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People in Cambridge have seen many new developments over recent years built to various levels of quality. Consultees want assurances from the University that the development will be high quality.

The University has been in Cambridge for 800 years and has developed some of the world’s most beautiful buildings in that time. It is important to appreciate how the success of North West Cambridge will be central to the future prosperity of the University. It has to be high quality accommodation if the University is to attract the world’s top academics, rersearchers, support staff and research establishments. This is a major incentive for good design, both of buildings and the wider community elements.

At this early stage the University is preparing an outline planning application and specific matters of design will be addressed in future, detailed planning submissions for individual phases of the development.

But already our experts have already commenced the development of design codes that will meet the high aspirations of the people who will live and work in this development and its facilities in the years to come. The overall character of the area is maintained through retention of certain existing features; open spaces; new housing sympathetic to existing design in the city; and new community services which will include a school, health centre, leisure and shopping facilities.

Some people were concerned to know how the University will ensure that its high aspirations for the site would be met and retained over the years. We have looked very closely at how we can achieve this because the long-term success of the development is vital for the University.

The University will retain ownership of the majority of the land on the site and this will enable it to maintain high standards. Even those elements used for private housing are likely to be sold on a basis that will require a contribution towards the overall maintenance of the Estate by the University. The graduate and key worker residences will be managed by a company established by the University.

The density on site is a very important issue that has been the subject of lots of debate which still continues. The Area Action Plan allows for up to 3,000 homes and accommodation for 2,000 post-graduates and design guidelines require specific densities to be achieved. The challenge has been to fit this number of homes onto the site – together with the other uses – in a way that creates a quality environment.

We are proposing a range of densities in different areas of the site which, taken together will achieve the average density of a minimum of 50 units per hectare as determined by the local planning policy.

Having discussed our proposals with our local neighbours we have agreed to provide low density housing with large gardens close to their boundaries to reduce the impact. The density will rise towards the centre of the development with tallest buildings at about five storeys high around the local centre, with the majority at three or four storeys.

We believe that the site is large enough to accommodate a sensible and sensitive mix of densities without having a negative impact on the surrounding area. In fact we believe that the range of densities will deliver a less uniform and more interesting community.