Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

I wrote about this monstrosity back in May 2025 here, and submitted my consultation response accordingly. Not surprisingly, I was ignored. With this being the experience for so many members of the public, is it any surprise the firms and industries responsible are held in such low regard? TL/DR? Whatever your views of this applicationContinue reading “Bennetts Associates’ Kett House proposal reflects a contempt for Cambridge”

That was my take from Geoff Mulgan’s recent blogpost: Hollowed Out. Image: Trials of democracy. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu I previously wrote about Sir Geoff’s creation of a new university degree aimed at training and educating a new generation of civil servant who is sci/tech/data literate. 20 years agoContinue reading “Over-centralisation and ‘centralism’ make politics boring – and weakens democracy”

Why do those commissioning new buildings on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus insist on instructing architects to come up with designs that make people feel ill? Image: Humanise Declarations of interest This blogpost features the research led by Dr Cleo Valentine who is working in the pioneering field of neuroarchitecture. No one has paid me toContinue reading “Cambridge’s 19thC Gaols had more decoration than the Discovery Drive Carbuncles”

Following the first round of consultation which I wrote about here in June 2025, and following the news about Hartree / the freezing of the proposed water works relocation, Crown Estates are bringing forward their plans on the Cambridge Business Park just south of the A14 Milton Junction TL/DR? Go to the consultation events onContinue reading “Crown Estate’s second public exhibition for North East Cambridge”

The October issue of BBC Science Focus Magazine (which I got from the shop formerly known as WH Smith) leads with an item on ADHD This follows on from my earlier blogpost here and is sort of for anyone who I have infodumped on. I.e. where someone has had a conversation with me and theyContinue reading “Making sense of neurodiversity – my own”

With the troubles of North East Cambridge, it looks like one of the reserve sites – Worsted Lodge north of the Abingtons on the east side of the A11 is being brought forward for the emerging local plan. This is one of several follow-up posts to the publication of the emerging local plan documents thatContinue reading “New large site east of Cambridge by Granta Park brought forward for housing”

On the weapon on enlightenment, and what we can learn today on democracy education in an era of disinformation. Pictured: The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority – AKA IPSA established a Citizens’ Forum of randomly-selected members of the public to examine the work and pay of MPs TL:DR? Watch the video here on how the British Army setContinue reading “How the British Army educated war time soldiers in democracy and civics”

Are the numbers submitted for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan 2031-45 consistent with what’s happening in the wider higher education sector? Anglia Ruskin University published their current future plan before the lockdowns, covering the period 2017-26. “We will be inclusive and welcoming of all who want to study with us, measuring our success by theirContinue reading “Anglia Ruskin University predicts a decade of growing student numbers”

Three years after the former Transport Minister Baroness Vere spoke highly of trams, a concept plan by Josh Grantham looks at a Cambridge Orbital. This from a post featured in the Cambridge Independent of 29 Oct 2025 TL/DR? See John Grantham’s article here. If you are convinced and really want trams, join the LRTA andContinue reading “Tram-tastic! Cambs Sustainable Travel’s orbital tram proposal”

A new report from a group of Cambridge University researchers and associated colleagues, friends, and volunteers goes beyond the housing targets and challenges us to consider what a healthy expanded city might be like Before I start, if you find what follows to be interesting/useful/even frightening, feel free to help support my continued research. MakingContinue reading “Making Greater Cambridge Healthy”