‘10-minute walking aim’ for Springstead village development of 1,200 homes north of Cherry Hinton

Plans for the roads, pathways and cycleways in the new 1,200-home development north of Cherry Hinton have been approved.

Councillors approved two applications detailing the supporting infrastructure for the development, which was given outline approval in 2020.

It will include primary and secondary schools, a market square, community facilities, a retirement village, open spaces and allotments.

Further detailed plans for the first homes are due to follow.

A primary route will connect Airport Way to Coldhams Lane, while a secondary route will link Airport Way to the village green, a joint development control committee of councillors from Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council heard last Wednesday (March 15).

They also heard about the footpaths, cycleways, drainage and landscaping, with Daniel Fletcher, representing the developer Bellway Latimer LLP, explaining the plans followed an agreed design code and prioritised pedestrians and cyclists over cars.

Planning officers said the proposals included “substantial” cycling and walking infrastructure, and said there was the potential for everyone within the development being able to walk to the local centre within 10 minutes.

The market square will feature a rapid EV charging hub and Sheffield bike stands.

Neighbourhood parks and open spaces will also feature bike stands.

There will be 10 allocated visitor car parking spaces off the primary street, near the market square, with “further on-street parking if necessary”.

Concerns were raised by some councillors that open areas where children could play were also due to have sustainable drainage systems.

Officers said the design had been carefully considered, with drainage basins due to feature a “gradual” slope down.

Equipment play areas will be separate from the basins, so could still be used if there was flooding.

Cllr Dave Baigent (Lab, Romsey) said he had concerns about the new route between Airport Way and Coldhams Lane becoming a “rat run”, noting that it would open up minor roads to a major route.

Officers said the through road had been agreed by Cambridgeshire County Council, the highways authority, in 2020.

They also highlighted that measures were planned to make the through route “as unattractive as possible” to car drivers, while also encouraging others to use the route, such as cyclists and pedestrians.

The committee agreed a new condition requiring details of how parking enforcement on roads and cycleways will be managed before the roads are adopted.