5. Design Evolution and Response to Consultation

5. Design evolution and response to consultation

The evolution of the Phase 1 development has been shaped by lengthy, constructive and proactive public engagement.

5. Design evolution and response to consultation

1 2 3 Vision Introduction 4 10 Design evolution and response Northstowe will be an exemplar and vibrant 21st century town with a strong local identity. The master plan for Northstowe and the associated Development Framework 5 It will combine the best historic characteristics of local settlements with provision for document a r e intended to support and complement the Northstowe Area Action Plan 6 6 7 more sustainable patterns of living and lifestyle choices. Northstowe will be built to high (2007) in the context of today’s circumstances. 8 environmental standards. 4 9 10 1

to consultation 2 8

9 2

The evolution of the Phase 1 master plan has been 10

March March March

shaped to a large degree by consultation and community March

Northstowe A vision refreshed Development framework Development framework Development framework Phase 1 Ramsey Ramsey Ramsey

Ely Welcome to our exhibition The vision for Northstowe reflects the Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth which promotes the Cambridgeshire settlement analysis Site assets Ely Framework master plan engagement as set out within the Statement of Ely A phase 1 illustrative master plan has been prepared, which will support an outline planning application The development framework master plan for planned growth of sustainable and vibrant new communities in accordance with four themes: One of the key objectives is to ensure that the framework master plan reflects the best local characteristics The site of Northstowe has a unique set of assets thatRamsey have influenced the layout of the town. to be submitted in January / February 2012. commonly found in Cambridgeshire settlements. As such, settlements of a similar size and locality to the proposed Northstowe will deliver:

We are seeking your views on: Northstowe new community have been explored including Ely, March, St Ives, Ramsey, Huntingdon and Cottenham. Ely • An exemplar and vibrant 21st century new town The ‘grain’ of the land, topography and drainage High speed transportHuntingdon corridor Phase 1 at Northstowe will comprise Energy and sustainability • A refreshed development framework master plan for the whole town, and Huntingdon St Ives Community Landscape and ecological features, footpaths, ditches HuntingdonThe Cambridgeshire guidedSt Ives busway (CGB) is now • Up to 10,000 dwellings with higher densities at the • Up to 1,500 dwellings (approximately 35% of which Northstowe will be planned, designed and promoted St Ives • A master plan for a phase 1 planning application, located close to Longstanton Park and Ride. Sustainable living and field patterns disect the site and provide distinct operational and provides ‘green’ travel to Cambridge centre reducing towards the settlement edge will be affordable housing) in a mix of tenure types as a sustainable new community, limiting energy use Community spirit Consultation. The principal stages of this iterative design lines for urban grain to follow. Existing drainage and Huntingdon for Northstowe residents and those and promoting healthy lifestyles. The first phase will be Employment and business • Employment uses (approximately 14 hectares) • A mixed use local centre patterns within and adjacent to the site directlyHuntingdon affect working in and visiting the town developed to Code for Sustainable Homes Code Level Life long learning St Ives • Town and local centres comprising retail, hotel, leisure the location and layout of open spaces • A primary school 4 and will accord with any amended standards for and residential uses (approximately 23 hectares) Climate • Approximately 3.5 ha of employment land carbon emissions and energy use when introduced. Project evolution Evolution of the master plan Towards low carbon • Community and health facilities Green space Urban form Vernacular • A household recycling centre In 2007 Gallagher and the Homes and Communities The preparation of the framework master plan has • Three sports hubs comprising 35 hectares Future phases will build upon phase one experience Agency (HCA) submitted planning applications for the been informed by a review of the 2007 master plan, Food production • Significant water features (for drainage, ecology and embracing emerging technologies as they develop. process can be summarised as follows: Cambridge • Green separation between Longstanton and entire Northstowe site. Extensive public consultation including the comments received from statutory Cambridge information recreation) Reducing environmental impacts is central to the Cambridge Oakington and the built development was carried out and the overall response was organisations and members of the public. In addition Connectivity Drainage • Formal and informal public open space, including a master plan with water conservation, food production, encouraging. workshops have been held with Northstowe Parish Guided bus Town centres • One secondary school and seven primary schools excellent public transport links and a network of green Connected streets sports hub F o r u m . Cambridge spaces incorporating sustainable urban drainage Walkable facilities • Open spaces including informal open space and • Associated infrastructure works including new flood During 2008 and 2009 the economy slipped into systems (including rainwater recycling/harvesting) children’s play space (approximately 145 hectares) attenuation ponds at Hattons Road recession and following the Government’s Spending Key changes since the 2007 planning application contributing to the creation of a sustainable community. • Household recycling centre, sewage treatment Review in October 2010, the A14 road improvement master plan include: Character Historic connections and archaeological remains Local identity Settlement pumping site and electricity sub station Design principles scheme was withdrawn. edges Primary street and CGB route • Relocation of town centre further north, closer to Water Footpaths, historic linkages and connections on There are a number of important design principles • Allotments and community orchards Where the primary street and CGB follow the same phase 1 and geographical centre of the town Play and recreation and around the site provide reference to the past that are set out below: Since then the joint promoters, the HCA and Gallagher, Public art communities and historic settlements • High quality public transport system serving the whole alignment, the CGB will be prioritised. Elsewhere buses • Relocation of secondary school north and east have been developing with South Cambridgeshire town • Development aligned along a key route with a strong and cars will use the same highway. District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council a (to maintain relationship with town centre) Villages sequence of public spaces to aid legibility • High levels of social infrastructure based on the Regular project meetings with the planning authority Landscape phased approach to delivering homes and investment • Adoption of segmented alignment to busway spine Density & principle of walkable neighbourhoods • Gridded street pattern in centre becoming fractured based on a revised master plan for the new town. through site (rather than a curved route) mixed use Key objectives on edge Phasing Arising from the analysis work a number of key • Fewer local centres but larger Following this public consultation, the planning • Strong connections with the surroundings Proposals principles have been determined: • Northern local centre, close to the B1050 Station application for an initial phase of housing and Future phases Our evolving proposals are presented at this exhibition: of development • Positive characteristics innate to local settlement • Strong development edge responsive to its setting Road associated facilities, located at the north of forms will become embedded in Northstowe Structuring principles • A strong landscape with a rich hierarchy of • Boards showing the master plan for Northstowe Northstowe, will be submitted early in 2012. P h a s e o n e and county council • Inclusion of northern reserve land to ensure a interconnected public spaces and public parks, and related information from a document called the • Aim to protect and retain site assets as positive comprehensive approach to the development of “Development Framework” A subsequent phase two planning application will Some of the key characteristics of local settlements that it features within the new settlement based upon the grain of the land and incorporating Northstowe existing site assets • Boards showing the phase 1 master plan and include: is considered should be repeated at Northstowe include: • The settlement will be responsive to its context and • A mix of commercial, employment, community and evolving work that will form part of the outline • Further homes P h a s e t w o protect the setting of Longstanton and Oakington planning application. • Linear development form • Varied building heights and architectural styles educational uses located to maximize economic • The heritage core viability and to establish lively public spaces, vibrant • Variety of wide and narrow streets • Fen edge drainage Cambridgeshire Guided Busway • An important green way both day and night to Huntingdon Building upon the work prepared for the 2007 planning • Town centre street widening • Interconnected green spaces • Significant water features • A mosaic of habitats and green space focused • Town centre grid pattern Cottenham • I t will also provide access to the town centre and Future phases around water of development Longstanton secondary school site • Activities, building heights and densities concentrated on key routes Northstowe Other phases will follow. • Flexibility to change over time inherent within the Vision Development Framework Phase 1 planning application A town centre and two local centres are proposed that application and discussions with officers during A14 Oakington development form will allow walkable neighbourhoods to be a defining feature of the new town.

Cambridge 2008/2009, regular meetings with members and officers M 1 1 of the local authorities have taken place starting in spring of 2011. A number of design layouts for Phase 1 have been shared with the authorities and a collaborative approach to revising the proposals has been a feature of the discussions.

Examples of display boards as exhibited to the public during October 2011 Parish forum meetings Between May and August 2011 the Parish Forum was consulted on an overall master plan review for the whole of Northstowe and the Phase 1 master plan. The Summary of changes • The employment zone was moved west closer to B1050 and Longstanton Park & Ride. The interface between employment, retail and residential land uses were options that were being explored and the timescales for In response to the feedback and comments, a thorough review of the Phase 1 master considered further to ensure scale, building heights and massing harmonised and so the Phase 1 application submission were outlined by was carried out and the resultant changes are summarised below: that the layout responded to key routes members of the project team at a meeting of the Parish • The street network was strengthened to provide additional cycle and pedestrian • Drainage ditches were made more linear to reflect the characteristic of fen edge Forum on Wednesday 13 July 2011. Options considering connections to Longstanton drainage the location of the main facilities, such as the town centre • Connections with the guided busway, cycle path and Longstanton were improved and the secondary school were discussed in detail. • Greenways were widened to improve amenity and ecological value, and enhance • Commuter and strategic cycle routes were incorporated through the scheme linking opportunities for natural play with the wider strategic network and surrounding settlements Public exhibition • The layout of parking was reviewed with a view to minimising courtyard parking in • The guided bus will run on the central dedicated carriageway through the favour of on-plot parking A three-day public exhibition of the draft Phase 1 master development, with a dedicated cycleway running parallel. Within this corridor, local • The character of the principal routes into the site including the B1050 and access plan was held between Thursday 6 October and Saturday traffic is only permitted along defined stretches of the route from the Cambridgeshire guided bus were explored further with the objective of 8 October 2011. The consultation period continued until • The location and configuration of the local centre, primary school and sports hub establishing attractive urban corridors into the settlement and strong sense of arrival 28 October. layout were improved, as set out below • Housing parcels were developed in greater detail to better understand the • The junction arrangement off the B1050 was revised to improve pedestrian and cycle Cambridgeshire Quality Panel review appearance, increase variety through the scheme and to strengthen open space and links and aid with the distribution of traffic the landscape structure In October 2011, the Phase 1 master plan exhibited to the public was presented to the Cambridgeshire Quality Panel. The review process comprised a site visit followed by presentation of the master plan and open design review by the panel members. Feedback from the design panel was received and considered in light of the ongoing discussions with the planning authority.

32 Northstowe Phase 1 Design and Access Statement February 2012 Design Evolution 2. Initial layouts discussed with local authority

Figure 5.2 Layout options and analysis discussed with local authority The following plans illustrate the design evolution of the master plan. Layout 1 1. Initial design sketches helping to establish key concepts

Figure 5.1 Sketch concepts

Walking distances to local centre and school

Walking distances to play areas

Layout 2 STRUCTURING PINCIPLES Primary street / guided bus

1 Local Centre on B1050 2 CGB square with northern bus stop 3 Community park 4 Memorial square

Urban form

13 5 Dense urban core along 'high street' 8 6 Strong urban edge overlooking eastern water park /countryside 7 Fractured edge fronting sports hub - replicate edge of Longstanton

8 Strong urban edge to park and ride

Green infrastructure

9 Sports hub 10 Linear park 11 Pocket parks 12 Allotments / community orchards 10 13 Woodland

1 5

2 Walking distances to bus routes

11 13

12 6

12 7

9 LEGEND: Residential Residential / live work / exible ground oor Employment 10 House hold recycling centre / pumping station Schools Local centre Retail / medical centre Community buildings

Initial movement strategy Phase 1 Gallagher & Homes and Communities Agency Preliminary sketch proposal Draft for discussion 155316/PH1/SK001 Rev A Northstowe - Phase 1 Scale@A1: 1:2500 AUG 2011 © Terence O’Rourke Ltd Northstowe Phase 1 Design and Access Statement February 2012 33 DesignDesign rationale rationale for for local local centre centre and and primary primary school school 5. Design evolution and response to consultation

OptionOption 1 1 OptionOption 2 2 OptionOption 3 3 OptionOption 4 4

3. Design rationale for the position of the LongstantonLongstanton Park Park& Ride & Ride LongstantonLongstanton Park Park& Ride & Ride LongstantonLongstanton Park Park& Ride & Ride LongstantonLongstanton Park Park& Ride & Ride primary school and local centre and CGBand CGBstation station and CGBand CGBstation station and CGBand CGBstation station and CGBand CGBstation station It was recognised early that the configuration of the chief amenity and social infrastructure facilities; namely the local centre, primary school and sports hubs, will

be fundamental to the success of the new community. B1050 - Station Road B1050 - Station Road

B1050 - Station Road B1050 - Station Road

B1050 - Station Road B1050 - Station Road B1050 - Station Road B1050 - Station Road

Equally, the delivery of these elements together with their LocalLocal LocalLocal LocalLocal centrecentre centrecentre long-term management has a direct bearing on their centrecentre siting within the layout. As a consequence, a number of arrangements have been considered and reviewed, PrimaryPrimary school school PrimaryPrimary school school with the aim of reaching the optimum arrangement. PrimaryPrimary school school These are summarised below, culminating with the PrimaryPrimary school school proposed configuration. It can be seen that progressively connectivity between the local centre, sports hub and SportsSports hub hub SportsSports hub hub SportsSports hub hub primary school has been strengthened. EarlyEarly location location of of DesignDesign rationalerationale forfor locallocal centrecentre andand primaryprimary schoolschool Option 1 LocalLocal centre centre Option 2

OptionOption 1 1 OptionOption 2 2 OptionOption 3 3 OptionOption 4 4

LongstantonLongstanton Park Park & Ride& Ride LongstantonLongstanton Park Park & Ride& Ride LongstantonLongstanton Park Park & Ride& Ride LongstantonLongstanton Park Park & Ride& Ride andand CGB CGB station station andand CGB CGB station station andand CGB CGB station station andand CGB CGB station station

B1050 - Station Road B1050 - Station Road

B1050 - Station Road B1050 - Station Road B1050 - Station Road B1050 - Station Road

LocalLocal LocalLocal LocalLocal centrecentre centrecentre centrecentre

PrimaryPrimary school school PrimaryPrimary school school

SportsSports hub hub SportsSports hub hub SportsSports hub hub EarlyEarly location location of of LocalLocal centre centre Option 3 Option 4

Figure 5.3 Option for local centre, primary school and sports hub Option 4 creates the best connections between key social infrastructure facilities

34 Northstowe Phase 1 Design and Access Statement February 2012 4. Preliminary 3D model discussed with local authorities and 5. The Guided bus corridor After exploring a variety of design options for the bus corridor, it was concluded at a meeting with the local presented to the Cambridgeshire Quality Panel review The guided bus will not run through the Phase 1 site authority and county council on 20 December 2011 until later phases of Northstowe are built and the that the option set out below was the best all round southern connection at Oakington back to the busway approach, comprising a dedicated bus and cycle route is operational. The infrastructure for the guided bus has (with associated tree planting) with local roads joining the however been designed now as part of Phase 1, thereby corridor along defined stretches of the route. Allowing allowing a dedicated guided bus to run uninterrupted some private vehicles within the corridor helped to through the development in the future. minimise courtyard parking at the rear of properties fronting the bus corridor and was considered to bring additional activity into the principal street within the development.

Figure 5.5 Guided bus corridor – preferred option

CGB / Dedicated busway

Primary street (mix of 30 mph and 20 mph)

Lower order streets

Properties fronting busway with rear vehicular access

Crossing points on busway for vehicles

Rear courtyards

Figure 5.4 Preliminary 3D model Northstowe Phase 1 Design and Access Statement February 2012 35