Planning Inspectors have today backed the University's proposals for its North West Cambridge site.

The Report on the North West Cambridge Area Action Plan supports the range of uses proposed for the site jointly by Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council. The Area Action Plan now gives the University, as the principal land owner, the scope to develop its plans for the site, which include new research buildings; homes for key-workers, postgraduates and local people; community facilities and public spaces.

The next stage will see the creation of a master plan for the site, ahead of an application for outline planning application in 2010.

The publication of the report also signals the start of a consultation programme that will seek the views of interested people and organisations about the proposals.