I’ve just been talking to Emma Bullimore on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire about the Beehive Centre scheme which has been granted permission for an “outline application (with all matters reserved) for the demolition of existing buildings and structures and redevelopment of the site for a new local centre”(reference 23/03204/OUT if you want to check it on our planning portal).
I explained that earlier this year I had been on the planning committee waiting to consider the application and the case officer’s recommendation to refuse the application, when we heard that the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government would make the decision. We decided to consider the application anyway and make an “in principle decision” so that we could listen to the case officer, objectors and supporters, and to debate the application. The committee unanimously agreed that to support the officers recommendation.
I explained that scheme went to an appeal hearing, and the inspector made a recommendation to the SoS to support the application with an additional condition that would limit the height and scale of the buildings to the Illustrative Scheme rather than the original Parameter Plan, which sets the maximum height of the buildings on a site. I’m pleased about the new condition because this significantly reduces the number of homes that will have reduced light levels.
We discussed the shops at the site and how popular they were. I explained that scheme does allow for shops, amenity and community spaces at ground floor level and this was an important part of the scheme. I also noted that we were expecting more space to be created across the road at the Newmarket Road Retail Park so that some shops could move across the road, and then eventually move back, but that it would be up to the shops if they wanted to do this and it could be up to 5 years to go through this process. Shopping is changing in Cambridge and throughout the country.
Finally I explained that there are still a lot of decisions to make. Each building would have to be designed and submitted for consent through a Reserved Matters stage and it is important that residents and local shops to stay involved and to speak out. We want each building to be the best possible and that they respect nearby residents.
You can listen to it on BBC Sounds if you scroll to 07:10, or listen here
As I said to Emma, there are still many steps to go through before the site is rebuilt, and I’ll be working to make sure that the proposed new buildings are properly scrutinised.