Their Health Impact Assessment completely ignores recent research findings (including those from researchers at the University of Cambridge) in the field of neuroarchitecture. This despite posting a public comment in response to the planning application asking for this to be covered.
Image: Boring buildings starve your soul. By Humanise
I tried to play by the rules with the Hanover Court and Princes Court developments being determined next week. I didn’t even object to the planning application – my comment on the planning portal was ‘Neutral’ – simply asking for the applicant to ensure that the Health Impact Assessment covered recent research findings on neuroarchitecture. (See this article by Eleanor Young for RIBA from May 2025)
Above – Boring facades can seriously damage your health. Eleanor Young (2025) for RIBA
Which is why back in October 2024 I compared the CGIs from the proposed comprehensive redevelopment of council housing by the big Catholic Church on Hills Road to those that were produced under a communist regime. You may be surprised to find out that there was more colour and art in the communist-era poster than in the turbo-property-capitalism era of the 2020s.
Above-left, a CGI from Hanover and Princess Court, and Above-right, a propaganda poster from East Germany in the mid-1980s.
At what point will we see a significant design change and culture change within the built environment profession? At this rate I will probably be plant food by the time it happens – I don’t hold out much hope for the near future going by past records.
Above – when spoof becomes much more relevant than expected. Waterford Whispers
They also lampoon the objectors too – the chap below is my hero!
Above: Still from the spoof video: “Man reading neighbour’s planning permission like he owns the effing planet“
Well…someone’s got to keep an eye on the planning applications I suppose! (Just don’t become this chap in the hat!)
Planning applications and transport infrastructure
I rarely comment on the boards but for those of you interested in transport infrastructure, have a look at the Cyclescape discussion boards here. Chances are you’ll come across more interesting comments than me letting off steam here, and more considered responses from less mentally intense people than me.
Above – For anyone whose brain has decided that 1am is the perfect time to start a side quest on town planning or local government policy! Badges by Jubly-Umph
It’s a neurodiversity thing – and for those of you who want to know more, in particular on the new research on AuDHD (Autism + ADHD), have a listen to Dr Samantha Hiew on the ADHD Chatter Podcast from 02 June 2026 here.
More local council meetings
See the following:
- Cambridge City Council (who need to give more time for people to table PQs even if they are guildhall groupies like me – it’s not great to have no papers less than 48 hours before a meeting when you have to keep questions to things on an agenda!)
- South Cambs District Council – see item 19 of their Cabinet meeting which includes a report on what residents said about the proposed Community Infrastructure Levy.
- Cambridgeshire County Council – see the Assets and Procurement Meeting which includes an item on the old Mill Road Library. (I think all asset sales should be halted until after the restructure lest a new unitary council chooses to take a different decision.) See also the Greater Cambridge Partnership Assembly that also meets on Thursday 18 June at Cambridge Guildhall – some of you may want to rock up to that one.
- Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority including a Transport Committee meeting with ***eight*** public questions (including campaign groups on buses, cycling, and sustainable transport more widely)
And for those of you who missed them…
If you are interested in the longer term future of Cambridge, and on what happens at the local democracy meetings where decisions are made, feel free to:
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