Getting the balance in Cambridge

Cambridge is a vibrant city, attracting growth, and with that comes the enormous task of balancing everyone who lives, works and creates here. Developers, drivers, cyclists, and people who care about their city, and all that history. The Barnwell and Abbey area is one of the most historic parts of our city and here’s three websites and newsletters we think are essential reading.

• The Cambridge Room newsletter. This group gathered former planners, architects and residents to brainstorm the Beehive last year - it was just the sort of event that would have been helpful at the start of the planning all those years ago. Local knowledge and expertise in one space is a great way to get the best for any site. The Cambridge Room have moved to Unit 55 at The Grafton Centre and their programme of events covers growth and resilience. It’s well worth signing up to.

• Cambridge Past, Present and Future newsletter. CPPF are very active in the Abbey area, as the custodians of the Leper Chapel and protectors of many green spaces and buildings in Cambridge. They also offer a wide range of free activities and talks designed to help us to get to know Cambridgeshire better, and that includes a blog post on who decides the future of Cambridge as planning policy is changing. What does that mean for all of us?

• St Andrew the Less is the church you probably go past all the time on Newmarket Road. Did you know that it dates from 13th-century and was built by the Augustinian Canons of Barnwell Priory. If only the walls could talk! There is a campaign to restore the building and share its heritage with the area and as a space that can be used by the community.