Plans to build 5,600 homes on edge of Cambridge ‘frozen’ as developers wait on government decision

CGI showing aerial view of Hartree development.
-Credit:LandsecU+I/TOWN


A project to build 5,600 homes on the edge of Cambridge has been “frozen” as the developers wait for a government decision. The master developers, LandsecU+I and TOWN, for the planned Hartree development in the north east of the city had hoped to submit a planning application in March.

However, an application may not now be submitted until the summer as the developers wait for a decision to be issued on the sewage works relocation. The proposed Hartree development is dependent on permission being granted to build a replacement sewage works, so that the homes can be built on the site of the existing facility.

Anglian Water applied for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to build the new Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant on land north of the A14 between Horningsea and Fen Ditton, known as Honey Hill. A decision on the project was due to be issued on January 12, but it was delayed for a second time by the Secretary of State, Steve Reed, with a decision now not due until April 14.

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Mike Bodkin, head planner at TOWN, said the Hartree scheme was “now frozen”. He said if the sewage works relocation was approved then the master developers would submit the outline planning application for Hartree “shortly after”. The development proposals include 5,600 homes, 90 per cent of which would be flats, and 10 per cent houses, with 40 per cent of all homes made available as affordable housing and 25 per cent and Build to Rent.

Alongside housing the development also proposes to include two primary schools, one library, one health hub, a sports hall, and two flexible community/culture facilities. The development also plans to create new jobs by offering 6,550sqm of retail space, 1,800sqm of food and beverage commercial space, 87,100sqm of research and development space, and 8,300sqm of workshop/studio ground floor space.

The master developers have previously claimed there was not a development like Hartree “anywhere in the world yet” and said it would “set a new standard” in Cambridge. A briefing was held this week (January 22) where councillors from Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council were updated on the plans. Mr Bodkin said the plans were a "fundamental part of the regeneration of North East Cambridge” and said the developers were committed to “creating a quality place”.

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Councillor Katie Thornburrow raised concerns there had been some “misinformation” spread that no cars would be allowed in the development. She said it needed to be made clear that there will be car access to Hartree. The developers confirmed there would be car access, but said they were aiming to create “excellent walking and cycling facilities” to give people the option not to have their own car.

They explained that four ‘mobility hubs’ are planned around the edge of the site that would offer parking, but also could offer car club spaces, access to e-bike, buses and other transport options. All of the homes are proposed to be within 400metres of a mobility hub, which the developers said helped keep them accessible. They added that disabled car parking spaces will also be created near the accessible homes.

Councillor Anna Bradnam suggested some people may not accept when moving into the development that they can’t park a car near to where they live. She raised concerns this could lead to people parking on the street where they are not meant to, and asked the developers what plans they have to stop people from pavement parking.

Mr Bodkin explained that they were planning to restrict where it would be possible to park throughout the development using the design of the landscaping. He also said they would use fines for people who parked inappropriately. Mr Bodkin said: “We are not dictating who can come and live here, but what we are saying is that if they want to come live here, that they are then buying into the vision. If they want to live with a car then there will be an additional cost and they will be paying to use a space.”

Cllr Thornburrow said moving home was a key point when people made a decision about potentially shifting from using a car to using public transport. She said: “When people move to an area with different forms of transport provision they will weigh up the pros and cons of public transport, or the ability to own a car, or the ability to access cars in a different way. I think what we are planning here is a very good idea. I hope that the details will be done very carefully, so that people can choose to make that modal shift, to not give up car use, but car ownership.”

Cllr Thornburrow said she also agreed with Cllr Bradnam’s concerns about people parking throughout the development. She said there needed to be parking enforcement from when the first person moved in. Cllr Thornburrow said there had been problems at other new developments where parking restrictions were brought in at the end, by which point people had got into “bad habits” of parking along the streets.