Community Planning Meeting (4 November 2026)
Categories:
Context
- Venue: Darwin Green Community Rooms
- Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026, 11:00 am
- Present (15):
- Darwin Green Residents Association (DGRA): Alice L., Quentin M.
- Darwin Green Residents: Alex K., Alina I., Catalina A., Lindsay R.
- Windsor Road Residents Association (WIRE): Ann M., Mary W., Sue?
- Martingale Close neighbours: Robert H.
- County Councillor: Rory Clark
- Shared Planning Service: John Shuttlewood
- Cambridge City Council: Sue J.
- Visitor: Philippa S.
- Chair: Simon Smith
- Apologies: From Barratt Redrow: Matt Johnson, Tom Wright, Will Hodgson
Introductions
Simon reported that Andrew MacLaren has left BDW, a staffing review is underway, and the new reporting arrangements will be reported to DGRA. The meeting thanked Andrew for his positive engagement with the community and wider contributions to the development.
Minutes of last meeting (23 September)
Agreed subject to a correction there is a S106 obligation to install a light-controlled crossing on Huntingdon Road at its junction with the pedestrian / cycle route to BDW2 (near the old Pavilion).
Action point updates
Highway and street lightning
Lamp posts and street lighting: ISSUE long standing complaints about outages and lights shining directly into bedrooms. Contractor is failing to undertake rolling audits and repair / replace outages. 🟢 ACTION: Alice to make a formal complaint and send mapped details to customer care email southmidlands@newhomecare.co.uk for correct response and allocation of resources.
Greenway temporary pedestrian / cycle route: White line cycle symbols removed, and multiple cyclists dismount signs erected. This instruction is not being enforced. Matt has confirmed the full pedestrian / cycle route will be completed by September 2027. It will comprise new footpaths on both sides of the existing route which will become a dedicated cycle way.
Franklin Gardens parking enforcement: At last meeting Andrew confirmed the parking enforcement process—notification of residents, installation of signage and one week grace period—will be progressed shortly. 🟢 ACTION Simon to ask Tom to provide update.
Franklin Garden Street name signage: 🟢 UPDATED ACTIONS 1) Simon to ask Tom to provide an update and send Quentin the approved plan. 2) Quentin to ask residents for any remaining issues via Friendly Neighbours.
Franklin Gardens pedestrian and cycle links: 1) Brownlow Road, yellow lines to protect route from parked vehicles, 2) Blackhall Road, kerb to be removed for smooth transition. 🟢 ACTION Simon to ask Tom to provide update.
BDW2 unmade up roads: Matt has reported, BDW currently mobilising top surfacing works with imminent commencement. 🟢 ACTION Simon to ask Matt to confirm timetable for notification of dates and requests to remove vehicles from the highway to the allow the works. Parking restrictions will be suspended to allow residents to park outside BDW2.
BDW2 highway hazards: 🟢 ACTION Alice and other residents to report broken kerbs or other hazards to customer care email for correct response and allocation of resources.
BDW2 Jenyns Drive: (Alice to confirm other relevant street) Highway ponding due to blocked gutter drains. 🟢 ACTION Alice to report precise locations with photos to customer care email (copy to Matt Johnson).
BDW2 to Huntingdon Road, pedestrian / cycle access and light controlled crossing:
- Access route: to be subject of DDA compliance works and signage, 🟢 ACTION 1 John to check whether the construction management plan for the pavilion requires temporary closure of the access route for construction traffic.
- Crossing: highways intend to defer works crossing pending planned ground works along Huntingdon Road. 🟢 ACTION 2 Simon in consultation with John to provide Matt Johnson with an update.
BDW2 Sedgwick Crescent parking enforcement: At last meeting Andrew confirmed enforcement process to be progressed: notification of residents, installation of signage and one week grace period. 🟢 ACTION: Matt to check on reported actions.
Community facilities
Franklin Gardens play area: 🟢 ACTION Simon to remind Tom to provide update on seating and top surface works and review of bin sites and no dogs signage.
Franklin Gardens allotments: 🟢 ACTION Simon to remind Tom to provide update on Non-Material Amendment re: site boundaries, time table for completion of site works and transfer to City Council (along with BDW2 allotments).
Environmental health
Franklin Gardens (BDW6) piling: 🟢 ACTION Simon to remind Tom for update on notifications of noise and vibration monitoring.
BDW3 spoil heap: Matt has noted need to notify residents of removal works, dust control, monitoring and reporting arrangements and remind contractor to water the heap.
Sub-contractors’ radios and language: All sub-contractors are instructed not to use radios or bad language. Residents are asked to report time and day of incidents with details of the sub-contractors to John Shuttlewood and to Barratt’s customer care email. 🟢 ACTION: Simon to advise Matt, that residents want immediate responses.
Woodlark Road ditch
Andrew had reported a non-material application, 21/04431/NMA1 COND9 (Perimeter Boundary Fencing). 🟢 ACTION: Simon to remind Matt of need to keep Woodlark Road residents informed of the works in compliance with the approved drawings.
BDW2 landscaping
Discharge of condition application 07/0003/COND14A has been submitted. 🟢 ACTION: John to check its current status.
Jenyns Drive front gardens
🟢 ACTION Alina to brief Matt Johnson re: installation of metal fencing and making good of neighbour’s planting.
Central Plaza review
🟢 ACTION Matt to be briefed on the brief (to address highway safety, traffic management including buses and facilities such as parking (for medical centre, retailers), bus shelter, voi parking, parcel lockers, post box, lit notice board, bins.
Any other business
Darwin Green Phase 1
BDW website for Darwin Green (www.ourdarwingreen.co.uk) remains pending.
🟢 ACTION: Simon to ask Will Hodgson for progress update.
Library opening planned for Q1 27, Rory to confirm opening days and times.
Primary and secondary schools: Rory reported the secondary and primary schools at Darwin Green 2 are delayed as BDW’s proposed provision of water, drainage and power from Darwin Green 1 would be insufficient for requirements. The County Council will hold the Darwin Green 1 primary school site pending evidence of demand arising from new development.
Shops: John reported applications to be submitted for external ducting.
Neighbourhood Watch: in discussion, details of Neighbourhood Watch and local contacts to be posted on the DGRA website. Sue J. recommended the Fearless website to parents of teenage children.
Visitor parking: Recurring concern that residents are using visitor parking spaces. 🟢 ACTION DGRA to consult on visitor parking management options. 🟢 ACTION Residents can report incidents to Barratt’s customer care email.
Public art strategy: John reported BDW will be consulting residents on a strategy and action plan.
Allotments: Waiting list of 73 Darwin Green residents, 75 squared-meter allotments to be laid out with 0.5m pathways. Phillipa celebrated the health and well-being benefits of allotments. 🟢 ACTION Simon to establish whether applicants are allocated allotments closest to their homes.
Bins review: In discussion there are too many bins in some places and too few in others, notably dog waste bins. 🟢 ACTION: DGRA to undertake review. 🟢 ACTION Simon to inform Tom about misuse of box rear of the Franklin Gardens sales office.
Local issues
BDW2 Falmouth Avenue raised table: Request for raised table (at Loc 13 adjacent to No 54) to be constructed in compliance with 14/0086/REM 16483-2008 L, “Amended surface finishes” and 16483-2083 B, “Amended intermediate event location & details”. 🟢 ACTION John to check for non-compliance.
BDW2 canopies over front doors: Alex reported the canopies drain towards the brickwork and need to be redesigned. 🟢 ACTIONS John to check design detail and Alex to raise complaint.
BDW2 Cornford Drive unauthorised parking space marked VP: 🟢 ACTION to be reported to customer care email.
BDW3 laps 1, 2 and 3 discharge of conditions: 🟢 ACTION John to direct WIRE to approved final drawings.
BDW4 new pedestrian / cycle way: Unlit section alongside settling pond needs to be fenced for pedestrian and cyclist safety. 🟢 ACTION Alice to report to customer care email.
BDW5/6 boundary between plots 202–205 and Martingale Close: Mitigation works remain outstanding: levels survey, possible land drains and topsoil fill to newly created ditch, boundary fencing, and replacement of failed infill planting. 🟢 ACTION Simon to ask Tom for update.
Sewer odour along pedestrian / cycle routes and Windsor Road: Concern odour and increasing rat population is due to sewer connections from BDW2. 🟢 ACTION: Simon to raise matter with Matt and as required Anglian Water.
Dates of next meetings
All at 11:00 am, Wednesday at Darwin Green Community Rooms:
- 16 December 2026
- 10 February 2027
- 24 March 2027
- 12 May 2027
- 7 July 2027
North and North West Cambridge Community Forum will take place on Wednesday 16 November 2026, meet and greet from 5:30 pm, main meeting from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Storey’s Field Centre and online. It will include a briefing by County Council Education officers.