This Transport and Parking Strategy demonstrates how access, movement and parking associated with the proposed facility will be managed in a safe, inclusive and residentially considerate manner, while fully aligning with Northstowe's planned low-car, walkable new-town vision.

The site benefits from strong walking, cycling and public transport connectivity and sits within a settlement explicitly designed to reduce reliance on private vehicles. In this context, the strategy adopts a low-parking, highly managed approach, supported by proactive operational controls, travel planning measures and event-specific management. The approach is founded on the predominantly local nature of use, firm limits on peak attendance, strong promotion of sustainable travel modes, and clear safeguards to prevent overspill parking on surrounding residential streets.

The facility is intended to function as a community-scale venue, serving local residents on a regular basis, with a limited number of larger cultural or religious events each year.

On typical non-festival days, weekday evening activities are expected to attract approximately 50–60 attendees, while weekend daytime use is anticipated to rise to 100–120 attendees. The majority of users will be local Northstowe residents, with a smaller proportion travelling from nearby villages or the wider Cambridge area. Given this profile, most regular users are expected to arrive on foot or by bicycle, supported by local bus services.

Larger events will be limited to a maximum of five per year, with attendance capped at 300 people. These caps are a fundamental element of the transport strategy and ensure activity levels remain proportionate to the site and its surroundings.

Arrivals and departures will be actively managed to avoid the creation of peak congestion periods. For larger events, arrivals may be dispersed over extended time windows of up to eight hours, rather than concentrated around a single start time.

For peak events, attendees will be allocated arrival slots at the point of booking, with timings communicated through digital tickets and event information. Departures will be similarly staggered, supported by on-site stewarding and managed dispersal arrangements. This approach significantly reduces pressure on the local highway network and reflects established best practice for community-scale venues within residential settings.

A total of 12 on-site car parking spaces will be provided, including 2 designated accessible bays and 2 EV charging points. This level of provision reflects a purpose-led, low-parking approach, consistent with Northstowe's sustainable transport objectives, and is supported by active management measures to discourage general attendee car use.

Cycle parking forms a core component of the access strategy, with a minimum of 30 cycle spaces, expandable to up to 60 spaces in response to demand. Cycle parking will be conveniently located, well lit and naturally surveilled, supporting safe and attractive use by adults, families and children.

For visitors travelling from outside Northstowe, the site benefits from proximity to Longstanton Park & Ride, located approximately 10 minutes' walk away, providing a realistic and sustainable alternative to on-street parking.

On higher-attendance days, a managed shuttle service will operate between the Park & Ride and the site using a small minibus operated by a community partner. Event programming will also consider wider network conditions, with larger events scheduled at times of lower background traffic to minimise cumulative impacts.

As activities evolve, the organisation will explore formal overflow parking arrangements with nearby secondary schools where appropriate. Any such arrangements will be secured through written agreements and supported by clear operational plans prior to use.

Protecting neighbouring residential streets and local amenity is a core objective of this strategy. All larger events will operate on a mandatory pre-booking basis, with attendance limits enforced through ticketing systems. Clear 'no on-street parking' messaging will be embedded within booking confirmations, event webpages and on-site signage.

On peak days, trained stewards and marshals will manage arrivals, designated drop-off and pick-up areas, and prevent inappropriate parking. Drop-off areas will be designed to minimise dwell time and ensure smooth vehicle turnover.

The site is located on Stirling Road, close to the Northstowe Learning Community, where traffic levels are higher during school drop-off and pick-up periods. This context is fully recognised. On school days, routine activities and events will be scheduled to avoid school peak times, ensuring the facility does not contribute to congestion during these sensitive periods. This approach will be kept under review in coordination with the local authority and other stakeholders.

Transport arrangements will be actively monitored during events, with post-event reviews informing future improvements. The strategy is deliberately adaptive, allowing parking, traffic and access arrangements to evolve in response to observed usage patterns.

Ongoing dialogue with the local community will be maintained to ensure traffic management remains safe, proportionate and responsive to local needs. Usage patterns, peak periods and mitigation measures will be reviewed periodically and refined where necessary.