Policy S/OA: Opportunity Areas in Cambridge

Identify specific locations as

Provide opportunities to enable development that can reinforce and create character and identity in key corridors and centres of the city, often through associated public realm improvements. Given the opportunity nature of these sites they do not include any particular levels of development and are not counted towards meeting our needs.

that would benefit from a holistic approach to any future development that comes forward, to provide policy guidance for development that also improves public transport access and infrastructure delivery, and seeks improvements to the public realm.

Provide opportunities to enable development that can reinforce and create character and identity in key corridors and centres of the city, often through associated public realm improvements. Given the opportunity nature of these sites they do not include any particular levels of development and are not counted towards meeting our needs.

provide opportunities to enable development that can reinforce and create character and identity in key corridors and centres of the city, often through associated public realm improvements.

Provide opportunities to enable development that can reinforce and create character and identity in key corridors and centres of the city, often through associated public realm improvements. Given the opportunity nature of these sites they do not include any particular levels of development and are not counted towards meeting our needs.

embrace mixed uses and multiple functions, which provides opportunities and challenges, and requires a policy framework to promote and guide overall change during the life of the plan.

Given the opportunity nature of these sites they do not include any particular levels of development and are not counted towards meeting our needs.

New

Provide opportunities to enable development that can reinforce and create character and identity in key corridors and centres of the city, often through associated public realm improvements. Given the opportunity nature of these sites they do not include any particular levels of development and are not counted towards meeting our needs.

S/OA/NR        Newmarket Road Retail Park

S/OA/BC        Beehive Centre

Two new

Provide opportunities to enable development that can reinforce and create character and identity in key corridors and centres of the city, often through associated public realm improvements. Given the opportunity nature of these sites they do not include any particular levels of development and are not counted towards meeting our needs.

are proposed that are areas of low density, large-scale retail uses with extensive surface car parking. This does not make very good use of an expansive area of land in the heart of Cambridge. With changes in retailing and the increase in online shopping, when taken together with the

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

themes of addressing climate change and creating Great Places, these sites have the potential to provide a significant opportunity for reimagining this area close to the heart of Cambridge. There are land contamination issues at the Newmarket Road Retail Park that will need to be explored carefully  as part of any site intensification proposals. These opportunities can be explored further as the plan progresses, including having regard to emerging evidence about future retail needs to inform the next draft plan stage.

S/OA/AS Abbey Stadium

The Abbey Stadium is home to Cambridge United Football Club. The club is keen to improve its facilities to raise its profile as a commercial sporting enterprise. It could achieve this aim by either staying on site and securing enabling development on site alongside an enhanced stadium facility or by relocating elsewhere and redeveloping the existing site for new homes. The draft plan will provide guidance for this site for both possibilities.

S/OA/CH Shire Hall/Castle Park

With the relocation of Cambridgeshire County Council to new offices at Alconbury, the Shire Hall building and the adjacent castle mound park provide an opportunity for suitable new uses for these important heritage assets. The draft plan will consider planning guidance for this central site.

Continuing existing

Provide opportunities to enable development that can reinforce and create character and identity in key corridors and centres of the city, often through associated public realm improvements. Given the opportunity nature of these sites they do not include any particular levels of development and are not counted towards meeting our needs.

It is proposed to continue to identify the following areas:

• S/OA/Policy 22: Mitcham’s Corner (pdf)
• S/OA/Policy 23: Eastern Gate (pdf)
• S/OA/Policy 24: Mill Road (pdf)
• S/OA/Policy 25: Cambridge Railway Station, Hills Road Corridor to the City Centre (pdf)
• S/OA/Policy 26: Old Press/Mill Lane (pdf)