ESL - Ecological Services

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Cambourne New Town Development

Our work for the Cambourne development is cited in Planning for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: A Good Practice Guide, which accompanies PPS9, as an example of good practice where biodiversity forms an important element of how development is planned and executed.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningbiodiversity

The Challenge

To demonstrate that a major development can integrate wildlife and people, to produce a significant biodiversity gain.

Cambourne is a new small market town 8 miles west of Cambridge, planned as three villages, each with its own identity and centred around its own village green, with a neighbouring business park and a settlement centre including shops, offices, a health centre, library, schools, and other community facilities. All of these are linked by semi-natural pedestrian pathways - Greenways - which preserve the original hedgerow network.

The Starting Point

Back in 1994, the four square kilometres of arable prairie destined to become Cambourne was a bleak landscape with a few ditches, scrappy hedges, isolated houses and gardens and scattered small plantation woodlands. Intensive surveys throughout 1995-96 identified an active badger population, a small newt population and considerable invertebrate interest in one of the woodlands but otherwise biodiversity was minimal; grassland was confined to garden lawns, and the only waterbodies were garden ponds.

However, from its inception Cambourne has had the benefit of developers, planners and a consultant team committed to creating a very special place to live and work, and ESL has worked closely with the landscape designers and other members of this team to ensure that what there was of existing habitats and species has been preserved and a huge amount of new habitat has been created.

The Concept

Following careful study of the local vernacular - including natural habitats - by the team, the villages were modelled on the best and most typical in South Cambridgeshire. Two ‘valleys’ separating the villages were deepened (using subsoil from road and building foundations, none of which left the site) and designed as Country Park areas with hedged fields, streams, lakes, grassland and trees. The whole site was to be ringed by new woodland, all with a linking network of footpaths, bridle ways and cycle paths.  Ornamental planting was ‘allowed’ within the built-up areas, but beyond them all planting is confined to native species found in Cambridgeshire.

Habitat Achievements to Date

• All existing woodland has been retained and enhanced and 160 acres of new woodland has been planted;
• An EcoPark has been created around existing woodland and the enhanced stream, with new reedbeds, marshes, ‘ridge and furrow’ grasslands, and a small area of wood pasture.
• Bat and bird boxes have been erected in suitable habitats across the site.
• Seven on-line lakes, connected by streams, have been created in the two valleys.
• All important hedgerows have been retained and 11 miles of new hedgerow planted.
• Greenways connect green habitat to the village centres.

Species Achievements to Date

• The badger population has been protected and continues to thrive. Custom-designed ditches provide new sett locations and badger tunnels are well-used.
• The population of great crested newts is expanding in both numbers and range as the new waterbodies mature.
• Water voles and water shrews have colonised the site and are taking advantage of the new lakes and ditches.
• 115 species of bird have been recorded on site, about 40 of which are new since 1996. 65 species have bred on the site and as new lakes mature, the number and variety of waterfowl is increasing.
• The number of butterfly and dragonfly species has increased steadily to 25 and 17 respectively.
• Pipistrelle bats now breed on the site and noctules and Daubenton’s bats have also been recorded.

Have We Answered the Challenge?

Yes

• a large development has successfully integrated people and wildlife;
• biodiversity has significantly increased from an agricultural prairie and continues to rise;
• the development is cited in guidance accompanying PPS9 as a good practice example of how ecology should be incorporated into the design process;
• the residents are enthusiastic about their environment and many, particularly the children, take a considerable interest in the wildlife around them.

Think we can help you? Contact us to find out,
on 01522 539325 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)