FAQs

A second phase of the greenway proposes to provide two spurs further into Waterbeach village and to Cambridge Science Park, St John’s Innovation Park and Waterbeach New Town at Denny End Road via Glebe Road. This second phase is currently unfunded and would be consulted on when funding is secured.  

The new alignment has been established as the preferred alternative option following extensive engineering reviews and detailed consideration of a number of alternatives. The new proposed route would use a new off-road route behind the A10 and then pass through Milton, rather than run parallel to the railway line.  

The greenway will make use of a number of upgrades to the A10 and Milton cycle routes improvements associated with the Waterbeach New Town.  The greenway will improve existing infrastructure and provide new pedestrian and cycle facilities along other sections of the route. 

This public consultation is an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the proposals at an early stage of design. The results of the consultation will be used to inform our plans and any decisions to progress before they move to more detailed stages of design. 

Further technical assessments highlighted significant challenges with this route. For example, substantial earthworks would have been required to elevate the greenway so that it would not flood. This task would have had a significant environmental impact and substantially increased the cost of the scheme well beyond its allocated budget. 

The greenway route was therefore reviewed, with consideration given to the changing transport context of the area and recent development proposals. This review identified an alternative route that provides greater integration with the existing active travel network and better value for public money. This is the new proposed route we are consulting on.  

We will continue to engage local stakeholders on the design of the route as it develops. A final plan (business case) for the route will be presented to the GCP Joint Assembly and Executive Board before construction could commence on the majority of the route. The Executive Board has approved early works on the Cowley Road section of the route. 

The creation of a new shared use path between Milton and Waterbeach is subject to further feasibility work and landowner agreement. 

The public consultation is open for anyone to provide their feedback. 

In addition to the information published online, it can also be made available in hard-copy on request. We will host a virtual event on Microsoft Teams on Monday 30 October 2023 and an in-person event at Milton Community Centre on  Tuesday 7 November 2023. Register your place for our online event here. 

No decisions have been made on the route and design options. Once the consultation is closed, we will review all the feedback provided. We will publish a report of the feedback received and how we plan to amend our plans in response, where necessary, for discussion with local elected members and the GCP’s Joint Assembly and Executive Board. 

Throughout the route’s development, we have been engaging with key stakeholders including local authority officers, our non-motorised user forums (walking, cycling, horse riding organisations), relevant parish councils and landowners, as well as Network Rail and National Highways, where appropriate. 

Solar studs are low-impact and considered most appropriate for rural settings where a balance has to be struck between safety and impact on the local environment. 

Where physical obstructions and limited carriageway width restrict the ability to create a new walking and cycling path, alternative traffic arrangements will be considered. Potential measures include reducing or moving on-street parking and introducing a 20mph speed limit, in some areas, along with improvements to the public realm. For more information see our designs options for these sections here.  

Where possible, the Waterbeach Greenway will be incorporated into the wider A10 improvements being delivered by Cambridgeshire County Council with funding from the New Town development (S106 highway mitigation funding). 

One concern is the potential impact of flooding along the towpath. Reducing the chances of flooding would require significant engineering works that could be costly and difficult to achieve, due to the limited width available on the towpath. The towpath is also indirect and sits away from built-up areas, meaning it would likely attract low levels of use between Cambridge, Milton and Waterbeach. The towpath route would also require crossing the railway line at two locations, which raised safety concerns and would require approval from Network Rail. 

The proposed Waterbeach Greenway better serves the villages of Waterbeach and Milton and key employment and education sites in the north of Cambridge. 

Preliminary calculations using the Propensity to Cycle Tool and Waterbeach New Town forecast cycling trips, suggested that there could be over 200 cyclists using the Waterbeach Greenway in peak hour periods in 2031. It should be noted that these figures are subject to further investigation, with more detailed analysis being undertaken as part of the wider Waterbeach Greenway project.