Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

I’m trying to work out how I found the spreadsheet and information because the instructions from the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service keep changing, meaning half of my weblinks become obsolete far too quickly! I’d like to think most local communities are already aware of what has been proposed for near them, but you neverContinue reading “Looking at refreshed developer pitches published in 2026 that so far have not made it into the draft local plan”

The Government confirmed a new public inquiry for the controversial CSET Busway in early September 2026 – but why have so many objectors criticised the GCP and its consultants over poor communications and consultation? You can read: Cambridge’s south eastern transport proposals were originally meant to connect Haverhill, but in the end have come toContinue reading “Objections to new Cambridge South East Busway now published”

North Cambridge is getting one, so can we have one too? Above – from Cambridge Community Development on FB here You can sign up for the above-mentioned event via here The list of participants is also long. Above – Cambridge Community Development on FB Above – Nurture Development (2015) Communities are the atomic elements ofContinue reading “What might a ‘Shaping South Cambridge’ day be like?”

I got called out by a former Cambridge City Council executive councillor on FB and her criticisms – valid as they are, also helped make the point I was trying to make My original blogpost was about Orchard Park Community School. Former Cambridge City Councillor Clare King (formerly of the Liberal Democrats before switching toContinue reading “What is the reality of new developments?”

First Secretary of State Louise Haigh of Cabinet Office said at the Labour Party Conference earlier, the concept of Total Place will be returning. It has to go beyond pooling budgets and ensuring that the organisations, governance, and administrative arrangements are in place too You can watch Louise Haigh’s speech here It’s easier to explainContinue reading “The cumulative needs of a growing Cambridge are not just buildings and amenities alone”

On the Demos report of 25 September 2026 and why it is a challenge for a place like Cambridge You can read the Demos report here. It has one really powerful statement emerging from focus groups that highlight the scale of the problems facing everyone, and it is this: “Yet the prevailing sense was thatContinue reading “Becoming a nation of neighbours in economies with high population churns”

Some of you may have seen the recent headlines about their recent Ofsted Report. The community should not have to face their challenges alone In one sense, the contrast could not be greater. Geographically Orchard Park, an urban extension to Cambridge that administratively sits outside of Cambridge City Council’s boundaries, also has Cambridge Science ParkContinue reading “What support can Cambridge provide for Orchard Park Community School?”

There are still a few tickets left for the Good Growth event on 06 October 2026 In the meantime the CPCA Mayor Paul Bristow was at the Time for Trams event in Coventry Sadly there’s no livestream but I’m assuming something will be written up for next month’s Tramways and Urban Transit Magazine. (Am IContinue reading “Ox-Cam-Arc good growth event comes to Cambridge as Mayor goes to Time for Trams conference”

Along with Cambridgeshire County Council’s Quality of Life report, what do they tell us about the state of the county? Image: The Trials of Democracy Cambridge logo by Hilary Cox Condron – read about the project here. I hope it gets another round of funding for the transition to the unitary council structures. You can:Continue reading “Cambridge: The state of the city 2026”

At the recent Cambridge Biomedical Campus Open Forum (21 September 2026) The chief executive Eilish Midlane referred to me as ‘young man’ in the Q&A – which I’ll take as a win given I’m in my mid-40s! You can: Note there are two other NHS Foundation Trusts that serve Cambridge: If you are a memberContinue reading “Royal Papworth Hospital launches new five year strategy”