| Client | Countryside Properties |
|---|---|
| Status | Ongoing |
| LPA | South Cambridgeshire District Council |
Strategic support for local plan promotion and for the development of a planning application for a new settlement at Bourn Airfield, Cambridge
The project
- We have been working with Countryside Properties to support the application for new development at Bourn Airfield comprising 3,500 new homes, primary and secondary schools, a village and local centre, areas of play and a linear park.
- Following the submission of the planning application in September 2018, we were appointed to lead the planning application process as well as continuing EIA support. This has included fortnightly meetings with the council and key stakeholders to work through the key elements of the proposed development.
- Our EIA team has been supporting the application and co-ordinating the Environmental Impact Assessment, with the Sustainability team providing climate change support.
- Our Sustainability team has been providing ongoing sustainability advice to the development, including preparation of a sustainability and energy strategy, and climate change Environmental Statement assessment to set out key adaptation and mitigation measures incorporated into the proposed development.
- The application received a resolution to grant planning permission from planning committee in February 2021. The Section 106 Agreement is being progressed with the intention of the decision being issued in autumn 2021.
Contribution to meeting UNSDGs
- Climate change has the potential to detrimentally affect the sustainability of our food production systems. Changing annual temperatures and rainfall patterns could affect productivity and production.
- To mitigate the effects of climate change, food production processes will need to change to become more resilient and promote more localised food production, this includes creating provision for allotments and food growing spaces in new large scale developments.
- At Bourn Airfield a significant area of land within the development is designated for the creation of allotments and orchards to facilitate local food production and encourage community growing schemes.
- As well as helping to combat the effects of climate change, home growing food has a number of other social, mental health, wellbeing and healthy eating benefits which contribute to the development of a sustainable community.