Project summary
The Swaffhams Greenway will be an active travel route to make it easier for walkers, cyclists and horse riders to travel from Swaffham Prior and Swaffham Bulbeck into Cambridge. It is one of twelve Greater Cambridge Greenways. These will make it easier both to travel in a pleasant and sustainable way into and out of Cambridge and to enjoy our countryside for leisure purposes. They will also help to make local journeys such as school and nursery runs safer and easier. In some cases these are new routes, or routes with new sections, whilst others will be based on existing paths.
Key benefits
- Green active travel into and out of Cambridge for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
- Easy and safe travel to workplaces, local schools and colleges, shops and transport hubs.
- A safer crossing of Quy Road near Anglesey Abbey
- Links to the Bottisham Greenway at Stow-cum-Quy and Horningsea Greenway at Fen Ditton.
- Link to the Chisholm Trail, which leads to Cambridge North and Central stations.
Current status
A public consultation has taken place and the report was approved by the GCP Executive Board on 01 October 2020 (see the Agenda Pack pages 43-56 for the Greenway Report). Following the Board's approval, we have started the process of detailed design.
Latest update
- March 2021: Work to resurface a 220m stretch of a popular cycle route between Stourbridge Common and Riverside Bridge in Cambridge has been completed. It will form part of the Greater Cambridge Greenways network, linking the Horningsea, Bottisham and Swaffham’s routes as well as the Abbey Chesterton Bridge and Chisholm Trail project, which is currently under construction. For further details, visit Upgrades to two key routes to improve walking and cycling journeys - Greater Cambridge Partnership
- As part of the detailed design work, we will carry out site surveys and liaise with landowners and others along the planned route.
- The choice of surface material for each part of the Greenway will take into account the surrounding environment and landscape as well as the needs of the path users. The Greenway path must be useable in all weathers and all seasons.
- We will make sure that off-road sections are well signposted.
- Safety will be a top priority when the Greenways are on or near public roads.
- Finally, the Greenways project aims to make improvements to the environment. We will create places to sit and enjoy the surroundings as well as supporting wildlife and developing bee-friendly corridors.
Project details
The Swaffhams Greenway runs for 8.2 miles.
The draft route starts in Swaffham Prior with extra space for the Greenway and measures to slow traffic entering the village. The Greenway then continues through Swaffham Bulbeck and alongside the B1102 where the path will be widened towards Anglesey Abbey. The Greenway then goes past Stow-cum-Quy, where it converges with the Bottisham Greenway, and continues along High Ditch Road past the Wing housing development to Fen Ditton. At this point it joins the Horningsea Greenway. It will then go under a new underpass at Ditton Lane. It will continue along Ditton Fields, intersecting with the Chisholm Trail at the Abbey-Chesterton Bridge. It will proceed through Stourbridge Common along Riverside to Midsummer Common. In all places there will be improved safety measures, and the path will be separate from road traffic.As Quick Wins, the Wadloes path in Fen Ditton and a section of the National Cycle Network next to the A1303, near Cambridge Airport, have been widened and resurfaced. We have installed solar stud lighting in suitable places and more are proposed.
The map below was produced for the Executive Board meeting in October 2020 and will be updated once detailed design work has been completed.
Related documents
Published on 08 Mar 2021
Published on 08 Mar 2021
Published on 08 Mar 2021
