Cambridge University: Educator – or Developer?

Cambridge University: Educator – or Developer?

Posted on Aug 17, 2023 by jsw  | Tags: Cambridge University

CPRE’s new State of the Green Belt report finds that the Green Belt is being overlooked as a key solution to climate change, the decline of nature and food security vulnerabilities. The report argues the Green Belt, which protects 12.5% of England’s land area from development, should become greener, wetter and more biodiverse.

We believe that the Cambridge Green Belt is under attack as never before.  Established 30 years ago, its job is to protect the historic city from urban sprawl and to encourage the redevelopment of brownfield sites.  In theory the greenbelt is protected by national planning policy.  In practice, in recent years land has been released to allow a number of developments.

Cambridge University Colleges are behind many of these incursions into the green belt – and many more are pending. For example:

• Trinity College has applied to double the Science Park on Greenbelt land north of the A14 with a Chinese business partner.
• Queens College has appealed the refusal of the accommodation blocks bordering the Paradise Nature Reserve.
• South Barton Road Consortium of colleges wants to add development of the Green Belt between the M11 and the city south of the Barton Road to the Local Plan.
• The North Barton Road Consortium of colleges wants to do the same north of the Barton Road.
• Eddington, formerly the University Farm, planned to eventually contain 3,000 homes, accommodation for 2,000 postgraduate students and 100,000 square metres of research facilities.
• Bio-Medical Campus. Further development planned on best farm land within and outside the Green Belt.  Exact units and plan submissions remain unclear while Local Plan is under review.

You can see more details about these threats – and many others – in our Cambridge Green Belt Threat Report, produced earlier this year.

As well as these threats, we are also contending with Michael Gove’s plan for 250,000 houses for Cambridge. 

You can read the full report here.

 It’s not just about causing irreversible damage.  It’s about heeding the reality of climate change and acknowledging the role of the green belt in biodiversity and food security.  We won’t get a second chance.