Dear friend,

I would like to update you on a few recent developments relating to the University's proposals to create a new sustainable community at North West Cambridge.

Retail Study

The University has welcomed the report by Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council on retail provision in North West Cambridge. We have responded to the consultation supporting option two, which would allow two supermarkets of 2,000m2 net floorspace, one on the University site and one on the NIAB site. The University believes that this option is the best one for both its development in the North West of Cambridge and the wider community in the rest of the city.

The University supports this option because it strongly believes that only a store of this size would provide a wide enough range of goods to discourage residents and employees from leaving the site and surrounding areas to shop. This is an important measure to minimise the traffic generated by cars making unnecessary journeys on the strategic road network in this part of Cambridge.

You can see the Councils' report and the University's response on our website at www.nwcambridge.co.uk/downloads.php

A14 Upgrade

As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review at the end of October the Government announced that it will not be proceeding with the proposed scheme for the A14 upgrade. Whilst the A14 project was not included in the list of those that have been cancelled, the Government has said that it wishes to examine alternative methods for managing traffic volumes on this stretch of the A14.

The University is talking to the Highways Agency and the highways authority, Cambridgeshire County Council, about the implications of this decision. Our initial discussions have been encouraging and although the submission of our outline planning application may be delayed for a few months while we produce a revised travel plan which meets the requirements of the highways authority, we believe that it will be possible to continue with our overall proposals. As we refine the scheme, we will discuss the details with all interested parties.

University Green Paper.

The University published a Green Paper on the project as a consultation document in June. The consultation period has now closed and you can see the both the Green Paper and the responses on our homepage at www.nwcambridge.co.uk.

The University Council's Report on the outcome of the consultation has been published in the Reporter. Formal approval from Regent House to submit the outline planning application has been deferred pending the outcome of the discussions with the highways authorities on the changes to the Transport Assessment following the announcement regarding the A14 improvement.

Responding positively to your views

The University of Cambridge has been working hard to engage with a wide range of local people, students and other stakeholders on its plans for North West Cambridge. Consequently people have been giving their views on the University's plans at a series of workshops, exhibitions, briefings, focus groups or through questionnaires and e-mails to our website. All comments received have been examined by the University and members of the professional team and taken into account in the development of the masterplan. Where possible and appropriate the University has responded directly to people to tell them what action we have taken as a result of their comments.

During this process of engagement, it has become clear that certain subjects are of particular importance to a wide range of people. The project team has therefore developed a new section of our website which looks at some of the most commonly raised issues and comments and explains in detail how the project team has responded. The document is available on the website now and you can either browse through it from the home page of our website or download it as a PDF document from www.nwcambridge.co.uk/downloads.php.

We are extremely grateful to everyone who has taken the time to contribute to the development of this project. Your input has been invaluable in helping the University to develop a scheme of which the whole community can be proud.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything you would like to discuss in more detail.

Best wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Roger Taylor

Project Director