Cambridge South East Transport Environmental Impact Assessment

Good Morning

The new public transport route between the A11 at Babraham and Cambridge was approved in principle by the Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive Board in June 2020. As part of the scheme development process we will be conducting a full Environmental Impact Assessment.

We are pleased to announce that the consultation has opened today and we are now seeking your views on the design of the proposals and how we could best manage and mitigate possible impacts. It will run for the next eight weeks, closing on 14 December 2020.

Ordinarily we would meet in person at our public events. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing need for social distancing we won’t be holding face to face events.   In light of this, the consultation will be held online. All materials, videos, an interactive map, as well as a virtual consultation room, are available on our webpages:

www.greatercambridge.org.uk/CambridgeSET

However, we recognise that not everyone has internet access and we don’t want to exclude people from being able to respond, therefore, if you do not have access to the internet, you can register for a postal information pack by telephoning 01223 699906.

The GCP is also launching a separate consultation on our Waterbeach to Cambridge scheme today and you may have received two emails from us today. We felt it important to differentiate these two schemes and have therefore separated them in communication. We apologise if this has caused any inconvenience.

Greater Cambridge Partnership

Region & Route:

Network Rail has identified the preferred location of the proposed new railway station for Cambridge South. The chosen location corresponds with Option 1 presented to the public earlier this year and follows a review of engineering and design information together with the results of public consultation.

The new station is proposed to be located adjacent to the Guided Busway and will provide a new transport choice to patients, visitors and employees when travelling to and from the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The station will also provide direct access to a range of potential routes on the rail network for those in South Cambridgeshire and better connections across the southern fringe of the city.

During a six-week public consultation in January and February 2020, representatives of Network Rail arranged ten events around Cambridgeshire for the public to comment on the three location options between Addenbrooke’s Bridge and Nine Wells Bridge and the associated access arrangements for each location.

Almost 1000 people attended the events and over 960 comments were received (via post, online or in person) before 2nd March when the consultation closed. The vast majority, 94 per cent supported the need for the station to be built. Out of the three options presented, 55 per cent of those who submitted comments supported Option 1 (northern option).

As well as commenting on the location, Network Rail  was challenged by the public to protect places of significance such as Hobson’s Park and Nine Wells Nature Reserve to consider the impacts on the environment and businesses on the east side of the railway; to consider impacts on sustainable travel modes, including walking, cycling and public transport and enhance the connections for such modes. These concerns will continue to be considered during the next phases of development.

Network Rail will now proceed with further design development work, working closely with stakeholders and funders of the project including the Department for Transport, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, the Greater Cambridge Partnership and AstraZeneca Ltd.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “This is a significant step forward for the development of a new station serving Cambridge’s important biomedical campus and the southern fringe of the city. Selecting a preferred location will allow the development work to continue in more detail as we move towards a second round of public consultation later this year.”

“This project continues to show what we can do when we work closely with external partners to develop the railway to the benefit of local communities and businesses and I am excited to see this continue as we head into the next phase of development.”

James Palmer, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, said: “This is a very welcome step forward.  Anything which brings this much-needed station closer is good news. This is the right place for commuters and we just need to see the pace kept up until the station is delivered and can start working for people.”

Cllr Aidan Van de Weyer, Chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Executive Board, said: “Cambridge South will help unlock the full potential of the Greater Cambridge economy, linking up with existing public transport and other planned schemes so thousands of people heading to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus will have a quick and sustainable alternative to the car that cuts road congestion and improves air quality.

“The Coronavirus will have a significant impact on our lives for some time but it is vital that we invest in better public transport, especially infrastructure such as this, that will help people get to work safely and quickly.”

Dr Andy Williams, Vice President Cambridge Programme & Strategy, AstraZeneca, said: “As the development of Cambridge South station continues to gather momentum, we are delighted that the preferred location for the station has now been confirmed. This latest progress represents a key step in the journey towards the future provision of easier ways for thousands of patients, visitors and employees to reach the Cambridge Biomedical Campus each day.”

“Not only will the station give people an alternative to the car, but we believe it will bring significant and sustainable benefits to the life science sector and the city. We will continue to work with Network Rail and other stakeholders to help deliver the station.”

For more information about the proposals for Cambridge South, please visit the project webpage at: www.networkrail.co.uk/cambridge-south-station/

Notes to Editors: A second round of public consultation on the preferred option is being planned for later in 2020 to seek feedback on the architectural form of the station, construction elements such as construction routes and diversions, preliminary environmental impacts and the operational scheme. Consultation and events will be adapted to address advice from Public Health England and the Government closer to the time. Dates for the launch of Round Two consultation will be announced later in the year.

A Transport and Works Act Order is anticipated to be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport in 2021 to obtain the consent to build the station.

Subject to gaining consent, work could start on the station in 2023 with a funder target of station opening in 2025.