Fresh vision for 250 homes at Ridgeons site in Cambridge

This is how a major new housing development in Cambridge could look as the plans for some 250 new homes take a major step forward.The current home of builders merchants Ridgeons in Cromwell Road, Romsey would be transformed into 245 new homes with open space at its heart.A draft supplementary planning document has been prepared to guide the development of this site, outlining aspects such as the design and how the much anticipated Chisholm Trail will pass through the area.Two rounds of public consultation have already been held to get to this point, with the size and shape of the open space on the site emerging among the key concerns.Other issues already include the proposed level of car parking – the city council is currently aiming for 1.25 parking spaces per property – as well as the need for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the railway into the Beehive Centre on the other side of the railway line.However, the county council says there are no plans for a new bridge in this location.They say the cost of such a bridge is too high given the other crossings in the area at Mill Road and Coldham’s Lane, although residents says these are either “hostile” to pedestrians and cyclists, or too far out of the way.The plan also outlines the likely height of buildings on the development. Near Cavendish Road and Cromwell Road, building heights are likely to be kept to two or three storeys.Along the railway line, building heights may be able to rise as high as six storeys to enable higher density accommodation such as flats, as well as providing some protection from the noise of trains.Many residents say the current development tries to cram too many new homes on to the site, although the city council says the ‘density’ is similar to that already built on Cromwell Road.