Introduction
In Spring 2022 (over three and a half years ago) the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) ran a thorough and well advertised consultation about the future of Mill Road. The consultation was run by the GCP on behalf of the local Highways Authority (Cambridgeshire County Council).
One of the key questions asked whether respondents supported improvements to the public realm on and around Mill Road. The large numbers of Cambridge residents and businesses who responded made their feelings very clear: 83% supported “improving the quality of place”. So where is the transformation of Mill Road at?
Other Cambridgeshire town centres (particularly St Neots and March) have already benefitted from substantial (multi-£m) public investment schemes.
What’s Been Happening since 2022?
Fast forward to 2025 and Mill Road is looking even older and more tired. So what’s been happening?
- In March 2025 we published our inspiring vision for a transformed Mill Road. This was centred around a much improved pedestrian experience.
- We formed this vision with our 8 goals for the street very much in mind.
- On 19th March this year, the GCP Executive Board unanimously agreed to a new alignment for Phase 3 of the Fulbourn Greenway. This phase will now link from Brookfields to the Chisholm Trail Phase 2 via Mill Road.
- The GCP decision reflects the change in status of Mill Road from a motor vehicle through route to an active travel corridor feeding the local Mill Road area and on into the City.
- On July 8th this year a High Court judge dismissed a legal challenge to the implementation Mill Road bridge restrictions.
- We have held meetings with local Councillors, in particular County Councillors, to try to encourage them to progress the Mill Road public realm work.
- In September this year, in some frustration at the apparent lack of progress, we launched a petition to Cambridgeshire County Council urging them to make a start on the project. We developed the petition in collaboration with 3 other local community and active travel groups (Cambridge Living Streets, Camcycle, and Cambridgeshire Parents for Sustainable Travel)
We have made significant efforts to maximise support for change via that petition, which closes on 31st Dec 2025. Councillors and officers need to understand the strength of feeling in the local community.