The Carter Jonas Eastern Planning Team were delighted to achieve full planning permission for a mixed-use development comprising the redevelopment of East Barnwell local centre on behalf of Cambridge Investment Partnership.

Carter Jonas’ role comprised the management and submission of the application throughout the design and extensive pre-application process until the determination period, and presenting the scheme at planning committee.

The proposals comprise a new community centre, library, pre-school, and replacement retail/café/commercial space alongside an uplift of eight existing homes to 120 new dwellings which will be 100% affordable and designed to be benchmarked against Passivhaus standards. The redevelopment will help to revitalise the surrounding area and provide much needed community facilities while ensuring CIP continue to deliver significant affordable housing across the City.

The proposals followed an extensive period of public consultation that began in 2019 with the focus being on identifying regeneration priorities for East Barnwell; the site which currently comprises of existing protected open space of limited quality and accessibility alongside the local centre, was identified as most appropriate.

The application was submitted concurrently with a scheme for a new MUGA and bowls green at Abbey Leisure. This was fundamental to supporting the principle of development for the site and ensuring appropriate protected open space reprovision arrangements including for the bowls green could be demonstrated.

The scheme has sought to provide a positive enhancement and transition along Newmarket Road, which serves as one of the key artillery routes into and out of Cambridge, while considerably enhancing the useability, accessibility and quality of the re-provided open space for local users and residents. High quality pedestrian and cycle links have been designed throughout the site to maximise connectivity and allow for a reduced parking ratio. Existing trees have been retained where feasible, with substantial replanting proposed onsite to support wider biodiversity enhancements which with offsite enhancements, will deliver a 20% biodiversity net gain.

The project team include BPTW, and landscape designers TEP.