Cambridge Road Estate Application for Phase 2 Reserved Matters 25/02075/ARM

Outline plans for the full redevelopment begain in 2022, with detailed planning applications coming forward for each phase. Completion of the first phase of the regeneration (452 new homes) has been much delayed. Some newly planted trees and the distinctive Piper road Cherry tree are dead or dying and sewage surcharges from manholes have ended up disappearing down two of the storm drains (to the Hogsmill river a mere 200m away). 

                                              One of the more 'friendly' videos of the sewage surcharges                                         

 

If we want to see some improvements in these poor standards, it is important to comment on the above application.

In the second phase of the development, a detailed planning application for 383 new homes, has been submitted, including 94 council homes across the western part of the 1960's estate. A total of 258 homes in seven existing buildings are set to be demolished,  including one with a bat roost, for which no roost characteristion can be found. It is understood the survey work has been undertaken, although there are no details on the planning file. (Ref:551291lmOct24FV02_BatEmergence). This means the probity of the assessment can't be tested (weather suitability, timings, etc.).

Root Protection Areas have not been respected and many of the trees will not respond well to months of vehicles driving over their root plates and being deprived of soil/moisture etc.

 

It is difficult to comment on the latest planting iteration and the amendments to the Masterplan. It is easier to reference the Ecology CEMP and Ecological Assessments detailing planting mixes, bird and bat boxes, but very difficult to groundtruth anything that might be considered ecological mitigation in the Phase 1 landscaping. The monotonous stipa type grasses are cheap and bomb proof, but add nothing for pollinating insects.

 Below are my comments to the ecology inputs on the Reserved Matters file. The latter attests to the casual reader that not a single person has commented on them, thereby smoothing the pathway for the councils own application.

I object to these reserved matters. The planning file is incomplete without the bat emergence report which was carried out, we are told, between May and September this year. 

We therefore don't know whether the Common Pipistrelle roost seen on 30.7.24 was the remains of a maternity colony, which had already broken up or was  in fact, a transient roost. 

So what were the dates of the emergence survey and what was found? Can adequate mitigation be undertaken in order to obtain a licence. Will it all be swept away by applying for a LICL licence instead of an EPSM licence? The bat report expires December 2025 so when will an indate one be provided? 

Research shows that pipistrelle bats cannot cope with >60increase in the urban gradient so what is the point in providing mitigation when this estate is a homage to modern building materials.The paved areas, especially by Franklin Close are relentless, so any bat mitigation must be accompanied by a softening in the landscaping.

The Root Protection Areas have not been respected in the development of Phase 1. What is the point in these expensive documents to protect our natural heritage when many trees have died or been removed? 
The beeches at Madingley and the Cherry at Piper Road are drought stressed as are some of the newly planted trees. Two trees had an unscheduled removal due to works so will this be repeated in Phase 2. 
In my last comments, I reported on a protected plant on Scedule 8 of the Wildlife & Countryside and instead of mitigation for this, a round of weedspraying was carried out. There is no attempt to pay other than lip service to environmental regs.