Introduction Role of the Masterplan Littleport – Past This Masterplan suggests a framework for future growth and Present in Littleport, setting out how balanced employment, Littleport lies in the heart housing and community development will allow Littleport of the Cambridgeshire to grow as a sustainable and thriving market town. Fens. Drainage by Dutch engineers in the 17th century, and steam It sets out growth plans for the short It is a comprehensive plan, seeking to operated pumping term, in accordance with the East balance employment, housing, social stations in the 19th Cambridgeshire’s Core Strategy and environmental considerations century have created Development Plan Document, within one single guiding document. the characteristic flat, but also plans for the longer term, It will, therefore, be regarded low lying, fen landscape. looking ahead to 2032. The longer as a material consideration in The majority of the term plans are not intended to be the determination of planning land lies within a few a rigid blueprint, but to indicate a applications, and will contribute to metres of sea level, ‘direction of travel’, providing guidance the development of future statutory and features straight on how future growth could be planning documents. drainage channels and accommodated within the town and straight roads often at on the infrastructure and facilities that a higher level than the would be needed to support this. surrounding fields. As a result of this drainage The Littleport Masterplan is not a the Fens have become a statutory planning document within major agricultural area the current Local Development for grains and vegetables. Framework planning process. It does, however, reflect the views of the local community and the Parish, District Littleport and County Councils, who have been closely involved in the development of the masterplan and the vision which Masterplan it expresses for Littleport’s long term future. 10 Introduction Littleport’s origins date to at least the medieval period when the settlement then clustered on the north side of an island rising to some 20 m (65ft) above the surrounding fen. It was located on the Old Croft River which, prior to the construction of the River Ouse Cut in 1827, ran a meandering route through the Fens and it was separated from the Isle of Ely by the former Wood Fen. The population of Littleport grew rapidly during the 19th century, with the development of turnpike roads around 1824, construction of the railway line in 1847, and the setting up of a shirt factory, Topographic model of Littleport – Vertical landscape heights exaggerated by a factor of 10 Hope Brothers (later Burberry’s), in 1881 which employed some 300-400 local women and children. Littleport’s history has been varied. The town was the site of riots in 1816 a result of anger at the high prices of bread and wheat at the time and the suffering this caused many families. The town was also famous for Fen Skating and in1895 some 6,000 people came to skate on The Littleport Moors, many coming from London by special train. In the mid 19th Century William Harley Masterplan emigrated from Littleport to America and it was his son who, in 1903, founded the Littleport circa 1900 Harley-Davidson company. 11 Introduction Today Littleport is a community of 8,800 people situated on 30 the main A10 route some 5 miles north of Ely, 21 miles from Cambridge and 23 miles from King’s Lynn. A small but busy King’s Lynn station on the main King’s Lynn to King’s Cross line lies on 25 the outskirts of the town providing commuting opportunities to Cambridge and London. It is also on a relatively important cross country road route from Wisbech to Mildenhall and Bury Wisbech 20 St Edmunds. Littleport serves the needs of a very localised rural catchment 15 area. The town centre is small and compact, with a limited Downham range of shops and there is no longer a regular market. New Market 10 housing development has taken place in a series of estates March mainly on the western side of the town between the A10 bypass and the town centre. The River Great Ouse and the 5 railway line form the eastern barrier to the town. It has a good range of employment sites with a variety of industrial and commercial firms mainly located on industrial Chatteris Littleport parks alongside the A10 bypass. Ely 5 Mildenhall 10 Soham Littleport 15 Newmarket Masterplan 20 Cambridge 25 12 Introduction Littleport parish is one of the largest in To the northwest of Littleport there the county. Other settlements in the is the internationally important Ouse parish include Little Ouse, a hamlet on Washes (designated a Site of Special the River Little Ouse on the Norfolk Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special border, and Black Horse Drove, Protection Area (SPA), a Special Area of together with numerous scattered farms Conservation (SAC) and Ramsar Site) and isolated dwellings. The majority of and the Welney Wetland Centre which is the land is rich fenland and agriculture is of major international importance for its the dominant use. breeding and wintering birds. This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Ouse Washes Majesty’s Stationery Office. Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. East Cambridgeshire District Black Horse Drove Council Licence LA100023279. Population 210 Littleport West Little Ouse Population 70 Littleport East Littleport Littleport Population 8,800 Shippea Hill Masterplan 13 Introduction Regional Planning Policy Context The East of England has been one of the fastest growing parts of the country over the last few years. The Cambridge sub region has made a substantial contribution to this growth, with its focus on education, research, knowledge based industry and its national and international reputation. Sub regional planning policies currently However, the price of growth in recent seek to focus growth firstly in Cambridge years has been an increase in commuting itself, then secondly in the proposed pressures and associated problems of new settlement of Northstowe, and congestion and pollution. Development thirdly in the market towns around of new housing in the communities Cambridge. This pattern has been surrounding Cambridge has not been identified as the most sustainable form matched by growth in employment, and of development for the sub region. high numbers of people now commute However, opportunities for growth are to Cambridge for work. The transport limited in Cambridge itself, particularly infrastructure, with its high reliance on with its green belt restrictions. The the road network in this largely rural recent decision by Marshall Airport not area, has seen considerable pressures to relocate out of Cambridge in the with congestion and overcrowding at foreseeable future will further impact peak times. on the potential for significant housing A key challenge will be to ensure that development in Cambridge City. future growth is supported by timely There continues to be ongoing pressure and appropriate employment and for new housing, evidenced by the infrastructure, as this is essential to the Littleport high housing prices in Cambridge. The creation of sustainable communities potential role of market towns around and will help new development to Cambridge in accommodating further be successfully integrated into existing Masterplan growth is likely to be important – growth communities. in these communities could help to sustain their vitality and secure the revitalisation of the market towns. 14 Introduction Local Planning Policy Context Littleport lies within the East Cambridgeshire District, which contains the three market towns of Ely (population 18,900), Soham (population 11,000) and Littleport (population 8,800), as well as some 50 other villages and hamlets of varying sizes. Locally the planning framework for the current boundaries of the town East Cambridgeshire is set by the during the period up to 2025. It also The Core Strategy Local Development Framework identifies a need for employment land, provides the Development Plan Documents new schools provision, and some following spatial (DPD’s). A key document is the East modest retail expansion, supported by vision for Littleport Cambridgeshire Core Strategy DPD improvements to local infrastructure. to 2025: which was approved in October The East Cambridgeshire Sustainable 2009. This Core Strategy seeks to “Littleport will provide a Community Strategy sets out a achieve sustainable development and stronger role as a local partnership approach for the local it designates Ely, Soham and Littleport service centre, providing Councils, statutory agencies and the as ‘market towns’ where the majority jobs, shops and services local voluntary and community sector of new housing and employment for the town and a small organisations that operate locally. The development will take place. Ely is rural catchment. The town aim is for these organisations to work seen as the most significant service will provide a good quality together towards common goals and population centre in the District, of life for residents, with that benefit the social, economic and and is identified as the key focus for an active local community. environmental wellbeing of the local the majority of growth. New investment will have area. Six goals have been identified for focused on revitalising the The Core Strategy makes East Cambridgeshire, which include town centre, improving job provision for only a modest level sustainable growth and support to Littleport opportunities, and achieving of development in Littleport during business, skills development and the period 2001 – 2025. It identifies enterprise. (East Cambridgeshire high quality development which enhances the image capacity for 670 dwellings to be built Sustainable Community Strategy Masterplan primarily on sites within the existing 2008-2011). of the town.” development envelope – it does not see the need to extend beyond 15 Introduction Masterplan Development Process Consultation has been a critical element in shaping the masterplan.