12 SITE & CONTEXT 2 13 Strategic Location of Waterbeach New Town The proposed site for Waterbeach New Town is entirely within the South Cambridgeshire underpinned by the new Transport Strategy for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire and District Council and Waterbeach Parish Council administrative boundaries. It is located set out policies and proposals to guide future development. Given the level of commuting approximately 6 km north of the urban edge of Cambridge. The site is positioned between in the district, emphasis is placed on the need to provide strategic transport infrastructure the A10, which defines the western boundary of the New Town, and the Cambridge to in parallel. According to the 2011 Census, more people in Cambridge than anywhere else Ely railway line, which marks its extent to the east. It lies immediately to the north of the in the United Kingdom are likely to use sustainable modes of transport to travel to work existing village of Waterbeach, and in turn, immediately beyond the outer edge of the and as a result there is a real focus on prioritising sustainable modes. Green Belt that surrounds the City of Cambridge. The River Cam lies beyond the railway line approximately 500m to the east of the site. The Development Plans provide a clear vision and spatial plan for growth covering both the city and surrounding district. Continued protection is given to the Cambridge Green Belt, South Cambridgeshire is recognised as one of the top places to live and work in the the River Cam corridor and the setting of the historic city. The overarching development country. It is largely a rural district which surrounds the city of Cambridge, the district is strategy focusses new development in accessible locations, reuse of previously developed comprised of over a 100 villages with the towns of Ely, Newmarket, St Ives and Huntingdon land and completing the delivery of planned new urban neighbourhoods. The focus for just beyond its borders. The qualities of its rural context are balanced against a nationally growth is located within: significant, thriving economy centred in Cambridge driven by technology research and development and world renowned excellence in education. As a result of the quality of life • The existing urban area of Cambridge; offered, it is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. • The fringe sites on the edge of Cambridge; • Defined, small-scale sites released from the inner Green Belt boundary; The inter-relationship between Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire is well established • Existing and newly identified new settlement locations at Cambourne, Northstowe, through the location of key employment sites, patterns of travel to work and access Bourn Airfield and Waterbeach; and to services and facilities. One of the key challenges facing Cambridge is balancing the • Identified villages. qualities of a compact city located within a high quality landscape setting against demands for growth to sustain economic success led by the knowledge sector. It is recognised that Cambridge already demonstrates success that comes with well planned growth and the city must grow to maintain its competitiveness and address demand for housing and Waterbeach New Town forms a crucial part of plans for the future. It is located beyond the issues of affordability without loosing sight of the factors that underpin its success. Green Belt on the edge of the surrounding Fens and offers outstanding opportunities for sustainable means of travel with a particular focus on walking, cycling and rail. Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council have both prepared new development plans for the Cambridge and surrounding area. Both plans are 14 WATERBEACH NEW TOWN, OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION - DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT Plan: Strategic Site Context Legend Site boundary Strategic development sites Green belt land Watercourses/waterbodies A Cambridge Science Park B Wing Development Cambridge East H A C Cambridge Biomedical Campus G D Cambridge Southern Fringe F I B E West Cambridge E F North West Cambridge G NIAB B H Orchard Park I Cambourne West D C N 0 5000m 15 Policy Overview Introduction assessed and taken into account – including appropriate opportunities for avoiding and The proposed allocation of a New Town on the land to the north of Waterbeach village mitigating any adverse effects, and for net environmental gains; and is contained explicitly within the adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan covering the e) patterns of movement, streets, parking and other transport considerations are integral period to 2031. to the design of schemes, and contribute to making high quality places.” The planning policy context for the New Town in general terms is set out below Paragraph 103 goes on to states that “The planning system should actively manage highlighting matters of particular relevance to design and access considerations. patterns of growth in support of these objectives. Significant development should be focused on locations which are or can be made sustainable, through limiting the National Planning Policy Framework (2019) need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes. This can help to The NPPF emphasises the importance of striving to achieve sustainable development, reduce congestion and emissions, and improve air quality and public health. However, covering economic, social and environmental strands. The Framework includes a focus on opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions will vary between urban and planning positively to secure economic growth and to meet objectively assessed needs for rural areas, and this should be taken into account in both plan-making and decision- housing, specifically requiring delivery of a wide choice of high quality homes. Para. 72 making.” states that: Chapter 12 focusses on “achieving well-designed places” setting out the need for “The supply of new homes can sometimes be best achieved through planning for larger development to respond to local character and be visually attractive, as well as scale development, such as new settlements or extensions to existing villages and towns emphasising the integration of development into the surrounding natural and built that follow the principles of Garden Cities.” environment. Paragraph 124 notes that “Good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, creates better places in which to live and work” The NPPF recognises the importance of promoting sustainable transport. It is noted at Paragraph 102. “Transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of plan- making and development proposals, so that: Adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (September 2018) a) the potential impacts of development on transport networks can be addressed; The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan was adopted on 27th September 2018 and sets out b) opportunities from existing or proposed transport infrastructure, and changing the planning policies and land allocations to guide the future development of the district transport technology and usage, are realised – for example in relation to the scale, location up to 2031. or density of development that can be accommodated; c) opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use are identified and The adopted Local Plan (2018) replaces key documents of the Development Plan referred pursued; to within the original Design and Access Statement, namely the Core Strategy DPD, d) the environmental impacts of traffic and transport infrastructure can be identified, Development Control Policies DPD, Site Specific Policies DPD, The Local Plan 2004 ‘Saved’ 16 WATERBEACH NEW TOWN, OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION - DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT Plan: Administrative Boundaries Waterbeach Parish Council South Cambridgeshire District Council Legend Site Boundary District Council Boundary Parish Council Boundary N 0 5000m 17 Policy CNF6, and the previous Adopted Proposals Map. practice urban design principles, drawing on the traditions of fen-edge market towns, which encourages the high quality traditions and innovation that are characteristic of the Policy S/1 provides the Vision for the adopted Local Plan, which emphasises pursuit of Cambridge Sub-Region.” quality of life and sustainable economic growth. To secure this Vision, six objectives are set out through Policy S/2 (Objectives of the Local Plan), which include (inter alia): (3.) It will be developed to maintain the identity of Waterbeach as a village close to the new town. Appropriate integration should be secured by the provision of suitable links to “d. To deliver new developments that are high quality and well-designed with distinctive enable the residents of Waterbeach village to have convenient access to the services and character that reflects their location, and which responds robustly to the challenges of facilities in the new town but with limited and controlled opportunities for direct road climate change. access from the wider new town to Waterbeach with emphasis on connections by public transport, cycle and on foot. f. To maximise potential for journeys to be undertaken by sustainable modes of transport including walking, cycling, bus and train.” (4.) It will deliver an example of excellence in sustainable development and healthier living, which will make a significant contribution to the long term development needs of the The strategy for development within the district over the plan period is set out under Cambridge area. It will deliver high quality public transport links to Cambridge,