridge North and at the same time as ensuring the new settlement will contribute Cambridge Stations, as well as bus priority measures on the A10 sustainably to the current shortfall of homes relative to jobs in the with increased bus frequencies. sub-region.
8 Train Links (Inc. connection times)
Waterbeach to Cambridge North 05 mins
Waterbeach to Cambridge 09 mins
Waterbeach to Ely 09 mins
Cambridge to London 54 mins
Cambridge to Stansted Airport 30 mins
Bus Links Waterbeach to Cambridge Science Park 05/10 mins
Waterbeach to Cambridge (Drummer Street) 24 mins
Waterbeach to Ely (Market Street) 29 mins
Cycle Links Waterbeach to Cambridge Science Park 15 mins
Waterbeach to Cambridge (Drummer Street) 40 mins
public transport connections 9 10 topography and settlement pattern plan Spatial Context
Historic settlement patterns - the the site’s heritage again linking the past and the present. influence of topography and proximity of water Water will play a critical part in integrating development into the landscape whether it is the cultural and leisure uses focussed The vision for Waterbeach New Town casts its eye forward whilst around significant waterbodies such as the existing lake in the also celebrating the area’s rich cultural and landscape heritage. airfield or the introduction and widening of drains into lodes which This approach allows the design to build sympathetically upon the will provide the setting for new fen edge neighbourhoods in the existing landscape character in terms of urban form, tree planting east making it possible to read the underlying landscape. and fenland vegetation.
Historically, the settlement pattern of the surrounding landscape responded to topographic and drainage constraints imposed by the fens, with settlement’s traditionally constructed on higher islands, which contrasts in character and development potential with the un-drained peat of the fens. Distinctive landscape features in the proximity of the site demonstrate this pattern and inspired its reinterpretation as a design theme for the overall vision.
Areas towards the east of the site, on the fen edge, would have been adjacent to wet-peat fen in medieval times, with Denny Abbey’s monastic settlement isolated on dry islands at the fen edge. The medieval village of Waterbeach is at the edge of a spur of drier land extending into the fens from Cambridge. Similarly, to the North, Ely Cathedral was also located on an elevated dry island. Set within a context of a permanently wet landscape the communities connected through a network of causeways.
The concept of linking a series of neighbourhoods (or islands), each with their own distinctive character, identity and landmarks, is evident in the vision for Waterbeach New Town. Historic causeways will be uncovered to reconnect these neighbourhoods and views to historic landmarks including Ely Cathedral will be carefully framed setting up a dynamic relationship between the existing landmarks and the new settlement, offering a symbolic bridge between the old and the new. The character of the barracks area is reflected back through a layout that could retain buildings of importance and the linear campus arrangement tells a story of
11 Spatial Context
Green Infrastructure links The site will provide a complementary The vision for Waterbeach New Town reframes the site’s sensitive nature as a key opportunity, formulating a sophisticated design mix of habitat creation and recreational response reflective of the Green Infrastructure aspirations facilities; indeed it considers these two articulated in the overarching Cambridge Horizons Green Infrastructure Strategy (2011). aspects as mutually reinforcing.
Formulated in partnership with six local authorities, English Significantly, the site will provide an opportunity for much needed Heritage, the National Trust, the Environmental Agency, Natural fen restoration works. Having suffered a bio-diversity decline England, The Forestry Commission England, Cambridge Past based on the loss of traditional management practices, unreliable Present and Future, and the Wildlife Trust, the Green Infrastructure water supplies and fen isolation, our proposal is that Waterbeach Strategy (2011) challenged future development to ‘make the New Town will contribute to a broader fen restoration movement county a better place for people to live, work and enjoy whilst stitching the development into the fabric of Cambridgeshire’s improving and increasing habitats for wildlife’. evolution towards a sustainable future.
Picking up this challenge the new settlement’s vision of Similarly, the site’s close location to Denny Abbey offers the sustainability integrates a network of green spaces and corridors, potential for the site to evolve as a conduit through which not to mention public cycle paths and footways, organically recreational cycle paths and footways might better access the throughout the design. historic site. This, coupled with an enthusiasm to open up the development’s internal facilities for use by adjacent communities, will develop Waterbeach New Town into a socio-cultural hub, drawing vibrancy from increased footfall, and providing the region with a real asset.
12 green infrastructure plan 13 (building on Cambridge Horizons Strategy) The Vision
14 The vision for Waterbeach New Town seeks to recreate the benefits of older patterns of development and living that were more in tune with natural systems. This focuses on delivering a high quality environment to live, work and play in; promoting health and well- being and a high quality of life for all.
view along Bannold Drove
15 the existing grid pattern of roads and is supplemented by the The Vision inclusion of gardens, squares and areas of formal tree planting. The campus area also acts as a threshold between the new settlement and Waterbeach Village, preserving it’s character and integrity The Concept whilst promoting integration.
Apart from demonstrating the technical capability of a site to The characterisation of the site is helpful in demonstrating how the accommodate growth, a fundamental factor in delivering a different constraints and opportunities inherent in each part of the successful new settlement on the ground is to set out a strong vision site are used to develop a very rich and contrasting design response, at the early stages of the development. The success of the vision each one being uniquely legible. can be measured by its ability to guide the development process at every stage, and the clarity with which it brings to life the aspirations A zone of higher density housing and reduced traffic will connect for a place that will emerge and succeed in its own right. the lake, town centre and station. This zone will span and connect the three character areas, it will draw together the main mixed use The concept for the new settlement seeks areas and play a significant part in defining the experience of living in Waterbeach New Town. to bring the built form and landscape together as one integrated whole, creating Linked neighbourhoods distinctive character areas that are in touch The emerging concept plan for Waterbeach New Town uses the with the landscape and specific to their requirements from the Local Plan as the starting point. These set out the need for a new community with its own identity and a context. sympathetic and appropriate relationship with Waterbeach Village As with most things, this is not an entirely new concept, but holistic and Denny Abbey. masterplanning driven by this concept will allow the new settlement to recreate the benefits of older patterns of development and Waterbeach will grow and develop as an existing place rather than habitation that were more in tune with natural systems. The attempt to create somewhere entirely new and separate. New and concept takes influence from the surrounding landscape. This has existing neighbourhoods will each have their own character, identity identified three different conditions on the site that suggest three and qualities. The new town will have a different character to the distinct character areas could promote a positive and distinctive existing village defined by the character areas described above and design responses to the specific landscape and visual sensitivities of within them there will be distinct neighbourhoods which converge the local context: around the new town centre and train station. • To the north - a parkland and lakeside character that is shaped by the large blocks of existing woodland, localised landform, the The new town will have a separate vehicular access to the A10 existing lake and other waterbodies, the need to retain meadow but the new settlement and the existing village will be linked by and grassland identified in the ecological survey and the presence attractive and historic causeways experienced on foot, bike or public beyond the site of Denny Abbey ; transport as a sequence or chain of activities and places. The design • To the east – the Fen Edge characterised by the drainage and of these routes will be critical to how the relationship between the field pattern, flat and low-lying topography, ditches and boundaries settlement and the existing village is perceived on the ground and that are largely orientated from the middle of the site pointing east in allowing each neighbourhood to benefit from the advantages and beyond to the Fens proper; (social, economic, recreational, educational, cultural etc.) that the • To the south – the barracks, which is almost campus-like in its others can offer. arrangements of buildings and structures, orientates itself around
16 the development concept
17 The Vision
A Flexible Framework 577.65ha site area 238ha net development After identifying the constraints and considering the outputs of technical studies the vision for the new settlement has been approximately 11,000 new homes translated into a robust, yet flexible framework. This framework is New jobs based on exploring creative solutions to constraints and converting opportunities into place-making moves that will create a great 4 primary + 2 secondary schools place to live, work, play and learn. New train station
The framework developed embodies the key concepts behind the Park & ride vision and sets out a structure that will underpin the development High quality bus transit and drive change over many phases of development. Critically, the framework plan considers a site wide approach to ensure Post 16 college comprehensive planning for the new settlement. Special Education Needs School
Capacity Key Water & SUDS
Waterbeach New Town is a truly mixed use proposal which Open space delivers the infrastructure and day to day services required in any successful town. This includes approximately 11000 new homes, 2 Open space within ‘Fen Edge‘ secondary schools and 4 primary schools. A mixed use centre with character area shops and services is located centrally within the development to Development area within ‘Fen Edge‘ maximise accessibility by foot and cycle. Development area within ‘Parkland‘
Employment floor space is provided to generate new jobs for the Development area within new residents. This will comprise small scale employment space ‘Barracks‘ integrated in with other development but focussed around the new train station and community centres. Woodland Location of main community The new settlement is integrated with the existing landscape by a facilities comprehensive network of parks and green corridors incorporating Area with potential for reduced existing natural features such as lakes, ditches and woodland. This traffic framework will serve a variety of purposes, delivering drainage, Location of school sites movement, biodiversity and amenity functions. Key green infrastructure and cycling routes
Primary road
High quality bus route 18 1. Cultural centre
2.1 Rail based park & ride
2.2 Parking for Village
3. Retail centre
4. Proposed train station
SS. Secondary school site
6. Playing pitches
PS. Primary school site
SF. Post 16 college
SN. Special Education Needs school site
illustrative development framework 19 The Barracks
20 21 Fen Edge
22 23 Parklands
24 25 The Vision
Transport Strategy The off site improvements will also include: The new settlement will be a place where people use sustainable • Localised capacity and safety improvements to the A10 south modes of transport in preference to the private car. of Waterbeach to provide cycle and bus priority to the south of the A14. On-site Movement • High quality cycle routes south towards Cambridge connecting Walking and cycling will be promoted as the primary modes of to Cambridge North Station and Cambridge Science Park. transport within the new settlement, with shorter more direct • Promotion of improved bus services at Cambridge and links provided than for private car. The plan opposite shows a Cambridge North station to encourage rail as major mode of comprehensive network of routes where dedicated cycle routes travel for the new settlement. will be provided to ensure that all key destinations are linked via attractive and free flowing cycle routes. Car parking willbe All off-site and on-site infrastructure will be designed to attract provided at appropriate levels but not always at the front door, existing trips on the wider network away from the private car and instead strategies which employ community parking facilities will on to more sustainable and manageable modes of transport. be tested. Central areas will be car-free zones or reduced traffic zones and elsewhere pedestrians and cyclists will have priority These transport improvements would on traffic-calmed streets with low speed limits of 20mph. Secure cycle parking will be provided throughout the development. In enhance the connectivity of the proposed particular, cycle parking at the rail station and near bus stops will new settlement with Cambridge, and encourage multi-modal trips into and out of the new settlement. Links to the wider pedestrian / cycle network will be provided, would support the sustainability vision for including commuter routes and leisure routes across the River the site. Cam. Cycle hire facilities will be provided and a cycle hub at the railway station.
Off-site Improvements The transport strategy being developed for the new settlement seeks to minimise the impact on the strategic road network, including the A14. A new railway station is proposed to serve both the new settlement and Waterbeach, replacing the existing Waterbeach Station. Commuters from the north will be encouraged to use the new park and ride facility at the relocated station. Provision will be made for existing Waterbeach passengers to access the new station. Regular bus services will be enhanced and a local bus service provided to serve the new settlement and Waterbeach. There will be a bus stop within 500m of 96% of the new homes proposed.
26 Key:
Key cycle routes
Primary road network
Station park and ride
High quality bus routes
Off site cycle routes
Area with potential for reduced traffic
A10
Railway Station
transport and connectivity strategy 27 The Vision
Employment and Cultural Links
Waterbeach New Town will be closely related to Cambridge in employment and cultural terms, yet it will also have a distinctive life in its own right. Excellent transport links will support the Cambridge economy.
Conscious to avoid developing Waterbeach New Town into a dormitory town - our proposals include ground-breaking ideas to foster the emergence of an innovative Enterprising Community.
This will encourage home-working, small business development and start-ups, as well as good linkages to existing and emerging Sketch illustrating potential integration of small scale employment local employment areas. The Enterprising Community will be and residential areas IMAGE © CREDIT HALDANEMARTIN centred around a proposed new work hub within the town centre and train station quarter, which will provide a wide range of business support facilities. It will be linked with a café and flexible community space to ensure it has a strong social identity and role. Small scale local retail facilities will be provided in addition to small scale employment space, workshops and community provision. This investment will create a more vibrant community held together by local economic links and a more sustainable community in which movement patterns are internalised as far as possible. Bringing nature into the plan
Waterbeach New Town provides the opportunity to deliver significant areas of higher quality habitat that link up with existing areas. These will be managed in the long term in order to deliver a net gain in biodiversity and bring wilder and natural areas right into the new neighbourhoods as part of a linked, multifunctional green network which will be a visible and ever present feature of living in Waterbeach.
28 Sustainable Lifestyles
Sustainable development has entered a new phase, moving above and beyond earlier efforts to address the impact of built development in terms of building performance, energy use and so on. Exemplar projects initiated a step-change in the field, setting new, more demanding standards for sustainable development, and establishing these principles as part of the mainstream. The next step on this journey towards truly sustainable development requires a more holistic approach driven by a desire to create great places that can encourage sustainable lifestyles in environmental, social and economic spheres.
The vision for Waterbeach New Town aims to create a place that takes into account resource use, living patterns, quality of life, business and enterprise, education, recreation, community, and a reduction in the overall environmental footprint of development.
Integrating the built form and landscape design into a cohesive whole, this vision opens up new opportunities to reduce environmental impact at the same time as improving the quality of life for residents of the new settlement and surrounding area.
The vision for Waterbeach New Town therefore focuses on creating a stunning landscape setting enjoyed and cherished by all.
A strong landscape framework will put buildings and the community in touch with their environment. The landscape will become a valuable asset, providing a range of recreational opportunities necessary to community vitality on its very doorstep. Moreover, drawing landscape elements into the heart of Waterbeach New Town will stimulate value increase with properties afforded stunning views across the new landscape.
The vision and framework leave sufficient flexibility for the plans to adapt to new technologies in the future, for example it is conceivable that autonomous vehicles will become more widespread during the build out of the new town and the detail layout of the streets and blocks will need to allow for this.
a cultural centre overlooking existing lake puts 29 people in touch with nature The Vision
A successful settlement needs a clearly identifiable centre which people can enjoy and take pride in.
The centre for Waterbeach New Town will consist of three linked areas that will form the heart of the community; each have their own clearly defined character and purpose and they are linked by a central area of higher density tying them together along with a zone of reduced traffic. These centres comprise:
• Town Centre: A Retail and Community Centre – Placed within the traffic calmed area, this centre will offer a safe and busy place to meet, play, relax, shop, eat, drink and, most importantly, interact through social exchanges. It will build on the existing character of the Barracks, and is purposely located to take advantage of the existing community uses which are already emerging here. It offers potential for strong and attractive links to the existing village through the main Barracks entrance - delivering on the concept of linked neighbourhoods. • Lakeside: A Leisure and Cultural Centre – Benefiting from strong links to Denny Abbey and a stunning lakeside setting, the Cultural Centre will be anchored to the heritage of the site and will be a beautiful and unique opportunity for Waterbeach. • Station Quarter – A mix of uses including work hub, small scale retail and a zone of higher density housing focussed around transport interchange and new ‘station square’ - a high quality public space in front of the new station building. The Station too plays a critical role in bringing together the all the neighbourhoods of Waterbeach.
The combination of these three areas comprise the centre for Waterbeach New Town and build on the concept of linked neighbourhoods, they offer the socio-economic keystone capable of unlocking the potential of Waterbeach to grow and flourish as a truly sustainable community. They will be supported by further local centres to the north which will provide small scale retail and community uses and will be co-located with the primary schools.
30 Town Centre
31 Cultural Centre
32 33 Station Quarter
34 To Town Centre
To Waterbeach village
Bannold Drove
Station Square
Modern station
35 Aerial Sketch overlooking the modern railway station Delivering The Vision
Strategic Phasing & Implementation Delivery of a housing product that is in keeping with the aspirations of the vision will have a wide market appeal. For The development of Waterbeach New Town would be a this reason residential take-up rates may be greater than those considerable undertaking to be delivered over many years. The traditionally associated with new settlements. To help support development framework therefore needs to retain a degree this it is proposed that the first phases will include homes of flexibility to allow delivery on the ground to continue under delivered across all three of the principal character areas, a variety of market conditions which might require differing bringing a range and choice of housing to the market. delivery approaches. A strong concept from the outset underpins this flexible framework within which development can take place Later phases in more sensitive locations along the northern edge over many years. will benefit from advanced landscaping and planting strategies to protect and enhance the setting of Denny Abbey. Early phases will seek to exploit the public transport services provided by timely investment in infrastructure. Development will be focussed around the new station, town centre and New railway station lakeside, this approach will establish the quality of place and value generating elements from the outset and develop the New station access road and park relationship with the communities of the existing village. Delivery and ride of these place-making elements alongside delivery of sustainable travel infrastructure is a key part of delivering this vision. Around 1500-2000 homes Access to the A10 via either It is envisaged that early phases will focus on delivering a primary the northern (A) or southern(B) access road to serve development parcels and provide access to the new railway station. The railway station and a rail based park entrance and ride will be provided early to capture private car trips heading Pedestrian and cycle links south on the A10 which along with implementation of key cycle infrastructure will establish sustainable travel choices from the established outset and become synonymous part of living in Waterbeach First primary school New Town. Open spaces and parks around the lake, railway station and Barracks Small scale work space and work hubs at the town centre and station established Gradual re-use and refurbishment of the Barracks area
36 PHASE 4 - YEARS 17 TO 21
Phase one plan 37