Bourn airfield under threat

[StillStanding]

No chance of the runways being patched now...

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Pl ... 142209.htm

"Construction of an 8,000-home town at Waterbeach barracks, a new village at Bourn airfield, and up to 430 houses in the green belt off Worts’ Causeway are the development plans picked by councils to tackle the region’s housing crisis."

"Likewise, at Bourn airfield, no more than 1,500 homes are expected to be built before 2031, but all of the 1,500 homes planned west of Cambourne are expected to go up quickly."

[Spirit]

I don't think there has ever been any chance of the runways being patched up to be fair. The chances of that level of investment at Bourn are somewhat slim!

The development at Bourn has always been fairly low on the council's radar and this article doesn't really suggest it's moved forward that significantly, at least until the consulation later this year. There was some discussion previously in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=81147&p=1134062&hilit=bourn#p1134062

[Gertie]

The objectively assessed housing need (SHMA) for both Cambridge and SCDC has to be addressed in the two local plans, otherwise developers will be free to build all over random bits of the green belt (I simplify somewhat, but that's the overall picture). The partitioning of the need for the local housing area across the various authorities involved was agreed at a meeting last week (except that that wasn't actually a decision making body, so the partitioning needs to be ratified by each of the several councils involved, so in theory could change).

SCDC are proposing to include development on Bourn in order to meet their allocated share. If as a result of the draft local plan consultation Bourn comes out of the plan then somewhere else will have to go in to make up the numbers. I haven't been following the private discussions inside SCDC in enough detail to know which sites, if any, they have in reserve should any of the proposed sites fall out (and if I did know I wouldn't leak it here).

(I am the planning portfolio holder for the city council.)

[Spirit]

I am the planning portfolio holder for the city council.

Could you accidently lose the files for the Bourn proposal please

[Gertie]

I am the planning portfolio holder for the city council.

Could you accidently lose the files for the Bourn proposal please

Haven't got them, Bourn being in South Cambridgeshire not in Cambridge.

(I did land at Bourn once. Given the quality of the runway I'm surprised I was allowed to take a club aircraft there.)

[johnm]

The new Cambourne village is just next door to Bourn and was always liable to become Cambourne town I expect some idiot will also decide that they'll all commute by bicycle and so there'll be no need to upgrade the local roads

[Gertie]

The new Cambourne village is just next door to Bourn and was always liable to become Cambourne town I expect some idiot will also decide that they'll all commute by bicycle and so there'll be no need to upgrade the local roads

Quite what the import of calling something a "town" is I don't know, coming from a city, but apparently they've thought about it and chosen not to apply the "town" designation yet.

There are intentions to do something about buses, so they don't get stuck in the queues; quite what hasn't been decided yet. There are also intentions to do something about cycleways - even if people don't commute to Cambridge by bike (and some do already of course) there is scope for increasing the numbers of teenagers who cycle to school.

And of course getting some cars off the road (because commuters use buses or kids cycle to school) makes the roads easier for the remaining motorists, indeed without upgrading any roads.

[townleyc]

From what I gather, there is little chance, as development on Bourn would link Cambourne with Hardwick, which I am told is not wanted.

Bourn have paid some attention to 18/36 whilst 24/06 is not being considered, so will stay what it is - usable with care

[johnm]

The new Cambourne village is just next door to Bourn and was always liable to become Cambourne town I expect some idiot will also decide that they'll all commute by bicycle and so there'll be no need to upgrade the local roads

Quite what the import of calling something a "town" is I don't know, coming from a city, but apparently they've thought about it and chosen not to apply the "town" designation yet.

There are intentions to do something about buses, so they don't get stuck in the queues; quite what hasn't been decided yet. There are also intentions to do something about cycleways - even if people don't commute to Cambridge by bike (and some do already of course) there is scope for increasing the numbers of teenagers who cycle to school.

And of course getting some cars off the road (because commuters use buses or kids cycle to school) makes the roads easier for the remaining motorists, indeed without upgrading any roads.

Yup that's why I decided not to move to Cambridge but to commute from Gloucestershire in my aeroplane when I worked at the University, it was quicker than getting in from Cherry Hinton in the rush hour

[trevs99uk]

You would have thought they would have planned to build a town along the lines of Milton Keynes on the former RAF/usaf Alconbury.
Right by a major road A1. and also the east coast railway line.

And then there's RAF Wyton which is also closing down..


TS

[StillStanding]

You would have thought they would have planned to build a town along the lines of Milton Keynes on the former RAF/usaf Alconbury.
Right by a major road A1. and also the east coast railway line.

And then there's RAF Wyton which is also closing down..

TS

Plans to build houses on both already!!!

[ianfallon]

I'm not sure why you're all so keen to slag off Bourn's runways after nothing more than a casual visit (which could discourage visitors and therefore support for Bourn). I've flown a more than a hundred hours from there without incident.

Please do visit and support Bourn - it's a great little airfield.

[Spirit]

I'm not sure why you're all so keen to slag off Bourn's runways after nothing more than a casual visit

Who said anything about a casual visit? I have also flown many hours from Bourn and continue to do so. The runways are in a relatively poor condition and whilst this shouldn't discourage anyone from using them - they are still perfectly safe and it is indeed a great little airfield as long as you aren't after much in the way of facilities - it is however someting that should be noted prior to visiting to ensure suitability of type and caution when taxying.