FAQs

The Greater Cambridge Greenways will be a network of walking, cycling and, where appropriate, horse-riding routes. They follow off-road paths, quiet streets or use facilities alongside busier roads to help more people reach more of Greater Cambridge with cheaper, cleaner and greener journeys.   

The Greenways will: 

• Provide better, safer and greener cycling and walking and, where appropriate, horse riding routes, to and from Cambridge and the surrounding villages and other settlements 
• Improve access to jobs and opportunities, education, healthcare, leisure and other services. 
• Help to reduce the impact of traffic congestion and growing traffic levels 
• Improve our health by enabling more active travel and helping to reduce air pollution.
• Provide safe active travel routes that all ages and abilities can use.

A network of twelve Greenways have been agreed as part of the City Deal investment to design more affordable and more sustainable ways to make journeys. These are: 

• Barton
• Bottisham  
• Comberton  
• Fulbourn  
• Haslingfield  
• Horningsea  
• Linton (under construction through Cambridge South East Transport scheme) 
• Melbourn  
• Sawston  
• St Ives 
• Swaffhams 
• Waterbeach 

The proposed network of routes was developed from 2016 and approved by the GCP Executive board in 2020. We are now seeking public feedback on designs for the routes and key decisions on certain sections of them. 

More information about the Greenway routes can be found on the Greenways webpage. 

The Greenways were approved for funding by the GCP Executive Board in 2020 as part of the City Deal investment programme. The City Deal was set-up to invest in transport, skills and housing to support and unlock growth in Greater Cambridge and more broadly benefiting the UK economy and wider society.

Small sections of some routes may be funded by, or built as part of, new developments that already have planning permission (called Section 106 agreements). 

There is an aspiration to complete construction of all Greenways by December 2025. Where possible, GCP are pushing forward with sections of routes that can be delivered sooner. For example, the Linton Greenway is currently under construction.

After the engagement period closes, further detailed work is needed, based upon feedback received, before construction can start.

Throughout Summer 2022 to Winter 2022/23, public engagement sessions are taking place to capture further feedback on proposed designs for each Greenway. Designs will then be developed in detail alongside other preparatory works, such as ecological surveys and obtaining planning consents before construction and building can begin. 

We will then start building the Greenways in different phases on a rolling basis. This may mean some sections of Greenways will be open and available to use before the whole route is complete, ensuring some benefit is delivered to certain places sooner, depending on planning consents, ecology, complexity of construction or landowner requirements.

The Greenways will be adopted by Cambridgeshire County Council as part of the Highways network and be managed accordingly.

All signage included along the Greenway Routes will be set out in a prescribed way, in accordance with the latest guidance and in line with the latest version of the Highway Code. This includes signage to advise users of the presence of pedestrians, cyclists and, where appropriate, horse riders, along the Greenway Network.

We are also preparing a wayfinding strategy, that will detail the types and signs to be used to way find along the route and signpost people to locations and destinations.

A detailed schedule of proposed signage, including types of signage and locations, will be included as part of the detailed drawings in the next stages of the design.

We are happy to receive feedback and comments from the public and stakeholders as part of this engagement process, on any signage which we should consider.

Topographical surveys help us to ascertain ground levels, features and existing layout of the ground in an area. This will help to inform the feasibility of the design.

These are mostly undertaken using 3D laser scanning. GCP are working with landowners to help undertake these and ensure our proposals complement existing features and minimise impacts.  

Watercourse surveys need to be undertaken to look at the potential impact of the scheme on watercourses. 

Watercourse surveys provide information on the structures and the levels along the watercourse so that these can be included in a hydraulic model of the watercourse. The results of the hydraulic model will inform the design of the structures along the watercourses, such as new bridges or improvements to existing ones, or any proposed modifications to riverbanks and other features to manage flood risk.  

We encourage feedback from disabled people on these designs to help ensure we are accommodating different needs.

We will also be engaging local disability forums on the Greenways network, to understand how we can make the designs accessible and more inclusive. 

The routes are being designed to be fully accessible for wheelchairs. This will include widening of paths, step-free access and hard surfaces and ensuring any ramps that replace steps have gentle gradients. 

 An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) will be conducted for each route to ensure that our actions and decisions for each route are fair and do not present barriers or disadvantage any protected group. 

GCP are aware of further opportunities to provide additional links to the Greenway Network, other than what is shown as part of this engagement process.

However, funding for the scheme is currently limited to the design and delivery of the set routes as illustrated on the 12 Greenways Network Map, which has been included as part of this engagement process.

GCP are in regular contact with Cambridgeshire County Council’s Development Control Team to understand what development is coming forward in future years where connections could be made, and explore opportunities for future connections.

We are committed to ensuring minimal disruption to the areas surrounding the greenways including existing trees, hedgerows, and other vegetation.

 The off-road sections are being designed to enhance the landscape for wildlife and help people reach greenspaces.

 We have commissioned a number of environmental surveys which will allow us to ensure that any impact on sensitive ecological features is kept to a minimum and to confirm areas where we can contribute positively to biodiversity. GCP are also working with their contractors to ensure impacts are kept to a minimum throughout the construction and operational phases of the project.

Of course, there will be carbon cost to construction and the materials we use. However, we are discussing materials and any potential to reduce carbon during construction with our contractors. 

Additionally, the Greenways are just one part of a package of measures helping us to leave the car at home and travel in ways that do not harm the environment for many years to come – transport is currently the largest single source of carbon emissions from Greater Cambridge

 We will be using Cambridgeshire County Council’s recently adopted Carbon Calculator to assess the carbon impact of the scheme. The Carbon Calculator is set to be a standardised tool used for all Council’s projects and suppliers. This approach will provide transparency, enable carbon emissions to be quantified and reduce environmental implications.

We are committed to minimising any potential impacts on the local environment and enhancing it where possible.

We have a commitment to increase and enhance biodiversity overall by 20 per cent.  To ensure that all environmental constraints and considered, and to assess the possible effects of the proposals on the environment and local ecology, we are undertaking tree, ecological and hedgerow assessments. These surveys will allow us to ensure impact on sensitive ecological features are kept to a minimum and confirm areas where we can contribute positively to biodiversity.

These surveys are non-intrusive and allow us to inspect and map trees and tree structures, habitats on site, any legally protected or notable species and hedgerows.

Generally, the new routes will be made from a hard, smooth surface such as asphalt. In more rural locations, we will introduce appropriate surface treatment that is sensitive to the local environment.

We are working to ensure that any materials used as part of the Greenways Network will be fit-for-purpose, environmentally-friendly, durable and long-lasting, and meet County Highway’s maintenance requirements.

GCP are in regular contact with the Highways Teams to discuss any ongoing maintenance and highways issues as part of the proposed Greenway Network.

Any proposed materials will be subject to feedback that we receive from the public and stakeholders as part of this engagement process

There are no plans for continuous vegetation (such as hedges, trees or other plants) along the grass strip. As part of the next stage of design, we would consider planting in certain locations for a range of different reasons, as part of the wider landscaping strategy. Those locations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and could be to screen the path from private land, or a busy road, or to support wildlife and biodiversity, for example.