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5. Environmental Assessment -9
5. Environmental Assessment (continued)
5.9 Land Use
5.9.1 Introduction
This chapter considers the characteristics of agricultural land affected by theoptions in terms of its quality and current use. The likely impacts of the options onaffected holdings are assessed and recommendations are made concerningmitigation measures.
The impacts of the options on other land uses, including local mineral workings,landfill sites, development land and existing residential dwellings is also assessed.
5.9.2 Method of Assessment
The methodology follows the DMRB Volume 11 Guidelines for a Stage 2Environmental Assessment.
Cambridge City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and SouthCambridgeshire District Council were consulted to ascertain whether there wereany outstanding planning applications within the study area which would beimpacted by the options. Consultation was also made regarding the existing statusof landfill sites. Cambridgeshire County Council was consulted as MineralsPlanning Authority. A roadside survey was undertaken of existing significantdevelopments within the study area.
5.9.3 Existing Conditions
ALLOCATED DEVELOPMENT LAND
The majority of the study area comprises of Grade xx agricultural land. The studyarea extends from the east of Cambridge to the west of Huntingdon. A number ofsmaller settlements line the route corridor. These include in an east to westdirection, Milton, Histon, Girton, Oakington, Longstanton, Bar Hill, Boxworth,Conington, Fenstanton, Hemingford Grey, Conington, Hilton, Godmanchester,Offord Cluny, Buckden and Brampton.
There are a number of significant developments located within the route corridor ofincluding the following:
- Buckden landfill site, located between Buckden and Brampton, the northern part of which is currently active;
- Wood Green Animal Shelter;
- Beaconsfield Equestrian Centre;
- Brampton Park Golf Course;
- Hemingford Abbots Golf Complex;
- Cambridge Services at Swavesey, south of the A14;
- Shopping centre at Bar Hill;
- Cambridge Crematorium;
- Milton Landfill site;
- There are a wide range of privately owned agricultural enterprises are located throughout the study area;
- Cambridge Science Park south of the A14 at Milton.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
There are a number of planning applications and development proposals madewithin the study area, as of January 2004. The principal on-going applications arelisted in the EAR, the two major ones affecting the A14 proposals are:
- A substantial area of land has been zoned for a new settlement of up to 10,000 houses at Longstanton/Oakington which will generate significant traffic on the A14; and
- Land in Cambridge has been zoned for mixed-use development, known locally as Arbury Camp, located south of the A14 and north of Kings Hedges. This proposed development comprises residential development (900+ dwellings), 18,000m2 of B1 office development, 1.26ha educational facilities, 4.72ha of open space and supporting infrastructure.
Mineral and Waste Sites
Buckden North landfill site is the only active landfill site located within the studyarea. Buckden South landfill site, Hemingford Grey landfill site and Coningtonlandfill site are all full.
An application for planning permission for mineral extraction by Lafarge Aggregates(H/5004/02/CM) has been submitted for a site east of Buckden. No decision hasyet been made.
Existing Dwellings
The route options traverse agricultural land. There are a large number of farmingenterprises and village settlements located within the vicinity of the route corridor.There are also a number of dwellings located in close proximity to all route options,particularly to the south of Brampton and in the vicinity of Fenstanton.
Potential Impacts
The orange option would traverse a site on which a planning application for mineralextraction has been made. To date, a decision has not yet been made. This site islocated north west of Offord Cluny and is delineated on the EnvironmentalConstraints plan.
The purple option would require the demolition of four dwellings in the vicinity ofFenstanton Subway and a Filling Station on the south side of the existing A14 atGalley Hill, Fenstanton.
All options traverse open countryside, creating a barrier between villagesettlements located to the north and south of all route options. However, this barrierwould not be any greater to that which is already created by the existing A14.Mitigation measures in the form of oven under-bridges would allow unrestrictedmovement between these settlements, thus minimising the degree of severance.
