1 August 2024
The end has come for Bourn Airfield, located west of Cambridge, and former home to RFC flying club.
South Cambridgeshire District Council has given the go-ahead to build a village with 3,500 homes on the WWII airfield.
The decision has been expected ever since the first planning application was submitted in 2018. It’s been delayed because of infrastructure issues and water supply problems. That final problem has led to the creation of a Water Scarcity Group for Cambridge with £8m of govt funding.
Developers’ view of the new village
The developers, Countryside Properties who operate through various agents, say more than 45 percent of the site is earmarked for open space, including woodlands, footpaths, bridleways, hedges and recreation areas.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Leader, Cllr Bridget Smith, said, “Our focus has quite rightly been on ensuring that we only issued the formal planning decision for Bourn Airfield once there was more clarity on the sustainable future of Greater Cambridge’s water supply.
“The progress made to date and the continuing work with government means we are now satisfied this development, which is part of our adopted 2018 Local Plan, should be allowed to progress. There continues to be a delicate balance to strike between bringing forward the homes which we know we desperately need and protecting our environment.”
