Question 15. Do you agree that we should aim to increase tree cover across the area?
Yes wholeheartedly, vitally important. Also use trees intelligently, trees instead of air conditioning is possible.
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As a component part of the battle against climate change through support for carbon capture M&M support the principle of increasing the level of tree cover within the plan area where this is feasible and appropriate. Where proposals are able to deliver significant new planting that supports BNG and carbon capture this should be considered positively as a material factor in determining applications.
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Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. 4.25 In the case of the Site, any replacement tree cover must reflect the needs of the Botanic Garden to safeguard its status as an open air, living laboratory. Tree species must be specified with this in mind and species that are not compatible with those in the adjoining Botanic Garden are not to be introduced into the locality.
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Yes, the Local Plan should include a policy framework that seeks to increase tree cover but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. 6.18 Land to the west of Cambridge Road, Melbourn is currently in use as arable fields with vegetation largely restricted to its boundaries. The proposals would seek to retain existing vegetation whilst also delivering substantial new tree planting across the site.
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5.18 Yes, the Local Plan should include a policy framework that seeks to increase tree cover but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. 5.19 Land at Fishers Lane, Orwell is currently in use as arable fields with vegetation largely restricted to its boundaries. The proposals would seek to retain existing vegetation whilst also delivering substantial new tree planting across the site.
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5.16 Yes, the Local Plan should include a policy framework that seeks to increase tree cover but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. 5.17 Land south of Hattons Road, Longstanton is currently in use as arable fields with vegetation largely restricted to its boundaries. The proposals would seek to retain existing vegetation whilst also delivering substantial new tree planting across the site.
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Agree. Cambridgeshire has a relatively small amount of woodland compared to other counties. However, policies should not only require tree planting (and woodland planting where applicable) on-site as part of development proposals, but as a package of wider measures to provide recreational green space, wildlife habitats, flood attenuation and climate mitigation. Planting should be of native species or use natural regeneration. As part of a green infrastructure supplementary plan document which should be used to implement its net gain policy, the Greater Cambridge Local Plan should identify strategic opportunities to expand, buffer and join up existing woodland sites, restore those which have suffered historical deterioration (for example through conversion into non-native forestry plantation), and identify suitable new woodland sites. However, we believe that tree planting and woodland creation should be only one element of the green infrastructure plan, which should include other habitat opportunities that contribute towards the climate change, biodiversity and recreational objectives of the plan (for example creation of fen, wet grassland and meadow habitats).
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5.17 Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to increase tree cover, but which allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed is necessary. 5.18 This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting.
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Yes, the Local Plan should include a policy framework that seeks to increase tree cover but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. This could be part of an on-site/ off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Our proposal is on an area of low ecological value with vegetation largely restricted to its boundaries. The proposals would seek to retain existing vegetation whilst also delivering substantial new tree planting to both provide landscaping and ecological benefit.
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5.15 Yes, the Local Plan should include a policy framework that seeks to increase tree cover but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. 5.16 The site is currently screened by trees and other vegetation. The proposals would seek to retain existing vegetation whilst also delivering substantial new tree planting across the site where appropriate.
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4.17 Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase, but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. 4.18 This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting.
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3.17 Yes, with the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. 3.18 This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting.
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5.15 Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase, but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. 5.16 This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting. 5.17 The proposals for Grange Farm would seek to retain existing vegetation whilst also delivering substantial new tree planting to both provide landscaping and ecological benefit.
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5.16 Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase, but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. 5.17 This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting.
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5.13 Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. 5.14 This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting.
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Yes, strongly agree. Trinity College Cambridge recognises the importance of trees in creating a pleasant environment. Since it’s opening in the 1970s the open fields on which Cambridge Science Park was first established have been extensively landscaped including the planting of a wide range of shrubs and trees. In future, the choice of trees within the Science Park and more widely should be considered in terms of their CO2 sequestration value. Cambridge Science Park North will make a commitment to raising awareness of our current environmental issues and demonstrating how we can reduce the damage caused by carbon emissions, chemical pollutants and particulates. One opportunity being considered is the introduction of a woodland creation project – during the planting, the project could involve local schools to support children’s awareness of environmental issues and the importance of woodland and trees as a natural capital resource. This would be in line with the Commission for Climate Change’s recommendations to increase tree planting in order to deliver the UK Government’s Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 205013.
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Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to see tree cover increase, but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting.
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2.27 Enhancing the tree cover across Cambridgeshire is an important consideration, especially given the comparable lack of coverage in the region compared to other areas. It reflects on our comments regarding Q14 insofar as ecological and biodiversity enhancement should not be seen as confined to the individual does allocated for development. 2.28 In relation to the proposed sites at Steeple Morden the sites offer significant scope to incorporate new tree planting, both supplementary and in replacement, but in our view this opportunity alone, whilst supporting the implementation of the Cambridge Tree Strategy, is not suffice to meet the acknowledged need to increase tree cover in the Greater Cambridge area as a whole.
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4.19 Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. 4.20 This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting.
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2.31 We would support the increase of tree cover across the area and this will be brought forward through residential-led development such as that proposed at Comberton with the enhancement of boundary planting including the potential community woodland.
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3.18 Yes, we strongly agree with this requirement. The land adjacent to Balsham Road, Linton has space to accommodate substantial tree planting, as an integral part of the landscaping scheme. Tree planting as part of this development, would also assist in contributing to wider tree planting targets as set out in the plan.
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5.16 Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase, but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting.
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5.18 Land to the north of Main Street, Shudy Camps, is currently in use as arable fields with diverse vegetation largely restricted to its boundaries. The proposals would seek to retain existing vegetation whilst also delivering substantial new tree planting across the site. 5.19 The Local Plan should be balanced and include developing the tree cover within its policy framework. Tree cover should weigh in the planning balance and form an element of the decision-making process. The process enables the benefits and impacts of each development to be carefully assessed. Tree cover may be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which through the s106 provisions may achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planting and ecological benefits.
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5.17 Yes, the Local Plan should include a policy framework that seeks to increase tree cover but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. 5.18 Land to the west of Mill Street, Gamlingay is currently in use as arable fields with vegetation largely restricted to its boundaries. The proposals would seek to retain existing vegetation whilst also delivering substantial new tree planting across the site.
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3.7 Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. 3.8 This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting. 3.9 The presence of boundary trees should not itself be sufficient to protect, and designate as such, an entire area of land as Policy 67 Protected Open Space. The policy approach must be commensurate. This is highlighted by the land east of The Lawns, Clerk Maxwell Road, which has the whole site protected for environmental purposes, because there is some boundary planting, this is not a reasonable or commensurate policy response. The designation should be removed, to give validity and strength to policy by protecting only those whole sites that require that full protection.
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The National Trust supports the aims of the Cambridge Tree Strategy. Linked to the Trust’s commitment to being carbon net zero by 2030, the Trust has made a commitment to plant and establish 20 million trees across an area of 18,000 ha throughout the UK and to create 20 green corridors to link up cities and the countryside. We are currently exploring options and opportunities across Cambridgeshire and the local planning authorities should work with relevant partners to identify and support a county wide tree planting ambition for inclusion in the Local Plan.
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CambridgePPF agrees with this proposal but with some caveats: • Tree planting must be in selected locations and should not be adopted as a blanket approach across the landscape – we need the right trees in the right places. For example: - tree planting should not take place on natural grasslands and other important ecological habitats. Meadows have declined by over 97% in the past 100 years and are a more threatened habitat than woodland. Natural grasslands are just as effective as woodland in fixing carbon through underground storage. - tree planting should be targeted at locations where it can expand or connect existing woodlands to provide wildlife corridors. This will achieve the biggest benefit for wildlife and is line with both the DEFRA 25 Year Environment Plan and the findings of the Lawton Report. • Biodiversity opportunity mapping is currently being undertaken by a consortium of local environmental organisations, including CambridgePPF, to identify locations where planting would improve woodland connectivity and generate a landscape more resilient to climate change. The Councils should use this approach as a basis for targeting new woodland creation. See our answer to Question 12. • The high values of productive farmland will mean that there are limited opportunities in South Cambridgeshire to convert agricultural land unless public funds are invested. The main opportunities arise in relation to new developments, both on-site and off-site, small copses for wildlife habitat, road verges, hedgerow trees and field margins. House owners should be encouraged to plant trees in their gardens and employees in their workplaces. • When planting new woodland, consideration should be given to: - avoiding the creation of large isolated blocks - using native and wildlife friendly species - using species that may prove to be more resilient to climate change - using a provenance of tree species that has demonstrated resistance to known speciesspecific diseases. • Carbon offsetting through tree planting will be needed to make a significant contribution to the net zero-carbon target. Tree planting will also contribute to the creation of green public space, gain in biodiversity, improvements to air quality, potentially flood alleviation, and improvements to water quality.
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Agree. As well as planting new trees we should increase the use of Tree Preservation Orders. We should also try to protect hedges and promote hedge planting.
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The Wildlife Trust somewhat agrees with this statement. It is essential to plant “the right tree in the right place”. For example increasing tree and woodland cover in the West Cambridgeshire Hundreds landscape-area would support the nature network of this part of Greater Cambridge, as would increasing tree cover on the clay areas between the West Cambridgeshire Hundreds and Cambridge city. Increasing tree cover within urban areas to help with urban cooling, reduce air pollution and bring the other benefits from trees would also be good. Increasing tree cover as part of the provision of strategic natural greenspaces around the city and large settlements, where it doesn’t damage other non-wooded habitats and their habitat networks, would also be valuable. However, equally planting the wrong trees in the wrong place could damage wildlife habitats and habitat networks, or even increase carbon emissions (e.g. planting on peat soils resulting in drying of the peat). Greater use should be made of natural regeneration, as tree planting itself can involve carbon emissions in transporting trees from nurseries, in using plastic tree tubes or fencing to protect the trees and in the weeding and other maintenance operations required to help trees establish.
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• We should aim to increase tree cover by planting trees in a way that complements cycling, creating safe, attractive and tree-lined routes. • Cycleways separated from car lanes by trees or shrubbery are ideal and Camcycle would support more of this.
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