Paradise Nature Reserve housing threat stopped

A Queens’ College Cambridge proposal to build a series of 3 storey accommodation blocks housing 60 students adjacent to Paradise, a Local Nature Reserve has been refused by Councillors, overturning the officer’s recommendation to approve. Richard Buxton Solicitors were instructed by community group ‘Friends of Paradise’ to object to the application as well as provide strategic advice and coordinate ecology and hydrology experts.

Objections and expert advice focussed on the proximity of the development to the protected site and its likely impacts, plus the paucity of the information provided by the applicant and contrary to policy requirements. Surveys by the instructed ecologist demonstrated that the Nature Reserve boundary was of high suitability for foraging and commuting bats from 8 separate species, including the endangered Barbastelle Bat.

This survey data, and further analysis, demonstrated that the design of the development and its lighting scheme was unlikely to be capable of being reduced to a lighting level which would not detrimentally impact the protected species, contrary to policy requirements. Separate concerns were raised about the impact of noise and light levels from the heavily glazed courtyard areas that were located adjacent to the Nature Reserve.

In addition, instructed hydrologists demonstrated the inadequacy of the applicant’s proposals which failed to correctly categorise the site as a major application next to a flood zone. Concern was separately raised in relation to the impact on surface discharges from the site into the fragile Nature Reserve and the River Cam. Further objections related to the impact and of overlooking on the local primary school and access to the site on the narrow unadopted road.

The expert advice informed the objection letters that were submitted.  In addition there were coordinated objections from environmental and social groups including the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), the Ramblers, Living Streets, Friends of the Earth, Friends of the Cam, the Wildlife Trust and Newnham Neighbourhood Forum.  There was also  a petition of 2000 signatures of Cambridge residents and a petition of over 60 Queens’ students at Owlstone Croft opposing the development.