Solar Car Ports, Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub, Alconbury Weald Planning Statement

Cambridgeshire County Council Cambridgeshire County December 2020 Council Civic Hub

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 2 Background – Alconbury Weald ...... 2 Current Application Submission – Solar Car Ports ...... 3 Reconciliation of Civic Hub and Solar Car Ports Planning Applications ...... 7 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT ...... 10 Site Location ...... 10 Site Context ...... 10 3.0 PLANNING HISTORY ...... 13 Alconbury Weald Outline Planning Permission ...... 13 Reserved Matters Submissions ...... 13 Other Planning Permissions Pertinent to the Current Submission ...... 14 4.0 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT ...... 16 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2019 ...... 16 Local Planning Policy ...... 17 Supplementary Planning Guidance and Documents (SPG/SPD) ...... 18 5.0 STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ...... 20 Planning Policy and Guidance...... 20 Approach to Consultation ...... 20 Feedback received ...... 21 Response to feedback...... 22 6.0 ASSESSMENT ...... 25 Principle of Development ...... 25 Detailed Design ...... 25 Landscaping and Landscape Impact ...... 27 Heritage...... 29 Ecology and Trees ...... 29 Sustainability and Energy ...... 30 Flood Risk and Drainage ...... 31 Transport ...... 32 Amenity ...... 32 Construction Management (including Construction Waste) ...... 34 Legal Agreement ...... 34 7.0 CONCLUSION ...... 35

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 This Planning Statement has been prepared by David Lock Associates (DLA) on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) and is submitted in support of a Regulation 3 planning application for the erection of four solar car ports and associated works to the rear of the new CCC Civic Hub at Alconbury Weald. A site location plan is provided in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1 – Site Location Plan

Background – Alconbury Weald

1.2 The Site falls within Alconbury Weald, a mixed-use development being developed by Urban&Civic. Alconbury Weald is located about 5km north east of Alconbury Village and to the north and west of the Stukeleys. It comprises approximately 580 hectares (mainly the former Alconbury Airfield) and is located north west of Huntingdon town centre in the north of Cambridgeshire within Huntingdonshire District.

1.3 In October 2014 Outline Planning Permission was granted for the development of Alconbury Weald. The permission permits:

• up to 5,000 dwellings including sheltered/extra care accommodation;

• up to 290,000 sq m of employment floorspace;

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

• hub and neighbourhood facilities featuring retail, commercial, leisure, health, church and community uses;

• non-residential institutions including primary schools, nurseries and a secondary school together with land reserved for post 16 education provision;

• open spaces, woodlands and a sports provision;

• a heritage area and retention of listed buildings;

• new vehicular access points from Ermine Street and the A141 with other non- vehicular access points;

• associated facilities and infrastructure comprising utilities including gas, electricity, water, sewerage and telecommunications, energy centres, a water tower, highway improvements and diversion to existing utilities where necessary;

• a reserve site for a railway station and ancillary uses; and

• associated demolition and groundworks.

1.4 Due to the scale and complexity of delivering the Alconbury Weald site, the Outline Planning Permission has been structured to facilitate a phased approach to implementation with flexibility to determine the extent, components and location of ‘Key Phases’ (within the parameters of the outline consent) as delivery of the scheme progresses.

1.5 Each Key Phase of development will be supported by a sequence of submissions to the local planning authority, structured into three ‘tiers’, to provide a progressive layering of increasingly detailed information, from the over-arching and site wide (Tier 1), through substantive key phases (Tier 2) to detailed reserved matters submissions within sub-phases and on individual development sites (‘reserved matters areas’) (Tier 3).

Current Application Submission – Solar Car Ports

1.6 The development proposed is described as follows:

Erection of four solar car ports and ancillary equipment in the rear car park of the Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub, soft landscaping proposals, external lighting, and all associated works.

1.7 A Regulation 3 planning application for the CCC Civic Hub (ref: H/5005/19/CC) was approved by CCC on 12 September 2019. It is currently being built on site. Two non- material amendment (NMA) applications have been submitted for minor changes to the original development:

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

• NMA application CCC/20/036/NMW, comprising a reduction to the entrance canopy projection by approx. 2.5m to the front (south) elevation. This was approved on 11 June 2020; and

• NMA application CCC/20/068/NMW, comprising minor changes to the landscaping and layout of the car part of the rear of the Civic Hub including an ASHP enclosure; and additional flagpole to the front of the building; and the removal of planters and seating to the entrance courtyard. This was approved on 9 December 2020.

1.8 The Civic Hub is located within the emerging commercial quarter of the first Key Phase at Alconbury Weald in what is a prominent position adjacent to the Boulevard and the Cricket park area. It comprises a two-storey building with a curved footprint and landscaping to the front and rear. The main car parking area is located to the rear of the Civic Hub and this is the proposed location of the solar car ports.

1.9 The planning application for the Civic Hub was considered by Cambridgeshire’s Quality Panel. Its recommendations included a suggestion that ideas should be developed ‘around photovoltaic parks to provide cooling shade in the summer whilst capturing solar electricity’. The current application proposals respond positively to the Quality Panel’s suggestion.

1.10 The four solar car ports are positioned over the car parking spaces approved for the Civic Hub. The height of the proposed installations is up to 4.5m. No changes are proposed to the operation or capacity of the car park permitted under planning permission H/5005/19/CC (as amended).

1.11 The energy generated from the car ports is in addition to the energy to be generated from the photovoltaic panels that are to be located on the roof of the Civic Hub under the existing planning permission and associated condition-discharge applications.

1.12 The immediate context of the proposals includes the Civic Hub to the south and the iMet building to the south-west. These are both large-scale buildings that exceed the height of the solar car ports and mean that the proposed structures are not readily visibility to the public.

1.13 A stand-alone application for planning permission (Regulation 3) has been submitted for the solar car ports in order to allow planning permission H/5005/19/CC (as amended) to progress without ambiguity.

1.14 As noted above, the site is located within the ‘Key Phase 1 (KP1)’ of the wider Alconbury Weald site, which in its current approved form is 107.6 ha in size. A Key Phase 1 Framework has been approved by the LPA under application 14/08285/COND. The documents approved include a KP1 Regulatory Plan and Design Code. An updated KP1 Definition and Framework

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

has recently been approved by HDC under application 19/80094/COND. The updated Design Code makes no material changes to the part of KP1 that includes the Civic Hub.

1.15 Whilst submitted as a full planning application, the Proposed Development is aligned with, and will be considered against, the principles and environmental approach of the Outline Planning Permission in particular the design requirements of the KP1 Design Code.

1.16 For this reason, this report, and the documents enclosed with the application submission make reference to the planning framework provided by Outline Planning Permission and the KP1 Design Code, together with relevant National, CCC and HDC policies and guidance.

1.17 This application comprises the following submission documents:

• Covering Letter;

• Planning Application Fee of £14,784.00;

• Application Form including Ownership Certificate;

• CIL additional questions form;

• Local Authority Development Letter;

• Site Location Plan;

• Drawings (see below);

• Planning Statement (which also covers heritage and transport matters, and provides the Statement of Community Involvement);

• Design and Access Statement;

• Glint and Glare Study;

• Cambridgeshire Biodiversity Checklist;

• Ecological Verification Statement;

• Soft Landscape Specification;

• 5 Year Landscape and Ecology Maintenance and Management Plan;

• Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP);

• Alconbury Weald Employment Area Contamination Schedule;

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

• Remedial Strategy;

• Lighting Report; and

• Water Compliance Statement (covering flood risk and surface water drainage).

1.18 The submitted planning application seeks approval in detail for the solar car ports and associated works, including amendments to the landscaping approved under the Civic Hub planning permission. The table below provides details of the drawings enclosed with the application submission, and the information they provide.

Drawing Title Reference Rev Information provided 1 Site Location BOU001/001 - The location of the site including access to Plan the public highway 2 Landscape BMD.18.038.DR.P101 G This is the landscape general arrangement Masterplan drawing approved under NMA application General CCC/20/068/NMW. The layout provides Arrangement the baseline for the Solar Car Ports proposals. It is submitted for information only. 3 Ground Level CCC-ALCO MLM ZZ XX P05 This shows the location of the structural GA DR S 0110 steel posts supporting the solar car port canopies. 4 Electrical CCC-ALCO-BARR-ZZ- P02 This shows the positions of feeder pillars Services XX-0110-P02 at ground level and inverters that are Layout mounted to the solar car port canopy columns (not at ground level). Elevations of the equipment are also provided. 5 Solar Canopy CCC-ALCO MLM ZZ XX P01 This is a roof plan showing the solar car General DR S 0120 port canopies in the context of the rear Arrangement car park to the Civic Hub. 6 Solar Car Port CCC-ALCO MLM ZZ XX P06 This shows the position of luminaires Structure DR S 0100 attached to the underside structure of the General solar car port canopies (details of the Arrangement luminaires are provided in the lighting report enclosed with the application submission). The location of the inverters (one per canopy) is also shown together with a section drawing showing their position on the canopy columns. 7 Solar Car Port CCC-ALCO MLM ZZ ZZ P04 This provides details of the solar car port Details DR S 1000 canopies, including a solar panel detail, the supporting structure to the underside of the canopies, and the supporting columns and purlins. 8 Landscape BMD.18.038.DR.P101 A This shows the proposed work at ground Masterplan level in the context of the landscape General masterplan for the site. Arrangement 9 Planting Plan BMD.18.038.DR.301 A This shows the proposed planting. 10 Staff Amenity BMD.18.038.DR.103 - This is provided as supplementary Space General information and to reflect the landscape Arrangement drawings approved for the Civic Hub. 11 Tree Pit Details BMD.18.038.DR.P501 - This is provided as supplementary 1 information and to reflect the landscape drawings approved for the Civic Hub.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

12 Tree Pit Details BMD.18.038.DR.502 - This is provided as supplementary 2 information and to reflect the landscape drawings approved for the Civic Hub.

1.19 This Planning Statement provides an overview of the site, its relevant history and planning context in which the proposed development sits. It describes the proposal and its relationship with the surrounding area, assesses the proposals against relevant planning criteria and sets out the evolution and suitability of the specific design against both planning policy and design criteria approved within the Outline Planning Permission. It also sets out how the proposals reflect the Key Phase 1 Design Code and Regulatory Plan.

1.20 The Planning Statement is structured as follows:

• Section 2 ‘Site Description and Context’ sets out a description of the site, considers the site in its context and provides an overview of its history;

• Section 3 ‘Planning History’ considers the planning history relevant to the application;

• Section 4 ‘Planning Policy and Guidance’ considers the planning policy relevant to the application and evaluates its relationship with the proposed development;

• Section 5 ‘Statement of Community Involvement’ provides an overview of the community engagement activities that have informed the application submission;

• Section 6 ‘Assessment’ considers the application proposals in the context of planning policy and the Outline Planning Permission for the wider site; and

• Section 7 ‘Conclusions’ provides our conclusions on the proposed development.

Reconciliation of Civic Hub and Solar Car Ports Planning Applications

1.21 Two contractors are working separately on the Civic Hub and Solar Car Ports proposals. For this reason it is important to ensure that both developments can be implemented independently, and also that there are no conflicts or overlaps between the applications.

1.22 CCC has recently approved NMA application CCC/20/068/NMW, which amends the original Regulation 3 Planning Permission for the Civic Hub, ref: H/5005/19/CC. The NMA includes minor changes to the landscaping and layout of the car park to the rear of the Civic Hub. This layout provides the baseline for the Solar Car Ports proposals, which comprise the following works overlaid on the NMA layout:

1. The car port structures;

2. One feeder pillar in each landscape bay beneath the car port structures;

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

3. Changes to some of the external lighting proposed in the Civic Hub permission (as amended). Some lighting would not be installed and instead would be replaced with new lighting attached to the car ports;

4. The relocation of two electric vehicle charging points and associated equipment proposed in the Civic Hub permission (as amended). This is necessary to avoid a conflict with one of the steel supporting posts to the Solar Car Ports;

5. Changes to the planting approved under the Civic Hub permissions. The planting to the landscape bays beneath the car ports is proposed to be changed to comprise shade tolerant species. No changes would be made to the layout of the landscape bays proposed under the NMA. Additional amenity grassland is also proposed in the wider site.

1.23 Items 1 and 2 are additions that would not affect the underlying Civic Hub scheme, and for this reason there would be no overlap between the permissions.

1.24 Item 3 and 4 would potentially conflict with the Civic Hub permission, as conditions attached to the permission require the car park and external lighting to be implemented in accordance with approved drawings attached to the permission. However, the drawings approved under NMA application CCC/20/068/NMW include annotations setting out that some of the external lighting and the electric vehicle charging points shown on the NMA drawings may not be installed as shown in the event of an application for solar car ports being approved and installed. These annotations ensure that the Civic Hub permission is flexible with regard to external lighting and the electric vehicle charging points and can accommodate the changes proposed in the Solar Car Ports application without any conflict between the applications.

1.25 Item 5 is also likely to represent a conflict as the Civic Hub permission includes an approved planting plan. However, Condition 21 of the permission states:

If within a period of five years from the date of the planting any tree, shrub, hedging or seeding fails or is removed other than in accordance with the approved details, that tree, shrub, hedging or seeding, or any planted in replacement for it, is removed, uprooted or destroyed or dies, it shall be replaced by like for like replanting at the same place, unless the County Planning Authority has given prior written consent for any variation. [our emphasis]

1.26 We are of the view that this condition allows planting variations if written consent is given by the County Planning Authority. It has been agreed with CCC that the issue of a planning permission for the solar car ports (including revised planting) would represent such written consent, again ensuring no conflict between the applications.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

1.27 The approach to reconciling the applications that is set out above prevents conflicts between the Civic Hub and Solar Car Port applications should the car ports be installed, but would equally cover the eventuality that the car ports are not installed and the Civic Hub site is implemented as shown in the recently approved NMA to the Civic Hub planning permission.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT

2.1 This section of the Planning Statement provides an overview of the site in terms of its location and the site context.

Site Location

2.2 Alconbury Weald is located about 5km to the north east of Alconbury Village and to the north and west of the Stukeleys and is approximately 580ha in size.

2.3 The site sits within the southern section of the former airfield which has been defined as Key Phase 1 (See Figure 2). KP1 lies along the boundary of the site with Ermine Street and extends into the site as far as the main runway and covers approximately a fifth of the total area approved for development as part of the Outline Planning Permission.

Figure 2 – KP1 Regulatory Plan

2.4 The application site lies in the north western part of KP1. It is located within the Alconbury Enterprise Campus adjacent to the Incubator Unit and Club Building. The proposed works sit within the context of the new roads and infrastructure which has been constructed to serve this part of the Enterprise Campus. The site comprises 3.17ha of Alconbury Weald, although this includes the access to the public highway.

Site Context

2.5 Historically, the site is comprised of buildings and open space associated with the site’s former use as a military air base. Consent was granted on 14 November 2014 for the removal

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

of all the buildings, hardstanding and taxiways that fall within the site by virtue of the partial discharge of Outline Condition 17 (application reference 1408220COND) and demolition commenced in December 2014. As a result of this the site has been cleared and levelled. Figure 3 is an aerial photograph of Alconbury Weald, showing the indicative location of the site and recent development in KP1 (which has expanded further since the photograph was taken).

Figure 3 - Site (indicative red line) within its wider context

2.6 A detailed tree survey has been undertaken for the site as a whole outlining the location and quality of existing trees on the site which has directly informed the landscape strategy. An application was made under Outline Condition 21 (Application Ref: 1408220COND) for the removal of trees within the KP1 commercial area to allow for the delivery of development. This was approved on 15 December 2014.

2.7 As set out within the Outline Planning Application and within the Ecological Mitigation Plan submitted to support the early demolition works, the site is of low value habitats which will be much improved through the delivery of Alconbury Weald. No trees are located within the site.

2.8 Located to the south-east of the site of the proposed solar car ports is a grade II listed building known as the ‘Watch Office’ or ‘Watch Tower’, which has recently been repaired and restored by Urban & Civic. An image of the building is provided in Figure 4. It was built in 1940-41, as the first permanent Watch Office at RAF Alconbury. Due to the presence of the Civic Hub as interposing development, there will be no intervisibility between the solar car ports and the Watch Office and it is not considered that the application proposals will affect

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

the setting or significance of the listed building. Heritage is considered in more detail in Section 6.0 of this report.

Figure 4 – Grade II listed Watch Office

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY

Alconbury Weald Outline Planning Permission

3.1 An Outline Planning Application was submitted for Alconbury Weald in August 2012 (Application Reference: 1201158OUT). Planning permission was granted on 1 October 2014 for a mixed-use development providing for a total of 290,000 sq. m of commercial floorspace and 5,000 homes with supporting open space and community facilities extending access the full 575ha of land within the Site.

3.2 The Outline Planning Permission defines the approved development within the following documents:

• Parameter Plan;

• Development Specification (as updated);

• Spatial Principles; and

• Design & Access Statement Principles (including as defined in the DAS and addendum).

Reserved Matters Submissions

3.3 The following reserved matters submissions have been made under the approved Outline Planning Permission within Key Phase 1:

• KP1-01 – Green & Grey Infrastructure to support the first residential development and the first primary school at Alconbury Weald – approved; • KP1-02 – Enterprise Zone Club Building – approved; • KP1-03 – Enterprise Zone Roads & Phase 1 SUDS – approved; • KP1-04 – Enterprise Zone Non-Strategic Landscaping – approved; • KP1-05 – 128 dwellings within KP1 – approved; • KP1-06 – 31,893 sq. m of mixed B1(a), B1(b), B2 & ancillary B8 (MMUK) – approved; • KP1-07 – KP1b Residential SUDS & Green Infrastructure – approved; • KP1-08 – Enterprise Zone - Mid Tech Building 3 – approved; • KP1-09 – Residential Type A route – approved; • KP1-10 – IMET Building – approved; • KP1-11 – John Adams Toys – approved. • KP1-12 – KP1 Community Park – approved; • KP1-13 – Cricket Park, Watchtower Green & The Boulevard – approved; • KP1-14 – Community Park Building – approved; • KP1-15 – Incubator 2 – approved; • KP1-16 – Parcel 4 – approved; • KP1-17 – Parcel 4a – approved;

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

• KP1-18 CCC Civic Hub Interface - approved; • KP1 - 19 Incubator Quarter Parking - approved; • KP1 -20 Pavilion - approved; • MAGPAS – approved; • Morris Homes (Parcel 2) – approved; • Redrow Homes (Parcel 3) – approved; • Hopkins Homes (Parcel 5) – approved; and • Crest Nicholson (Parcel 6) – approved.

3.4 Further full planning applications have been submitted on this site outside of the Outline Planning Permission including the John Adams Toys buildings and the works to the Listed Watchtower which lies adjacent to the CCC Civic Hub.

3.5 Of these submissions KP1-10 and KP1-13 along with the redevelopment of the Listed Watchtower are most pertinent to the current submission.

• KP1-10 was given reserved matters consent under application ref 16/00752/REM for the IMET building which lies to the west of the CCC Civic Hub. The consent allowed for mixed use building utilised for higher education purposes and has now been completed and occupied;

• KP1-13 was given reserved matters consent under application ref 16/02262/REM and delivers the landscaping scheme which forms the context for the CCC Civic Hub on its eastern boundary along with the wider landscape context on watchtower green. All elements with the exception of the landscaped area to the east of the CCC Civic Hub have been completed; and

• The redevelopment of the Listed Watchtower under planning permission 17/00434/FUL delivered a change of use to office and community function and directly lies to the frontage of the CCC Civic Hub.

Other Planning Permissions Pertinent to the Current Submission

3.6 The Enterprise Zone Enabling Works consent (Application Ref: 1102094FUL) initially allowed for the commencement of site clearance works to facilitate the delivery of new development within the Enterprise Zone. This has since been superseded by submissions under Condition 30 of the Outline Planning Permission and will continue to be superseded by further submissions as we progressively move away from using this permission.

3.7 The application for new road construction to support the delivery of Alconbury Enterprise Zone (Ref: 1401300FUL) (amended by 1502289FUL) enabled the further provision of primary infrastructure within the KP1 Enterprise Zone, including the Western Estate Road.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

3.8 As noted in the introduction above, an updated KP1 Definition and Framework (Ref: 19/80094/COND) was approved by HDC on 17 November 2020. The updated Design Code approved under this permission makes no material changes to the part of KP1 that includes the current application site.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

4.0 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT

4.1 Having received Outline Permission for Alconbury Weald in October 2014, the principle of commercial development in this location in line with approved Parameters Plan has been accepted. Therefore, this section considers the details submitted for approval against the relevant design and development management policies at both national and local level again in the context of this being a full planning application presented in full recognition of the Outline Planning Permission.

4.2 Although the Site is located in Huntingdonshire District Council the application is submitted to Cambridgeshire County Council. For this reasons policies and guidance prepared by both local authorities is set out below.

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2019

4.3 Paragraph 8 of the NPPF sets out that the planning system has three overarching objectives in order to achieve sustainable development. These are:

a) an economic objective – to help build a strong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right types is available in the right places and at the right time to support growth, innovation and improved productivity; and by identifying and coordinating the provision of infrastructure;

b) a social objective – to support strong, vibrant and healthy communities, by ensuring that a sufficient number and range of homes can be provided to meet the needs of present and future generations; and by fostering a well-designed and safe built environment, with accessible services and open spaces that reflect current and future needs and support communities’ health, social and cultural well-being; and

c) an environmental objective – to contribute to protecting and enhancing our natural, built and historic environment; including making effective use of land, helping to improve biodiversity, using natural resources prudently, minimising waste and pollution, and mitigating and adapting to climate change, including moving to a low carbon economy.

4.4 The NPPF attaches great importance to the design of the built environment and advises that good design is a key aspect of sustainable development (Paragraph 124). Paragraph 127 sets out that planning policies and decisions should ensure that developments:

a) will function well and add to the overall quality of the area, not just for the short term but over the lifetime of the development;

b) are visually attractive as a result of good architecture, layout and appropriate and effective landscaping;

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

c) are sympathetic to local character and history, including the surrounding built environment and landscape setting, while not preventing or discouraging appropriate innovation or change (such as increased densities);

d) establish or maintain a strong sense of place, using the arrangement of streets, spaces, building types and materials to create attractive, welcoming and distinctive places to live, work and visit;

e) optimise the potential of the site to accommodate and sustain an appropriate amount and mix of development (including green and other public space) and support local facilities and transport networks; and

f) create places that are safe, inclusive and accessible and which promote health and well-being, with a high standard of amenity for existing and future users46; and where crime and disorder, and the fear of crime, do not undermine the quality of life or community cohesion and resilience.

4.5 Paragraph 148 advises that the planning system should support the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate, and support renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure. Paragraph 154 states that when determining planning applications for renewable and low carbon development, local planning authorities should not require applicants to demonstrate the overall need for renewable or low carbon energy, and recognise that even small-scale projects provide a valuable contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Local Planning Policy

Huntingdonshire’s Local Plan to 2036

4.6 The Huntingdonshire Local Plan (to 2036) was adopted by HDC on 15 May 2019, and sets out the Council’s proposed policies for managing development in the District.

4.7 Alconbury Weald is allocated within the Local Plan under policy SEL 1.1, which notes that a total area of approximately 575ha of land east of the A1(M) at the former Alconbury airfield and Grange Farm is allocated for a mix of uses, including at least 290,000m2 of business floorspace (class 'B') on the designated 150ha Alconbury Enterprise Zone. The Outline Planning Permission is consistent with this emerging policy and the delivery of residential and commercial development in tandem.

4.8 Other Local Plan policies pertinent to the current application submission include:

• Policy LP5 (Flood Risk)

• Policy LP6 (Waste Water management)

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

• Policy LP11 (Design Context)

• Policy LP12 (Design Implementation)

• Policy LP13 (Placemaking)

• Policy LP14 (Amenity)

• Policy LP15 (Surface Water)

• Policy LP29 (Health Impact Assessment)

• Policy LP30 (Biodiversity and Geodiversity)

• Policy LP34 (Heritage Assets and their Settings)

• Policy LP35 (Renewable and Low Carbon Energy)

• Policy LP37 (Ground Contamination and Groundwater Pollution)

4.9 These policies are discussed in more detail in Section 6.0 below.

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Minerals & Waste Core Strategy 2011 & Site Specific Policies 2012

4.10 These documents set the framework for all minerals and waste developments until 2026, and the allocations for site specific proposals for future development and management of minerals and waste within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

4.11 As the proposed development is not a mineral or waste development the policies within the plan are not discussed further within this report.

Emerging Draft Minerals & Waste Development Plan

4.12 Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council are in the process of reviewing their joint Minerals and Waste Development Plan. Following consultation on an emerging Draft Plan, the Councils have now submitted the plan for independent examination by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.

Supplementary Planning Guidance and Documents (SPG/SPD)

4.13 The 2017 Huntingdonshire Design Guide SPD has been produced as an aid to improve the quality of new development in Huntingdonshire. It highlights the importance of thoroughly understanding the site and undertaking the necessary assessment and studies to inform development proposals, and includes case studies/best practice examples from Alconbury Weald.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

4.14 An earlier version of the Huntingdonshire Design Guide SPD (2007) as well as the Trees & Development SPG (1995) and the External Lighting SPG (1998) have informed the production of the Key Phase Design Code which was approved by HDC on 26 March 2015. The proposed scheme is consistent with the KP1 design code and therefore, with the above SPD and SPGs.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

5.0 STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

5.1 This section of the Planning Statement details the pre-application consultation that has been undertaken in accordance with the requirements of national and local policy in relation to the application process for the proposals. The main findings of the consultation exercise are highlighted and the applicant’s response to the findings.

Planning Policy and Guidance

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2019

5.2 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2019 at Paragraph 39 states:

‘Early engagement has significant potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning application system for all parties. Good quality preapplication discussion enables better coordination between public and private resources and improved outcomes for the community.’

Cambridgeshire County Council Statement of Community Involvement 2019

5.3 Cambridgeshire County Council published an updated ‘Statement of Community Involvement’ in 2019. This sets out the Council’s expectations with regard to the pre- application consultation that should be undertaken by applicants at the pre-application stage.

5.4 Officers advised at the pre-application stage that the application proposals are considered to require Category B ‘Standard Level’ community involvement. The Council’s Statement of Community Involvement sets out that this level of community involvement requires applicants to undertake the following at the pre-application stage:

• Pre-application discussions with the County Council; and • Pre-application discussions with Liaison Groups (where existing).

Approach to Consultation

Pre-application discussions

5.5 A virtual meeting was undertaken on 15 June 2020, with planning and urban design officers from CCC and HDC, in order to discuss the emerging proposals for the solar car ports. Written feedback was subsequently provided by CCC in a letter dated 30 June 2020.

Consultation with local stakeholders

5.6 Due to restrictions relating to Covid-19 ‘in person’ presentations to local stakeholders were not possible. Instead, CCC ahead of the application submission wrote to the following stakeholders about the proposed Solar Car Ports and offered a video call to present and discuss the proposals:

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

• Alconbury Parish Council • Stukeleys Parish Council • Abbots Ripton Parish Council • Huntingdon Town Council

5.7 No requests were received for a video call presentation.

5.8 Additionally, Urban & Civic included a short article on the proposals in two newsletters that were sent out to residents and to the wider community ahead of the application being submitted. These notified residents that a planning application was to be submitted for the Solar Car Ports.

Feedback received

Pre-application feedback

5.9 Officers in their written pre-application feedback confirmed that the principle of the solar car ports and associated works would be supported subject to appropriate mitigation being put in place. Comments were provided on the following specific topics:

• Outline Planning Consent: the application documentation should provide information to meet the requirements of Outline Planning Permission 12/01158/OUT, with particular emphasis on Condition 18 parts e, f, g, k, l, m, o, s, and u.

• Design and Visual Impact: Concern was expressed that the planting beneath the solar car ports would be unlikely to survive due to lack of sun and natural watering from rain. Additionally, a number of the northern most parking spaces would project beyond the edge of the car ports and therefore not benefit from shading. It was recommended that the areas of approved landscaping beneath the car ports should be reduced in size and parking bays reconfigured so that they sit beneath the car ports. The remaining areas of landscape (areas between rows that are not covered by the solar carports) should be increased in size to maintain the same overall level of landscaping within the car park. It was also recommended that the more prominent elements of steel raft system such as the vertical support piers/posts are coloured to relate to the treatment of the Civic Hub building – e.g. RAL 7032 to match the vertical fins or RAL 7022 to match the curtain wall glazing.

• Heritage: Given the intervening Civic Hub building, Huntingdonshire District Council Conservation Team have indicated that the proposed solar car ports will not result in any material harm to the significance of the Grade II listed Watch Office as a result of development in its setting.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

• Ecology: The proposed scheme will need to take into account the biodiversity mitigation / compensation that has been approved as part of the permission for the Civic Hub. Consideration should be given to amending the approved planting to accommodate the car ports, or the provision of additional planting within the existing site. If there is no space within the car park area, we would suggest utilising the building / structure either with green-walls or brown roof.

• Flood Risk and Drainage: The proposals should be supported by a site-specific flood risk assessment and surface water drainage strategy.

• Neighbour Amenity: A Construction Environmental and Traffic Management Plan (CEMP) and Glint and Glare Study should be submitted in support of the application proposals.

• Statement of Community Involvement: The application will need to satisfy the requirements for the ‘Standard Level’ of community Involvement.

• Lighting proposals: Full details of the proposed lighting system beneath the carports should be provided with the planning application. Details of any temporary lighting or security lighting should also be provided.

• Application documents: The following list of supporting application documents should be provided:

o Planning Statement; o Local authority development letter; o Statement of Community Involvement; o Cambridgeshire Biodiversity checklist; o Statement of Sustainable Design and Construction; o Flood Risk Assessment, together with a Surface Water Drainage Strategy; o Heritage Statement; o Landscape Proposals; o Soft Landscape and biodiversity enhancement management scheme; o Transport Statement; o Parking and access arrangements; o Construction Environmental and Traffic Management Plan; o Lighting assessment; and o Plans and drawings.

Response to feedback

5.10 With regard to the relationship of the current application to the Outline Planning Permission, the current submission is a stand-alone Regulation 3 planning application rather than a reserved matters application submitted under the outline permission. Notwithstanding this, as set out above, the Proposed Development is aligned with, and has been considered against, the principles and environmental approach of the Outline Planning Permission in particular the design requirements of the KP1 Design Code. The topics covered by Condition 18 parts e (design compliance), f (access routes, parking and cycle storage), g (landscape),

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

k (surface water drainage), l (water contamination), m (ecology), o (landscape management), s (external lighting), and u (construction management), are all considered in the assessment provided in Section 6.0 below.

5.11 The drawings enclosed with the application submission are annotated to confirm that the vertical support piers/posts have been coloured RAL 7022 to relate to the treatment of the Civic Hub building and other ancillary structures in the rear car park area. Additionally, a shade tolerant plant mix is proposed beneath the car port canopies, and there are gaps in the canopies that align with the planting and will allow most rainfall to discharge between these gaps onto the planting. The car port canopies, due to their location, the time of day and time of year, would not provide shading to all cars parked in the car park to the rear of the Civic Hub. However, in terms of shading they provide an improvement over the recently consented scheme for the Civic Hub. For these reasons, and also because the car park layout is recently consented and is currently being implemented as part of a separate procurement process (with a separate contractor), the applicant CCC does not propose to reconfigure the car park layout.

5.12 The shade tolerant planting mix and additional species rich grassland proposed in the wider Civic Hub site ensure that there is no loss of the biodiversity mitigation / compensation approved as part of the permission for the Civic Hub. The planting proposals include additional species rich grassland and have been prepared to ensure the BREEAM credits relating to ecology available to the Civic Hub are maintained.

5.13 Subsequent discussions with CCC have confirmed that it is not necessary to submit a separate heritage statement or transport statement. This is because the Civic Hub is located between the listed Watch Office and the Solar Car Ports and also because the proposals do not result in any changes to the transport arrangements already approved for the Civic Hub site. Therefore heritage and transport matters are considered within this planning statement.

5.14 Due to the nature of the proposal, it has also been agreed with CCC that it is not necessary to submit a Statement of Sustainable Design and Construction. CCC’s June 2019 ‘Guidance for applicants and their agents on the Local Validation List’ sets out that in districts other than South Cambridgeshire a Statement of Sustainable Design and Construction is required for new schools and all developments creating more than 1,000m² of floor space. In this case although the site area once the access road etc is included will exceed 1,000m², the development does not create any new floorspace.

5.15 The same guidance sets out that applications should demonstrate that the design of the scheme has been informed by a rapid Health Impact Assessment for developments in excess of 2,500 square metres or where the site area exceeds 2 hectares. No request has been made for the submission of this document during pre-application discussions. Again, whilst

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

the Solar Car Ports site does exceed 2 hectares, much of this comprises access roads. The car ports as an electrical installation have no floorspace. Therefore, for this particular development, it has been concluded that the preparation of a rapid Health Impact Assessment is not necessary in this instance.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

6.0 ASSESSMENT

Principle of Development

6.1 Local Plan Policy LP35 (Renewable and Low Carbon Energy) supports renewable or low carbon solar energy schemes where it can be where it is demonstrated that all potential adverse impacts including cumulative impacts are or can be made acceptable. As set out in the remaining parts of this report section, it is not considered that the proposals would result in adverse impacts.

6.2 The solar car ports fall within a commercial section of KP1 Design Code known as ‘Enterprise Campus’ and is part of an Enterprise Zone (EZ) designated in 2011.

6.3 Therefore, the principle of a solar energy installation associated with commercial office development, in an employment area, and EZ, is consistent with the planning framework established by the parameter plan agreed under the Outline Planning Permission and subsequent Key Phase 1 approvals.

Detailed Design

6.4 Local Plan Policies LP11 (Design Context), LP12 (Design Implementation), and Policy LP13 (Placemaking), require development to:

• respond positively to its context to help create distinctive, high quality and well- designed places.

• be well designed based upon a thorough understanding of constraints and appraisal of the site's context, delivering attractive, usable and long lasting buildings and spaces.

• implement a cohesive design through the use of a limited palette of quality, durable materials with an attention to detail particularly where different elements and materials meet.

• be supported be a masterplanning process (when large-scale development is proposed).

6.5 These principles have informed the comprehensive approach to planning at Alconbury Weald, and in particular the KP1 Design Code. Below, the proposed development is considered in the context of the Design Code.

6.6 Chapter 5 of the KP1 Design Code discusses commercial built form within Key Phase 1. It identifies Key Groupings with the commercial area. The Site falls within the Watch Tower Green Key Grouping. Figure 5i of the Design Code provides guidance for this Key Grouping, and is reproduced below in Figure 5. It will be noted that the guidance sets out that built

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

forms in commercial plots must provide active frontages overlooking the green and the boulevard, and that parking and service areas must be concealed to the rear. In accordance with the Design Code, the proposed development locates the solar car ports to the north of the Civic Hub building in the rear car park area. The car park layout approved under the Civic Hub planning permission (as amended) provides the context for the proposals, and the solar car ports are positioned aligned with the permitted parking and landscape bays. They are lower and smaller in scale when compared to the Civic Hub and the nearby iMet building.

Figure 5 – Figure 5i of the Design Code – Watch Tower Green Key Phase Grouping

6.7 Chapter 8 of the KP1 Design Code advises that environmental features such as photovoltaics should be considered wherever practical, and the use of a limited colour palette will help achieve cohesive appearance. The proposed development takes the opportunity to provide further environmental features on the Civic Hub site, and the energy generated from the car ports together with energy to be generated from photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Civic Hub will assist in delivering the power requirements for the building. The vertical support piers/posts of the car ports are proposed to be coloured RAL 7022 to relate to the treatment of the Civic Hub building and other ancillary structures in the rear car park area, consistent with the requirement to use a limited colour palette.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

Landscaping and Landscape Impact

6.8 The Local Plan policies relating to detailed design are also applicable to the landscape at the site, which is essential to create distinctive, high quality and well-designed places.

6.9 Landscape Architect BMD has provided landscaping advice for the Civic Hub site and has also worked on the landscaping across Alconbury Weald. BMD has prepared the Soft Landscape Specification and the 5 Year Landscape and Ecology Maintenance and Management Plan enclosed with the application submission. No significant change is proposed to the BMD landscaping proposals permitted under the Civic Hub planning permission. A shade tolerant planting mix is proposed beneath the solar car ports and additional species rich grassland proposed in the wider Civic Hub site ensure that there is no loss of the biodiversity mitigation / compensation approved as part of the permission for the Civic Hub.

Landscape Impact

6.10 The Environmental Statement (ES) prepared for the Alconbury Weald development included a chapter on Landscape and Visual Effects (Chapter 7). This was supported by illustrative photographs in the appendix to the ES, and identified landscape character areas and visual receptors as a baseline for study. Representative viewpoints were used to illustrate views from potential visual receptors.

6.11 The ES chapter set out that the main effects of the Proposed Development will be associated with the introduction of new features such as:

• built form comprising buildings which vary in ridge height from 3m to 18m and point features up to 24m. The taller buildings and features are likely to be prominent within the landscape.

• new transport routes, visible where they enter the Site.

• new entry points to the Site.

• woodland creation and open space as described below.

• community orchard and allotment provision.

6.12 After considering mitigation measures the ES chapter identified residential effects on Landscape Character and Visual Receptors. The following table was provided summarising the impacts identified.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

Figure 6 – Impacts summary table provided in Chapter 7 (Table 7.6) of the ES submitted in support of the Alconbury Weald Outline Planning Permission

6.13 The following recommendations were made in the chapter for the next stages of design within the Outline:

• Species appropriate to the native local flora should be prioritised within public realm plantings, including trees, shrubs, groundcover, marginal plants and grassland. This will assist in providing the development with appropriate local character and in relating it to the rural context.

• Vernacular detailing and colouring should be used in the styling of the new buildings and be in keeping with any adjacent heritage features. The buildings would benefit

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

from detailing which is complementary to local styles and the rural context, though use of a sympathetic palette including some contemporary materials and forms at the appropriate scale could enhance rather than detract from the development if sensitively designed.

• Visual effects during construction may be reduced by careful phasing of the works so that those areas closest to sensitive visual receptors are screened from ongoing construction activities by completed works. Careful siting of stockpiles and material storage areas should be considered. Early planting of structural soft landscape may also help to offset the negative visual effects due to construction. Programming of works should be considered as part of the Code of Construction Practice.

6.14 These matters relating to landscape impact have informed the preparation of the documentation submitted in support of KP1, including the KP1 Design Code. As set out, it is considered that the proposed development is consistent with the Design Code, particularly the guidance it provides for the Watch Tower Green Key Phase Grouping. It is therefore concluded that the proposed development is acceptable with regard to its landscape impact.

Heritage

6.15 Local Plan Policy LP34 (Heritage Assets and their Settings) notes that great weight and importance is given to the conservation of heritage assets and their settings. NPPF Paragraph 200 sets out that proposals that preserve those elements of the setting that make a positive contribution to the asset (or which better reveal its significance) should be treated favourably.

6.16 The NPPF defines the setting of a heritage asset as ‘The surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced’. The Grade II listed Watch Office is experienced in a new and emerging context including green space and the boulevard to the south and housing parcels beyond this. Commercial buildings in the Enterprise Zone are located to the north and west of the heritage asset. The solar car port proposals would not alter any aspect of the setting of the listed building as there will be no intervisibility between the car ports and the Watch Office, due to the presence of the Civic Hub and the lower height of the car ports. For this reason it has been concluded that the solar car ports would conserve the setting and significance of the listed building.

Ecology and Trees

6.17 Local Plan Policy LP30 (Biodiversity and Geodiversity) sets out that a proposal will be required to demonstrate that all potential adverse impacts on biodiversity and geodiversity have been investigated. A proposal will ensure no net loss in biodiversity and provide a net gain where possible.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

6.18 Enclosed with the application submission is an Ecological Verification Statement (EVS) prepared by BMD. The same report was submitted in support of the Civic Hub planning permission and is still considered valid as that was the baseline condition at the start of construction, which is now in progress. Therefore, the EVS is submitted as per the previous submission.

6.19 The EVS notes that, associated with the wider Outline Planning Permission and KP1, and in order to facilitate ecologically-sensitive site clearance and secure long-term ecological enhancement throughout the wider scheme, a number of bespoke Ecological Mitigation Plans (EMPs) were produced for both the wider site and individual parcels subject to detailed planning applications. The EMPs of relevance to the Alconbury Weald Civic Hub Site are:

• Alconbury Weald Enterprise Zone: Site Clearance and Building Demolition, Ecological Mitigation Plan (ADAS, July 2014); and

• Alconbury Weald Key Phase 1: Ecological Mitigation Plan (ADAS, August 2014).

6.20 These reports made a number of recommendations for protection of ecologically-importance features/fauna. The EVS sets out that that, where appropriate, the recommendations were implemented during the clearance of the wider Alconbury Weald Key Phase 1 and Enterprise Zone sites between 2014 and 2015. The Civic Hub Site underwent clearance of former buildings, hardstanding and grassland habitats. As a result of the lapse of time since the clearance works were completed, an ecological verification walkover was undertaken associated with the Civic Hub planning application. The aim of this walkover was to confirm that no further ecological features have established that would require alterations or additions to the appointed mitigation strategies outlined above.

6.21 The EVS sets out the findings of the site walkover and mitigations measures relating to badgers and other wild animals, comprising the continued implementation of industry best- practice guidelines described by the existing EMPs.

6.22 BMD, informed by the EVS, have also completed the Cambridgeshire Biodiversity Checklist enclosed with the application submission. Ecology enhancement and maintenance proposals are set out in the BMD 5 Year Landscape and Ecology Maintenance and Management Plan.

6.23 No existing trees are present on the application site.

Sustainability and Energy

6.24 Both the Design Code and Local Plan Policy LP35 (Renewable and Low Carbon Energy) support renewable or low carbon solar energy schemes.

6.25 The Civic Hub proposed to achieve the BREEAM ‘Very Good’ standard and Condition and Conditions 22 and 23 of the planning permission require evidence to be submitted to

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

demonstrate the building meets this standard. It is therefore important that the Solar Car Port proposals do not prevent the requirement being met. Mindful of this, the current application has been designed to ensure that all ecology-related BREEAM credits available to the Civic Hub development are maintained.

Flood Risk and Drainage

6.26 Local Plan Policy LP5 (Flood Risk) states in part that a proposal will only be supported where all forms of flood risk, including breaches of flood defences or other defence failures, have been addressed. Local Plan Policy LP6 (Waste Water management) notes that certain proposals for major scale development will only be supported where a sustainable foul/used water strategy has been prepared and agreed with Anglian Water.

6.27 Local Plan Policy 15 (Surface Water) sets out that a proposal will only be supported where surface water has been considered from the outset as an integral part of the design process, and sets out specific requirements include that proposals should incorporates sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in accordance with the Cambridgeshire Flood and Water Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) or successor documents and advice from Cambridgeshire County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority, unless demonstrated to be inappropriate.

6.28 Enclosed with this application submission is a Water Compliance Statement prepared by Carter Design. The report was prepared originally for the Civic Hub planning permission. Carter Design has reviewed the design for the Solar Car Ports and noted the following:

• There is a minimum 30mm gap between the 1.7m long solar panels which will allow most rainfall to simply discharge between these gaps; and

• Crucially there is a gap which aligns with the landscaping strip between rows of parking bays.

6.29 As a consequence Carter Design has concluded that (i) there is no real change to the original impermeable areas and hydraulic calculations used to inform the Water Compliance Statement submitted in support of the Civic Hub proposals, and (ii) the findings and recommendations set out in the Water Compliance Statement remain valid and no additional attenuation is required. Therefore the same report is submitted, with a covering note confirming Carter Design’s conclusions.

6.30 The Water Compliance Statement demonstrates that the detailed design in accordance with the principles established in the following documents prepared for Alconbury Weald:

• Tier 1 Site Wide Water Management Strategy (SWWMS PBA ref 24213/128/001);

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

• Tier 2 Supplementary Water Management Statement (SWMS PBA ref 24213/124/002); and

• Tier 2 Key Phase 1 Framework Design Code.

6.31 With regard to Flood Risk, the Water Compliance Statement advises that the Civic Hub site is located entirely within Flood Zone 1. This is defined as land assessed as having a less than 1 in 1,000 annual probability of river or sea flooding (<0.1%). It confirms that developing a design which adheres to the previously approved documents for the site, and which discharges into the wider Alconbury Weald site drainage network at the approved rates, the Civic Hub development will not increase flood risk.

6.32 The Water Compliance Statement then provides the details of the site-wide design principles relating to surface water and waste-water management.

Transport

6.33 The solar car ports proposals would not result in any change to parking or servicing arrangements permitted under the Civic Hub planning permission. Therefore there are no transport-related considerations associated with the current application.

Amenity

6.34 Local Plan Policy LP14 (Amenity) sets out that a proposal will be supported where a high standard of amenity is provided for all users and occupiers of the proposed development and maintained for users and occupiers of neighbouring land and buildings. Important considerations within the policy include acceptable predicted impacts relating to obtrusive light and contamination; and minimising the risk and perceived risk of crime. Amenity considerations are discussed in more detail below.

Lighting

6.35 An external lighting report prepared by Luceco is enclosed with the application submission. This provides details of the proposed lighting to the solar car ports and information on lighting levels.

Land Contamination

6.36 CCC requires the submission of a contaminated land assessment where contamination is known or suspected, or the development site is in the vicinity of such land. This is reflected in HDC’s Local Plan Policy LP37 (Ground Contamination and Groundwater Pollution), which also requires investigation in these circumstances.

6.37 A number of land contamination assessments have been prepared associated with the development of Alconbury Weald. The application site is located within the Employment

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

Area (Enterprise Zone), within KP1 of the Alconbury Weald site. Enclosed with the application submission is a Contamination Schedule prepared by Peter Brett Associates (PBA) in 2014, setting out suspected or confirmed areas of contamination underlying the Employment Area. These comprise:

• Underground Storage Tanks;

• Above Ground Storage Tanks;

• Lagoons/Open Water Storage; and

• Asbestos Contamination.

6.38 The Contamination Schedule recommends that remediation should be undertaken using the methodology outlined in the PBA Remedial Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Employment Area. This report, also dating from 2014, is also enclosed with the application submission.

Waste Management

6.39 The installation of the solar car ports will have no impact on operational waste management at the Civic Hub site. As permitted under the Civic Hub planning permission a dedicated refuse store is provided to the north-west of the proposed Civic Hub building, ensuring that is easily accessible for the building users whilst being distinctly separate from the building itself. Refuse collection will be from the car park.

Crime Reduction

6.40 Due to the open nature of the car ports beneath the canopies, passive surveillance of the car park from the Civic Hub and separated pedestrian routes around it will be maintained.

Glint and glare

6.41 Pre-application discussions highlighted the need for the submission of a Glint and Glare Study to understand the impact on the proposed solar panels on sensitive receptors. Pager Power has prepared the Glint and Glare Study enclosed with the application submission.

6.42 The report assesses surrounding roads and dwellings. The results of the study are summarised below:

• No significant impacts are predicted for road users.

• No impacts are predicted for dwelling observers.

• No significant glint and glare impacts are predicted and no mitigation requirement has been identified.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

Construction Management (including Construction Waste)

6.43 Enclosed with the application submission is a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) prepared by Prospus Consulting, providing details of various aspects of the proposed management of the Civic Hub construction site, including:

• Sequencing of works and phasing;

• Normal working hours;

• Site Safety;

• Security;

• Site Compound, Parking and Storage;

• Construction Traffic Management;

• Noise and Vibration;

• Dust and Dirt;

• Waste Management;

• Construction Lighting; and

• Ecology

6.44 Appendices to the report include site and construction compound layouts, a traffic management plan, construction traffic access routes, and a forecast of deliveries to the site.

Legal Agreement

6.45 It is not anticipated that a S106 Agreement will be required specifically for the Solar Car Ports development.

Cambridgeshire County Council Civic Hub Solar Car Ports Planning Statement Alconbury Weald Cambridgeshire County Council

7.0 CONCLUSION

7.1 This Planning Statement has been submitted in support of a full application for planning permission to deliver four solar car ports within the KP1 Enterprise Zone. The application is submitted as a full planning application rather than a reserved matters application because it proposes the development of a CCC building under Regulation 3 of The Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992.

7.2 The proposed development delivers renewable energy infrastructure encouraged by the NPPF and the Alconbury Weald Design Code. The NPPF sets out that the planning system should support this type of infrastructure and the transition to a low carbon future. It also advises local planning authorities to recognise that small-scale projects provide a valuable contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

7.3 The car ports are positioned over car parking spaces approved under the planning permission H/5005/19/CC (as amended). The height of the proposed installations is up to 4.5m. The proposals would not result in any changes to the number of car parking spaces previously approved, or the operation of the car park.

7.4 The proposed development responds to the requirements of the Design Code, which sets out that services and car parking to be located to the rear of buildings in this location. The layout and position of the car ports are informed by the approved car park layout, which is currently being implemented. The car ports are lower in height when compared to the Civic Hub building and therefore suitably subservient. This also ensures that the proposals will not have an impact on the setting or significance of the listed Watch Office. The vertical support piers/posts of the car ports are proposed to be coloured RAL 7022 to relate to the treatment of the wider site, ensuring that a limited colour palette is used throughout.

7.5 BMD has designed the high-quality attractive landscaping that exists throughout Alconbury Weald. They have advised with regard to changes required to approved landscaping to accommodate the solar car ports, including the provision of a shade tolerant plant mix under the proposed structures. BREEAM credits available to the Civic Hub relating to ecology are maintained.

7.6 This application is aligned with the principles and environmental approach of the Outline Planning Permission in particular the design requirements of the KP1 Design Code. Therefore, the application should be approved without delay.