Category Archives: Uncategorized

And now we have an official map showing us where it is. And in Cambridge, lots of it is ‘deemed inaccessible’ The map on p63 of the document titled “Green Infrastructure and Open Spaces Standards Framework Final Report” in the big list of planning documents shows how much. Above – Green Spaces – much ofContinue reading “Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 5) Green space – but how much is accessible?”

“Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council are working jointly to prepare a new Minerals and Waste Local Plan for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This will replace the current plan which was adopted in July 2021.” …says the consultation 2026 landing page from Cambridgeshire County Council here. Image: Detail from the current minerals extraction sites inContinue reading “What to do with all that construction waste – the minerals and waste consultation”

The Cambridge Growth Company has published a landing page for the new Greater Cambridge Development Corporation ***following approval by Parliament*** of the Minister for Housing’s motion to establish the institution You can browse through the pages and the FAQs here The list of members of the interim board so far include: Name Role/Background Peter FreemanContinue reading “Greater Cambridge Development Corporation publishes interim board membership”

This is the last chance to have your say before the documents are sent to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – at which point ministers will direct the Planning Inspectorate to open a public inquiry with public cross-examinations (mainly from developers and their representatives!) Get thee down to a publicContinue reading “Final public events for Greater Cambridge Local Plan 2024-45”

Set up by Dean Perryman in Essex after the untimely death of a close friend, the Empty Chairs grassroots movement has spread across the country. And it started from an empty chair, an orange t-shirt, and a website For a crash course, see https://emptychairs.org.uk/ and scroll down to see the list of dates and venues.Continue reading “Loneliness is structural – as the 234 upcoming Empty Chairs events reflect”

“Cambridge’s skyline is a distinctive and highly valued aspect of the city’s character” says the main strategy update by Urban Initiatives and CBA Studios The documents are the only ones in the main committee document pack here under the heading Great Places. “How will city planners use the findings?” “The study will provide the CouncilContinue reading “Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 4) Skyline and Tall Buildings”

You can add transport planning, and town planning, and landscaping/ecology to that list in the hope that at some stage one decision-making institution will take on the competency for lifelong learning provision Image: Public places, urban spaces 3rd ed. (2021) Carmona. – I found it in a charity shop! I mentioned in an earlier blogpostContinue reading “The architecture and urban design of lifelong learning in growing Cambridge”

You may have seen the news that one of Stevenage’s largest employers of skilled workers is moving from its historic site south of the railway station on the GNER line to Cambridge Biomedical Campus. ‘Cambridge Delight’ “We are delighted to welcome the expansion of their presence here in Cambridge, and excited to see the impactContinue reading “How is the Cambridge sci-tech community going to help Stevenage following GSK’s relocation to the CBC?”

Back in November 2025 I asked “Ministers could save time and money by legalising and regulating e-scooters. So why won’t they?” Now the BBC has published an in-depth report on the Government’s e-scooters policies Image: Economic impact of light rail (2004) summarised here “But six years since the trials started around England, there’s still no conclusion…SoContinue reading “BBC News asks ‘Why the UK is dithering over what to do about e-scooters’ – plus more on light rail”

The Cambridge Independent featured a petition about how Cambridge is changing. This post looks at the content of the responses in the context of the Minister for Housing and Planning’s statement to Parliament about ‘exemplary engagement structures’ that the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation will have to establish. “‘I feel a growing sense of sadness watchingContinue reading “Comments on the ‘Cambridge is being changed’ petition of summer 2026”