We are taking a new approach to finding out what people think of their neighbourhoods. It will help us work together to develop plans that work for local people.

North Cambridge Framework for Change

In spring 2025 the council's housing development team ran the North Cambridge Framework for Change consultation, asking what local people would like to see happen in north Cambridge.

This was to help us develop our corporate vision for north Cambridge – the Framework for Change – which will set out our long-term plan for investment in Arbury, King’s Hedges and Chesterton.

During the engagement programme, people were asked about:

• older council housing estates
• Arbury Court and the surrounding community facilities
• parks and open spaces
• streets and travel

An engagement report has been published [PDF, 6MB] setting out what we heard - or you can read this summary.

The Framework for Change will be published ahead of being considered by councillors at the Cabinet meeting on 21 October. If given the go ahead by councillors at that meeting, a subsequent engagement programme will be run during November and December, when people will be able to feed back on the priorities and investment recommendations set out in the Framework for Change.

If the Framework is adopted, planning permission would still be required for any of the proposals set out in the Framework.

Focus on north Cambridge

Our housing development team will not be able to address every concern or suggestion raised by the community through the emerging Framework for Change. 

However, other teams in the council are also reviewing the consultation feedback and using the insights to help shape improvement plans and guide small-scale investments in the north of the city. 

The communities team will be coordinating some of this wider work, bringing local partners together to work strategically as well as working to secure additional funding to support the community’s priorities.

This includes a programme launched in June 2025 using government's Shared Prosperity Funding, which supports local community and voluntary sector organisations to build capacity, and provide support services and projects that enhance the local community.

Following a number of collaborative workshops and conversations with local community and voluntary sector organisations in north Cambridge, eight local projects have been awarded £3,000 to £20,000, totalling £115,000. More information on these projects will be available soon.

Arbury Court

In September 2024, we published a report which referred to possible redevelopment at Arbury Court in North Cambridge. No decisions had been made, and there were no specific proposals for redevelopment.

However, the council wanted to seek flexibility in commercial leases to allow consideration of Arbury Court as part of developing the Framework for Change mentioned above.

As a result, in early 2025 the council began talking to commercial leaseholders at Arbury Court about their leases, which run to 2030. In spring 2025, the council offered commercial leaseholders an opportunity to meet one-to-one to discuss any concerns.

At the time, we reassured residents and commercial leaseholders that if there is a decision to redevelop Arbury Court, we would ensure shops were able to continue trading during any development. Since then, councillors approved a Motion at Full Council in July which further reiterates that in the event of redevelopment at Arbury Court, new retail facilities should be built before existing businesses are displaced, so that business continuity can be maintained.

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