Master plan for 10,000-home settlement approved
The master plan for a new 10,000-home “eco town” in Cambridgeshire has been formally approved by a committee of local authority councillors drawn from the county council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.
The new settlement, called Northstowe, will have up to 10,000 new homes, new schools, employment areas, a town centre and other community services.
The development will be built on the former RAF Oakington Barracks site and surrounding land between Cambridge and St Ives. The scheme is a joint venture between developer Gallagher Estates and the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA).
A planning application for the first phase of the Northstowe plan was submitted in February. This proposed 1,500 new homes, a primary school, sports hub, areas of open space, a local centre, shops, employment opportunities and a site for a household recycling centre.
The councillors’ endorsement of the master plan came in the wake of last week’s announcement by Transport Secretary Justine Greening that the Government wanted to move ahead with an upgrade to the A14 in Cambridgeshire which would include the potential for tolls as well as separate access roads running either side so local residents can make local journeys without facing a toll.
Ian Bates, Cambridgeshire County Council’s cabinet member for growth and planning, said: “If we get this critical development right it can help boost the economic prosperity of the whole county and with new transport links such as the Busway, and the new rail station planned for the Cambridge Science Park, it will attract business and make it even easier for residents to access jobs.” http://ow.ly/cw6VG
