It would appear that the core site at NECAAP has undergone a rebranding. Town and U+I had a stall at Strawberry Fair today where they were proudly showcasing the plans for ‘Hartree’.
Here are some of the visuals on display:
For me what really stuck in the gullet was the one titled ‘A Day at Hartree’ which looks at possible future resident profiles. It talks about key workers alongside couples who have moved from London alongside ‘global citizens’ from other countries. I wonder if key workers really will be able to afford these apartments, and if it is attracting couples from London and further afield, how can the development be addressing the housing shortage that locals are experiencing.
I spoke to one of the people manning the stall who said that the sewage works relocation and Hartree are two completely separate projects while in the same breath saying that without the sewage works moving the development wouldn’t be able to go ahead. He refused to accept they are linked and we had to agree to disagree in the end but it was all relatively good humoured debate.
I also pointed out that they were stretching it to describe the development as good for the planet, “an exemplar for development fit for the challenges for the 21st Century, enabling sustainable lifestyles, enhancing nature and accelerating the transition to a net zero carbon world.” I pointed out that they were being, at best, disingenuous and that in no way can this development be described as exemplary development fit for the blah! blah! if it depends on moving a fully functioning sewage works (one that was ‘future-proofed’ a few years back to the tune of over £20m) to Green Belt, arable farmland and pouring millions of tonnes of concrete onto a principal chalk aquifer into the bargain.
Anyways, if you have the opportunity to put anyone straight on the development and what the consequences are, I hope some of this helps with your argument.
Catherine Morris