Category Archives: Uncategorized

The IfG’s report by Sophie Metcalfe provides some much-needed historical analysis, but her final recommendations miss out some of the issues that ministers will need to address if we are to avoid the problems Cambridge has seen at places like Northstowe and Clay Farm You can read the report here. To summarise Ms Metcalfe’s recommendations,Continue reading “The Institute for Government’s house building report recommendations do not go far enough”

Transport ministers will need to come up with a public transport alternative if further road congestion is to be avoided. The Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was quoted in a press release earlier, name-checking both Biggleswade and Northstowe. “Further work will get underway to accelerate sites including Stretton Hall in Leicestershire, Tendring Colchester Borders GardenContinue reading “Ministers announce intervention in Biggleswade – 20 miles from Cambridge”

I hope September is a better month than August because emotionally this has been a rotten one for my mental health, constantly plagued by ‘what ifs?’ from the 1990s The image comes from the title of this short online paper by Chris Murray, which is part of a series of pieces by the Humanise projectContinue reading “If every city is a conversation, why do I feel so utterly disconnected from the people within it?”

The Minister Mr Pennycook has indicated he wants to visit as soon as possible, and has instructed his officials to link up with the local councils to arrange this. (Which reminds me, can they come up with a new logo/branding?) You can read the letter from the Minister to the council leaders and the MayorContinue reading “The Minister for Housing must meet communities not benefiting from the boom when he visits Cambridge”

Whether it will make any difference to protecting the historic front of the cinema remains to be seen – past experience with planning inspectors tells us to expect disappointment “Can we object to it?” See the guidance on commenting on planning applications by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service here if you are unfamiliar with howContinue reading “Historic England objects to demolition of Hobson Street Art Deco Cinema”

Browsing through old course catalogues from the 20th Century and finding out what previous generations can teach us Before I get going, this isn’t to say there’s nothing happening in present day 2020s Cambridge. There clearly is – not least because several of the groups that have rebuilt after the lockdowns are advertising online forContinue reading “Strengthening grassroots music making in Cambridge”

It’s not quite the full cost-recovering powers that some (myself included) want to see, although that is going out to consultation. The £650,000 grant is also linked to putting boosters underneath Northstowe. You can read the full press released from the GCSP Service here (or the tweet below). “One area of focus for the acceleratedContinue reading “Central Government gives Cambridge & South Cambs some planning money”

In December 2023, the Labour Party (the in opposition) commissioned an independent review of rail and urban transport policy – due to report in time for an autumn general election. But events. You can read the report here and scrolling down after the quotations. (Alternatively, click here until the direct weblink changes) In one senseContinue reading “Labour’s urban transport review asks tough questions on local and regional government structures”

A mid-1990s academic journal piece from a former theology student-turned youth worker in 1960s Cambridge puts into words my experience of ‘being educated to be ignorant’ in my 1980s and 1990s childhood in Cambridge. Image detail – from Adult Education for Democracy publushed 1944 It’s that experience – and the consequences of it, along withContinue reading “When education institutions are forces of disempowerment”

..said one of our German residents to John Jervis in the RIBA Journal You can read the full article here – it’s damning on both ministers who created this mess and the institutions who either went along with it or are flailing in the tangled web of ‘partnerships’ Quoting the very end in full, youContinue reading “‘The centre of Cambridge is ‘grotty’, lacking in public space and amenities’”