Monday 27 March 2006 14:44
Ministry Of Defence (East)

CAMBRIDGESHIRE DEAL MAKES BEST USE OF GOVERNMENT LAND


In a deal worth almost £100 million English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency, has bought the disused Oakington Barracks in south Cambridgeshire from Defence Estates. The 288 hectare site has been designated in the county's regional structure plan as a major part of a proposed new town development called Northstowe, five miles from the centre of Cambridge.

Northstowe is expected to provide between 8,000 and 10,000 homes as part of a new community to be created on the former airfield and adjacent land near Longstanton. The development will contribute to the region's growth agenda, reducing pressure on the Cambridge housing market that suffers from a shortage of new and affordable homes.

The land sale is another example of the strong working relationship between the two agencies in devising strategies to make best use of surplus public sector land in line with government aspirations.

Defence Minister, Don Touhig MP, said:
"I am delighted that the sale has completed and will provide English Partnerships the opportunity to provide a flagship sustainable community in Cambridgeshire.

"The Oakington sale also forms part of MOD's ongoing rationalisation and disposal programme with the aim of managing an estate of the right size and quality to support defence capabilities, and of focussing our activities onto fewer, larger sites."

Margaret Ford, Chairman of English Partnerships, said:
"This is another significant example of government agencies working together to bring forward surplus land effectively and for the benefit of local communities. The land at Oakington will make a significant contribution to Northstowe where a new and sustainable community offering homes, amenities, jobs and open space is planned in an area of housing need."

DE's Chief Executive, Vice Admiral Peter Dunt added:
"Government is committed to using more brownfield land to create sustainable communities with affordable housing. The sale of Oakington is yet another example of the strong working relationship between two Government agencies in devising strategies to make best use of surplus public sector land. This sale reflects the joint Framework Agreement signed by Defence Estates and English Partnerships."

Bar Hill Mk2 it seems...

More water shortages then...

and how is a community with no major public transport links sustainable???

I think this is supposed to be linked by that new segregated guided bus link.

I hope they don't just build 10,000 indentikit house's 1ft apart from each other like they do on every other new housing development.

wow... a bus link. thatll really help!

Ah yes, this is going up just 2 miles from me. This guided bus is due to run along a perfectly good disused railway which the council are against reinstating. Add this to the fact that this town will be entirely dependent on access to the already massively congested A14 and we have one of the most poorly planned pieces of development i have ever seen.

if any1 is interested in the "architecture" that can be expected take a look at this link... www.gallagherlongstanton.co.uk

Expect the land to be contracted off to the likes of Persimmons and Barratts etc as is the case with Gallaghers north cambridge extension (arbury camp), currently u/c.

can any1 tell im bitter!?!

I hope they don't just build 10,000 indentikit house's 1ft apart from each other like they do on every other new housing development.

That's my main concern with a huge planned development like this. Don't want another Milton Keynes. The site says that excellent public transport links are being planned but doesn't mention how?

Is this part of the old Varsity Line that used to (and still does in some places) between Oxford and Cambridge?

I don't think so. While the new link will not have the same capacity as a new light rail line, it will be cheaper to build an will certainly be quicker than the neighbouring A14.

Any Skyscrapers going to be built there than?
I thought I must have missed that part.

No, its mostly 2 storeys rising to a max of 4-5 in the centre. Though the scale of the place is pretty big providing homes for around 30,000 people. This is just 1 part of cambridge's expansion. Redevelopment near the station is well underway with new leisure facilities and apartment blocks up to around 10 - 11 storeys. New office blocks proposed in the masterplan by Richard Rogers have recently been criticised by CABE for being too tall (10 storeys i think). There is also an interesting development by Feildon Clegg just up the road.

This is on top of large-scale greenbelt expansion occuring to the east (Marshals airport), west (university area), south (between adenbrookes hospital and the M11), and north (between Arbury and th A14) that will absorb most of the demand for new houses. However, this is all mostly less than 5 storeys and in that "traditional vernacular" barratt homes style they think we all aspire to.

Il try and get some pics of the more interesting redevelopments while im home over easter.

How depressing.

Feilden Clegg Bradley are good architects though - you might get a street of their stuff for the publicity brochures.