North Cambridge

iCube was initially invited by Savills to consider Chesterton Sidings as part of a comprehensive urban extension as part of the Core Strategy for Cambridge City Council. Latterly it was appointed by Network Rail to consider their land to consider independently of the wider scheme, the development options and issues.

The site was initially promoted by Anglia Water and Network Rail along with the Cambridge City Council as the Northern Fringe of Cambridge - a sustainable urban extension of circa 3500 dwellings with employment, retail and over 5ha of community facilities including a primary school. Network Rail was promoting the site as a new stop and the Council guided bus. This plan was to support the LDF process.

This draft paper outlines a broad strategy regarding the progressive land release at Chesterton Sidings in north Cambridge. Chesterton Sidings can be considered to be the initial phases of the development of Cambridge Northern Fringe, which encompasses the site but also includes other significant sites to the north and west of Chesterton Sidings.

This study has focused on the potential development of Chesterton Sidings but within the context of the opportunities afforded by the wider masterplan. Network Rail (NR) remains committed to a masterplan approach for the wider area, but recognises the need to bring forward its land for operational and commercial development alongside the new station proposed at Chesterton Sidings as an initial phase of the masterplan.

Furthermore, given the competing operational uses for the site, this short study has explored some - but by no means all - options for facilitating a mix of uses and retaining flexibility for the mix to change over time as land values and adjacent uses dictate other outcomes.

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