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One of the country's largest purpose-built sporting complexes could soon be built just outside Cambridge.

Developers plan to transform a 220-acre site between Milton and Waterbeach into a £25 million multi-use leisure park.

Proposals include a 2km rowing lake with grandstands, a 3-mile long cycle circuit, triathlon facilities, angling lake and nature trails.

Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust, which runs Milton Country Park, want the project to be a green "breathing space" on Cambridge's doorstep.

Residents will be able to go swimming, rowing, cycling, canoeing, angling and BMX biking in the area.

(Image: Edgington Spink Hyne - Chartered Architects)

Outline planning permission for the site was originally granted in 2013 before silence fell over the project.

More detailed proposals for various aspects of the facility have now been submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council and are out for public consultation.

These include designs for a sports centre, boathouse, warden accommodation, bus and cycle shelters, amenity blocks and landscaping.

(Image: Edgington Spink Hyne - Chartered Architects)

Cllr Robert Turner, the council’s cabinet member for planning, said: "This consultation focuses on one part of what is a significant proposal.

"It is important that local people share their views on it with us before the council makes a decision. Everyone’s comments are welcome and will be taken into account."

The complex site is located 4.5km north of Cambridge city centre, beyond the A14 trunk road and largely runs parallel to the Cambridge to Waterbeach railway line.

Proposals would see a 2,000 metre competition lake and 1,000 metre training lake built for rowing and canoeing.

Another lake would be used for angling, with all bodies of water connected up to the River Cam by a canal.

(Image: Edgington Spink Hyne - Chartered Architects)

Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust say that the combined Sport Lakes site and adjacent Milton Country Park would provide more than 300 acres of recreational space for residents of the region.

This would include 150 acres of wooded parkland and 10 miles of bank habitat.

The sports centre and boathouse are intended to be the hub and nerve centre from which the various satellite sports activities will be controlled.

It will accommodate athlete amenities, a club room, sports hall, weights and ergometer room, rowing tanks and workshop.

(Image: Edgington Spink Hyne - Chartered Architects)

Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust will have two years from this latest application to start developing the site.

In a statement the registered charity said: "The project when completed will consist of a country park and lakes which, while preserving the Green Belt between the A14 and Waterbeach, will provide a huge recreational and sporting resource for Cambridge and the region.

"Covering 230 acres and two miles long, such a massive project naturally takes time to gather momentum, and the reserved matters application is one further hurdle overcome towards the eventual start of construction.

"The Trust is actively engaged in generating the funds required to complete the project and is looking forward to making further announcements on this in the coming months."

The public consultation on the reserved matters application runs until March 30.



To view the plans and comment visit www.scambs.gov.uk/content/search-planning-application and use reference number S/0795/18/RM.

