Revised home development strategy in Cambridge sparks significant anxiety among local neighborhoods
In the heart of Cambridge, a new housing development proposed by Development Group GCR Camprop Eight Ltd has sparked concerns among local residents. The plans, initially located in Queen Edith's Way, aim to build 40 short-stay flats, but recent amendments have raised eyebrows due to potential parking issues and carbon reduction concerns.
The initial plans included a basement level property with parking spaces, bin storage, and air source heat pumps. However, the revised plans no longer include the basement, reducing the parking spaces from 14 to 7. This change has left residents living in the area expressing concerns that people will leave their cars on the street instead of being able to park at the apartment block.
Residents fear that the development will exacerbate parking shortages in the area because the new flats are short-stay, which typically means a higher turnover of vehicles and visitors, increasing demand for limited parking spaces. Moreover, they are concerned that the plans may not align properly with the city’s ambitions to reduce carbon emissions, either by insufficient green building measures or increased traffic emissions related to parking and vehicle usage.
Cllr David Levien has expressed concerns about the potential impact of the new development on parking in the area. He is not alone in his worries, as Cllr Naomi Bennet has raised concerns about the city council's policy on parking in new developments. However, planning officers state that the city council has a maximum parking policy, not a requirement for a minimum amount of parking.
The developer, on the other hand, claims the removal of the basement will result in a more efficient build and significant carbon reduction. This assertion is in line with Michael Gove's outline of developments for a new urban quarter in Cambridge last month, which emphasised sustainable and efficient building practices.
Anthony Browne, the Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire, has expressed concerns about the government's plans for mass housebuilding in Cambridge due to water scarcity issues. He, along with other Cambridge locals, has voiced his concerns about the potential impact of the new development on the city's water resources.
As the debate continues, it is essential to keep an eye on local planning documents and news reports for updates on the Queen Edith's Way development. Chris Boland recently captured an image for this article, offering a glimpse into the ongoing transformation of Cambridge's urban landscape.
- The revised plans of the Queen Edith's Way housing development by GCR Camprop Eight Ltd have caused concern among residents due to potential parking issues in the area, especially as the change removes the basement level parking spaces.
- The city council's policy on parking in new developments, which has a maximum parking policy, not a requirement for a minimum amount of parking, has been the subject of debate, with council members voicing concerns about the parking situation in the area.
- Amidst discussions about the Queen Edith's Way development, Anthony Browne, the Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire, has voiced concerns about the potential impact of government's mass housebuilding plans on the city's water resources, specifically in the context of Cambridge's housing-market and real-estate landscape.
