Approval of an application for change of use to mixed use office and car driving test centre could see the existing Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) centre at Cambridge (Brookmount Court) close, with learner drivers taking their test instead from Compass House on the Vision Park here in Histon.
Currently the centre at Brookmount Court hosts car tests only alongside Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) tests part 2 and 3. Motorcycle testing takes place from the nearby village of Hardwick. DVSA has confirmed that an average of around 75 practical car driving tests take place daily from Brookmount Court, with testing beginning from 7am and the latest test finishing at approximately 5pm.
Local backing
The application has received the backing of Histon & Impington Parish Council who has voted “all in favour to make a recommendation of approval, with the condition that the Highways Authority investigate possible effects on local highways due to increased traffic as a result of the car driving”.
The local Highways Authority has also added comments, stating: “Following a review of the documents provided to the Highway Authority as part of the above planning application, no significant adverse effect upon the Public Highway should result from this proposal should it gain benefit of Planning Permission, as the extent of Chivers Way, from which the site will achieve access, is not highway maintainable at public expense”.
‘A lifetime of safe driving’
A DVSA spokesperson told HI HUB: “DVSA’s priority is to help everyone through a lifetime of safe driving.
“We regularly review the locations of testing centres to make sure that they best serve the community and no decisions have been taken on this site at this time. Any changes are communicated to pupils and driving instructors well in advance.
“Our current testing centre continues to offer tests to local pupils, as well as those travelling from outside the area.”
The Planning Application, reference, 25/00451/FUL, can be viewed at the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning website and is open for comments until 4 March with a determination deadline of 3 April.