Owlstone Croft, Cambridge – Queen’s College Appeals planning decision: Public Inquiry announced

Owlstone Croft, Cambridge – Queen’s College Appeals planning decision: Public Inquiry announced

Posted on Aug 14, 2023 by jsw  | Tags: Cambridge, Queen's College

Cambridge Paradise LNR Pond by Cmglee

CPRE Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is disappointed to learn that Queen’s College Cambridge is appealing the decision made by Cambridge City Council to refuse its planning application to develop Owlstone Croft.  We strongly objected to the original planning application in July 2022 (you can read our objection in full here).  In summary, we were concerned about:

• The unacceptable disturbance to the designated Local Green Space, Paradise Nature Reserve, that the development would cause;
• Restricted access for emergency services, possibly increasing fire risk to the Paradise Nature Reserve.
• The long-term flood risk to the site - which is on the flood plain – being under-estimated.

Proximity of the site to Paradise Nature Reserve – satellite image 

We stand by our objection and this week we contact the government’s Planning Inspectorate to restate our concerns.  We further noted that:

• Cambridge is a small city with a character that is very much influenced by its green spaces and the River Cam and its tributaries. 
• Residents of Cambridge are very lucky to have a designated Nature Reserve within the city boundaries and it is important to all that it remains protected.
• There would no doubt be a high proportion of the environmentally aware young people likely to attend Queens College and alumni that have already attended that would agree with us.
• We were pleased that the City Council refused this application and support them fully in defending it at appeal.

A Public Inquiry will be held on 26^th September at the Council Chamber, Cambridge City Council. We will continue to update you on developments.