Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Councillors visited this and other sites being proposed for the new settlement, including Waterbeach, Childerley Gate, Gt Abington, Wilburton/Stretham and Six Mile Bottom.

They will recommend Longstanton/Oakington at a special full council meeting called to consider the issue on October 18.

The key criteria that favoured the site were:-

• Use of previously developed land

• Sustainability

• Potential for excellent public transport

• Low risk of flooding

• Protection of the environment

Most of the site comprises brownfield land at the former Oakington Barracks and 20 per cent of the land has been previously developed. The site does not contain or affect any sites of scientific, natural or historic interest.

South Cambs believes that work on proposed development of 6,000 homes should not start until infrastructure improvements, notably an upgrade of the A14, are completed.

The planned guided bus along the disused Cambridge to St Ives railway line would provide an excellent public transport system for the new settlement, councillors believe.