Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

Over the years I’ve tried to avoid commenting on the internal issues of the University of Cambridge – preferring to focus on the past, present, and future of ‘town’ which I’m much more familiar with. But this issue goes to the heart of what the University both is, what it thinks it is, and whatContinue reading “Cambridge Vet School’s future goes to the heart of what the University is”

In an extended statement to Parliament, the Minister for Housing Matthew Pennycook outlined twelve new changes he’s proposing to national planning policies You can read more in the consultation document here The headlines of the 12 changes: One legal firm says this represents a radical change to Government Policy There are some things which representContinue reading “Housing Minister consults on new developments at rural railway stations”

I’ve been waiting a couple of years for this so you can imagine my disappointment when there’s no mention of a new large concert hall within it. Which is inconsistent with the Combined Authority Mayor’s Growth Plan (and thus the strategy should have been refreshed in the light of his election). Click on the libraryContinue reading “The Greater Cambridge Cultural Infrastructure Strategy – is that it?!?”

This follows on from my previous post on the draft Infrastructure Delivery Plan – which is probably why it’s still a draft and why the consultants need the wider public to scrutinise it TL/DR: Have a look at the tables on proposed new sports pitches, then ask about provision by things like gender, age, mobilityContinue reading “Consultants may need to rethink assumptions on women’s sports facilities”

Which is splendid! Now, how is the University of Cambridge getting on with their long-delayed pool at West Cambridge? ***Well doesn’t this look wonderful!*** Above – Green and Open Space Types (Cambridge & Fringe) 2025, p109 Note the table of priority projects below. Above – a screen grab of p99 of the draft infrastructure deliveryContinue reading “Greater Cambridge Infrastructure Study recommends 12-lane public swimming pool”

I went to the afternoon session of the launch event at Anglia Ruskin University earlier – mainly to plead the case for lifelong learning. Fortunately one of the speakers (Mark Wakeford of Ovo Energy) on the panel made the case for me. You can read the report here (scroll to the end for the PDF)Continue reading “The governance-shaped gap in the Ox-Cam Growth Corridor”

I highlighted this omission back in October – but no changes were made to the draft. If Cambridge is to grow in the manner the Minister for Housing wants to, not only do arts, sports, and leisure facilities need to be connected by public transport, but the University of Cambridge will need to prioritise itsContinue reading “Local Growth Plan omits The Arts.”

I mentioned I’d come back to this in my earlier blogpost from Peter Freeman’s extended Q&A with city councillors I was sort of fortunate because I had one of my local city councillors and my local county councillor represented on the committees that formed the selection of councillors doing the cross examination. Of the write-upsContinue reading “The Cambridge Growth Company and the democratic deficit – who is in charge?”

This follows on from my October 2025 blogpost when we all heard the news Ten years ago you would have had an event full of live tweeters/bloggers for an event like this, with feedback coming in from outside. It speaks volumes of social media and the chaps at the top that the tools and culturesContinue reading “Forest City’s first offline event in Cambridge”

There were seven people from the Cambridge Growth Company there this evening – which is why I was a little disappointed that there were hardly any people in the public seats TL/DR? Watch the meeting here from Cambridge City Council’s stream *Note to Cambridge City Council, please could you upload the CGC slides to theContinue reading “Councillors cross examine Peter Freeman and his Cambridge Growth Company team”