Cambridge Belfry Hotel - Notice of Public Inquiry

CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL 

THE TRANSPORT AND WORKS ACT 1992 THE TRANSPORT AND WORKS (INQUIRIES PROCEDURE) 2004 THE CAMBOURNE TO CAMBRIDGE ORDER NOTICE OF PUBLIC INQUIRY 

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Rule 13(6) of the Transport and Works (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 2004 that Richard Clegg (BA(Hons)) DMS MRTPI and Geoff Underwood (BA (Hons)) PGDip (UrbCons) MRTPI IHBC, together the inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, will open a public inquiry into the application by the Cambridgeshire County Council (“the Applicant”) under section 6 of the Transport and Works Act 1992. 

The Inquiry is proposed to open at the Cambridge Belfry Hotel, Back Lane, Cambourne, Cambridge CB23 6BW at 10 am on Tuesday 16 September 2025. 

Further information can be obtained from the programme officer, Mrs Joanna Vincent whose contact details are as follows – Tel. no: 01483 230164 Mobile no: 07483 133975 Email address: Joanna.Vincent@gateleyhamer.com The Order would authorise the construction, maintenance and operation by the Council of a guided busway using one or more of the modes prescribed in article 2(g), (h), (i) or (j) of the Transport and Works (Guided Transport Modes) Order 1992 and is sought together with the approval of a request to the Secretary of State for Transport to give a direction under section 90(2A) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that planning permission, so far as it is required, shall be deemed to be granted for the development proposed to be authorised by the draft Order. 

The draft Order makes provision for the Council to construct, operate and maintain: 

a) A two-way guided busway 13.6km in length commencing at Sterling Way, Cambourne and terminating at Grange Road, Cambridge segregated from local highways except for stretches of on road running along St Neots Road, Hardwick and on Charles Babbage Road within the Cambridge University West Cambridge Campus; 

b) Intermediate bus stops along the route and an emergency and maintenance access track running alongside the two-way guided busway for most of the length of the guided busway which will be accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. Most of the length of the track will also function as a bridleway or permissive bridleway; 

c) A new travel hub building and Park and Ride site at Scotland Farm, Dry Drayton with access for the buses over the existing bridge carrying Scotland Road over the A428; 

d) New bridges over the M11 and at Bin Brook to provide for the two-way guided busway and adjoining emergency and maintenance track; and 

e) Access roads, temporary compounds, stopping up, diversion and creation of public rights of way, highway crossings, drainage works and attenuation and infiltration ponds. The draft Order, if made, would also permit: 

a) the compulsory acquisition of land for the proposed works and ancillary purposes, including worksites; the acquisition of rights and restrictive covenants over specified land; provisions for the temporary use of land in connection with the proposed scheme; and the extinction and creation of private rights; 

b) the temporary stopping up of highways; provisions relating to streets; and powers to survey and investigate land; 

c) powers to carry out certain works in the highway and the right to use private roads for the purposes of construction; 

d) powers to carry out works to streets; and e) acquisition of replacement land for exchange open space land. 

The Inquiry will also consider the application for the issue of a certificate pursuant to Section 19(1)(a) of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981. 

Date: 1 September 2025 Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP Solicitors acting on behalf of the Applicant: 4 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2AU. 

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk