St Neots Eastern Expansion Urban Design Framework 2010
St Neots is a focus for growth within the Cambridge sub-region. This is recognised in the policies of the Huntingdonshire Local Development Framework Core Strategy which was adopted in September 2009. It is important that the growth is based on the principles of sustainable development and that it encompasses the development of new communities in the St Neots East area and improvements to the existing town including the ongoing regeneration of the town centre and the town’s business areas, and its social infrastructure and environmental and townscape qualities.
The District Council published a draft urban design framework (UDF) for consultation for the eastern expansion of the town in 2010. Consultation responses were reported to HDC’s Cabinet on 18th November 2010 and the final document was adopted in February 2011.
The purpose of the Urban Design Framework is to describe the main planning and design factors and requirements that developers must address in delivering a sustainable urban extension to the east of the market town of St Neots in Cambridgeshire.
Excluding the existing Love’s Farm development, the sustainable urban extension has the capacity to provide land for the development of some 3,500 new dwellings, of which a target of 40% affordable housing will be sought, plus associated community facilities and services such as schools, shops, recreation areas and open space. It will also provide some 25 hectares of new employment land. There is an opportunity to link parts of the development (e.g. employment areas and schools) to a potential heat main that will provide combined heat and power from excess / wasted capacity at the nearby Little Barford Power Station. It is envisaged that, on completion, the sustainable urban extension will accommodate some 12,000 new residents (if Loves Farm is included), and a range of new employment opportunities both in the identified employment areas, mixed use areas, the district and local centres, the schools and other community activities.
This Urban Design Framework has been developed by the District Council in partnership with the main landowning and developer interests. The Council will use the Framework, along with the statutory Development Plan, to continue to work with the developers and landowners in the preparation of master plans, outline and detailed planning applications for the development area.