Question 6. Do you agree with the potential big themes for the Local Plan?

Disagree

Achieving better access for disabled people should be a key theme.

Strongly agree

However, I think you should be looking at a way to make the outer villages more self-contained, to remove the need for people to travel into Cambridge more often. Maybe give incentives for small offices to move out of town and reduced business rates for shops in the satellite villages.

Strongly agree

No answer given

Disagree

No. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the new local plan. The local plan area faces serious challenges now in terms of new housing, affordable housing and transport impacts for example and so the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than local plan policy. Secondly, the four themes do not adequately affect housing affordability in Cambridgeshire which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in the Cambridge area, particularly in high-tech sectors. Thirdly, there is insufficient presence within the four themes of the importance of job growth as per the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output over 25 years. If job growth and economic development do not occur – then many of the other aims of the Greater Cambridge Plan will not be achieved.

Disagree

No. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a time frame beyond the life of the new local plan. The local plan area faces serious challenges now in terms of transport and affordable housing for example and so the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than local plan policy. Secondly, the four themes do not adequately affect housing affordability in Cambridgeshire which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in the Cambridge area close to key business/research locations.

Strongly agree

No answer given

Agree

I don't like the inclusion of 'growth' as an apparently-necessary contributor to wellbeing.

Agree

No answer given

Agree

The four themes identified are all positive and the Local Plan should certainly seek to address these. However, the themes do not give due prominence to the housing crisis in Greater Cambridge. House prices and rents are amongst the most expensive in the country and force people into housing situations that do not meet their needs. Examples include having to house-share because a single-occupancy house is unaffordable; living in surrounding villages or further afield and having to commute; or living in poor quality housing where the landlord has had no incentive to invest in the property. This situation makes it difficult for businesses to attract and retain staff; it raises the question, why live in Cambridge when you could live in (say) Bristol, Manchester or Birmingham and enjoy better housing in better locations at more affordable prices?

Disagree

Only in part. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the Plan. The Plan area faces serious challenges now, in terms of transport and affordable housing and the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than Local Plan policy. The four themes do not adequately affect housing affordability in Greater Cambridge which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in that area.

Disagree

Only in part. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the Plan. The Plan area faces serious challenges now, in terms of transport and affordable housing and the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than Local Plan policy. The four themes do not adequately affect housing affordability in Greater Cambridge which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in that area.

Strongly agree

No answer given

Agree

Agree but don't see how you can rank them (next question) because they are so interrelated.

Strongly disagree

The Big Themes seek to guide the Plans in its role to deliver housing, employment and infrastructure to support the needs of the population in a sustainable, economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner; however, they risk separating the themes from the role of the Plan. In order to make a “sound” Plan the Big Themes must include economics at the very least if not housing, employment and infrastructure as these are inextricably linked to the issues of climate change, bio-diversity, wellbeing and great places already identified. The Big Themes must recognise that if the Plan is to rely on funding from the private sector to deliver its growth agenda then economic viability must form part of the Big Themes.

Strongly disagree

The Big Themes seek to guide the Plans in its role to deliver housing, employment and infrastructure to support the needs of the population in a sustainable, economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner; however, they risk separating the themes from the role of the Plan. In order to make a “sound” Plan the Big Themes must include economics at the very least if not housing, employment and infrastructure as these are inextricably linked to the issues of climate change, bio-diversity, wellbeing and great places already identified. The Big Themes must recognise that if the Plan is to rely on funding from the private sector to deliver its growth agenda then economic viability must form part of the Big Themes.

Disagree

Only in part. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the Plan. The Plan area faces serious challenges now, in terms of transport and affordable housing and the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than Local Plan policy. The four themes do not adequately affect housing affordability in Greater Cambridge which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in that area.

Disagree

Only in part. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the Plan. The Plan area faces serious challenges now, in terms of transport and affordable housing and the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than Local Plan policy. The four themes do not adequately affect housing affordability in Greater Cambridge which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in that area.

Strongly agree

No answer given

Agree

The council and GCP must be bold and do new things- like the mayor of Paris making all cycle paths suitable for children.

Strongly disagree

No. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the new local plan. The local plan area faces serious challenges now in terms of new housing, affordable housing and transport impacts for example and so the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than unduly focus on such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than local plan policy. Secondly, the four themes do not adequately address housing affordability in Cambridgeshire, which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in the Cambridge area, particularly in high-tech sectors. Thirdly, there is insufficient presence within the four themes of the importance of job growth as per the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output over 25 years. If job growth and economic development do not occur – then many of the other aims of the Greater Cambridge Plan will not be achieved. This will also have significant impacts for the demand and delivery of additional housing

Strongly disagree

No. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the new local plan. The local plan area faces serious challenges now in terms of new employment, housing, affordable housing and transport impacts for example and so the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than unduly focusing on such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than local plan policy. Secondly, the four themes do not adequately address housing affordability in Cambridgeshire which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in the Cambridge area, particularly in B1 and B8 uses sectors. Thirdly, there is insufficient presence within the four themes of the importance of job growth as per the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output over 25 years. If job growth and economic development do not occur – then many of the other aims of the Greater Cambridge Plan will not be achieved. This will also have significant impacts for the demand and delivery of additional housing. Conversely, employers will not be attracted to Cambridge if there is insufficient affordable accommodation available.

Agree

The four big themes for the Local Plan are considered suitable and all are important in the consideration of the spatial distribution of growth in Greater Cambridge, and for the determination of planning applications. The influence of the four big themes will generate a new way of planning. This may require a different approach to decision making. The Local Plan policy framework will need to allow for a clear planning balance to take place to assess and prioritise the potential impacts of these themes. The need for homes and jobs remains as does the need to ensure development is viable and can come forward.

Agree

No answer given

Agree

It is suggested that the relationship between the big themes and the overarching theme of sustainable development is further explained in the emerging GCLP. Paragraph 8 of the NPPF identifies the three overarching objectives of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) and notes that these objectives are interdependent and suggests that they need to pursued in mutually supportive ways. The NPPF is clearly framed such that sustainable development is the overarching theme of the planning system to which all other themes relate. It is requested that sustainable development is identified as the overarching theme, to be consistent with the approach in Paragraph 8 of the NPPF and in order to avoid one of the identified big themes being give greater importance than another. It is noted that the economic objective of sustainable development (paragraph 8 of the NPPF) specifically identifies the need to build a strong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right types is available in the right places and at the right time to support growth, innovation and improved productivity.

Disagree

No. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the new local plan. The local plan area faces serious challenges now in terms of transport and affordable housing for example and so the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than such long term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than local plan policy. Secondly, the four themes do not adequately affect housing affordability in Cambridgeshire which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in the Cambridge area.

Disagree

The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the new local plan. The local plan area faces serious challenges now in terms of transport and affordable housing for example and so the priority we believe should be to address those immediate issues rather than such long term aspirations. Housing affordability in Cambridgeshire is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in the Cambridge area.

Strongly disagree

No. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the new local plan. The local plan area faces serious challenges now in terms of new housing, affordable housing and transport impacts for example and so the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than unduly focusing on such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than local plan policy. Secondly, the four themes do not adequately address housing affordability in Cambridgeshire which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in the Cambridge area, particularly in high-tech sectors. In particular the demand for housing to the south and east of Cambridge. Thirdly, there is insufficient presence within the four themes of the importance of job growth as per the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output over 25 years. If job growth and economic development do not occur – then many of the other aims of the Greater Cambridge Plan will not be achieved. This will also have significant impacts for the demand and delivery of additional housing. Conversely, employers will not be attracted to Cambridge if there insufficient affordable accommodation available.

Strongly disagree

No. The net zero carbon theme is an aspirational target for a timeframe well beyond the life of the new local plan. The local plan area faces serious challenges now in terms of new housing, affordable housing and transport impacts for example and so the priority should be to address those immediate issues rather than unduly focusing on such long-term aspirations. The achievement of net zero carbon will be influenced to a far greater degree by national legislation and fiscal measures rather than local plan policy. Secondly, the four themes do not adequately affect housing affordability in Cambridgeshire which is a major issue for the population and for employers seeking to recruit new staff in the Cambridge area, particularly in high-tech sectors. Thirdly, there is insufficient presence within the four themes of the importance of job growth as per the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output over 25 years. If job growth and economic development do not occur – then many of the other aims of the Greater Cambridge Plan will not be achieved. This will also have significant impacts for the need and demand for additional housing

Neither agree nor disagree

Nobody could argue with the first 3 (climate change, biodiversity, social inclusion). But “great places” sounds like Carte Blanche for the Council to bulldoze through e.g., horrific changes to the Market Square that might change it from a centuries-old place for local employment and skills-based commerce to another nightmarish entertainment space for the suffocating tourist trade. Great is in the eye of the beholder. So no, I cannot agree.

Agree

5.1 Agree - The four big themes for the Local Plan are considered suitable and all are important in the consideration of the spatial distribution of growth in Greater Cambridge, and for the determination of planning applications. 5.2 The four big themes will generate a new way of planning, this may require a different way to make decisions; to allow other impacts to happen to achieve these four priorities. The Local Plan policy framework will need to allow for a clear planning balance to take place to assess and prioritise impacts. The need for homes and jobs remains as does the need to ensure development is viable and can come forward.