The combination of periods of heavy, intense rainfall and the extended drought with periods of extreme heat are forcing politics and industry to face up to unpredicted challenges Image: Full report of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate Change, published October 2021 Cambridge has another amber heat warning for extreme heat this week.Continue reading “Overhauling UK industrial supply chains to mitigate climate change”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Waterbeach New Town’s proposed bland and ugly blocks by the lakeside
That familiar phrase: “the residents deserve so much better than this” (such as here with North Cambourne) also applies here. Some of you may have seen the report in the Cambridge Independent here, which relates to the press release from Urban and Civic on Waterbeach New Town of 04 August 2026 here Above – CGIContinue reading “Waterbeach New Town’s proposed bland and ugly blocks by the lakeside”
Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 8) Student accommodation and ARU’s expansion
A longstanding controversial topic that has become more acute as higher education institutions expanded their student numbers faster than the accommodation they could provide for. I’ve written about this before February 2025: ‘Cambridge needs to talk about student accommodation & universities’ expansion again‘ August 2023: ‘The student housing crisis represents a collective public policy failure fromContinue reading “Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 8) Student accommodation and ARU’s expansion”
Economic and policy drivers of loneliness – going beyond individuals
The article “Cambridge widow left feeling ‘isolated and alone’ as more HMOs pop up on estate” by Local Democracy Reporter for Greater Cambridge Eoin McCaul highlights broken economic structures and enfeebled local government not just in Cambridge but nationwide IMAGE: Loneliness Strategy 2018 from Theresa May’s Government. “A widow in her 80s said the spreadContinue reading “Economic and policy drivers of loneliness – going beyond individuals”
Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 7) Transport Mitigation Measures for New Strategic Sites
I was tipped off by the Cambridge Bus Users for this blogpost – there are a host of assumptions that local residents living near the proposed new large development sites may want to scrutinise You can read the FB update from the Cambridge Bus Users here (because it’s too long to copy and paste!) ThereContinue reading “Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 7) Transport Mitigation Measures for New Strategic Sites”
Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 6) Creating Places for Wellbeing – what building and wall patterns to avoid
I wasn’t the only person who was visually discomforted by the Pattern Glare Test that Dr Cleo Valentine introduced to the webinar. Plus some comparisons with Brighton and Hove (where I lived during my uni days). “The what test?” The Pattern Glare Test “The Pattern Glare Test (PGT) is a widely used tool for assessingContinue reading “Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 6) Creating Places for Wellbeing – what building and wall patterns to avoid”
Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 5) Green space – but how much is accessible?
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?”
What to do with all that construction waste – the minerals and waste consultation
“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”
Greater Cambridge Development Corporation publishes interim board membership
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”
Final public events for Greater Cambridge Local Plan 2024-45
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”
