The Trumpington Residents' Association strongly objects to policy S/CBC and the proposed expansion of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC). We believe this is premature, unnecessary and inappropriate. The proposal seems to have been shoe-horned into the Plan without adequate consideration or consultation. It is not clear that it is either viable or needed. It should be removed from the Plan.

We have previously objected to the expansion of CBC that was included in the current Local Plan (S/CBC/Policy E/2). As far as we are aware, no plans have been put forward for the use of that land. Also, there is the potential for better use of the land within the existing footprint of the Campus: we are aware that the CBC authorities are actively looking this type of change. The policy states that "development on the additional land will only be allowed to take place when evidence is provided that opportunities on the existing campus have been fully explored and utilised before development takes place" (page 86). The proposals fail to demonstrate that the development plans are appropriate.

Concentrating development here will place further pressure on resources, transport, housing and the community. It would result in a "very high level of harm" to the Green Belt (page 89).

If approved, the proposal would extend the edge of the city well into the Green Belt, as far as Granham’s Road. Nine Wells LNR and White Hill would be greatly affected by development. The extension would be very visible from the countryside to the south, including from Magog Down.

The development in the Green Belt would undermine Cambridge’s 'special character' by reducing the separation between Cambridge and its necklace of villages which the current Local Plan emphasises support this character.

We argue that there is a sufficient supply of employment land elsewhere, as detailed in the Employment Land and Economic Evidence Base (Appendix H). The Development Strategy Topic Paper states that "Given the overall supply of employment land available, it is not considered that the case for release in this location can be made on the overall land supply" (page 132). There are other areas with the potential to accommodate the needs of CBC, within a reasonable distance of the core Campus. There are opportunities to maximise the role of the wider Cambridge biotech area, with more partnerships, less pressure on one location, and co-location across the area.

The proposed inclusion of additional homes as part of this development does not seem to have been factored into the projection for homes and is contrary to the Green Belt policy (page 39).

The proposed expansion area includes high quality category 2/3 agricultural land. The development would undermine the principle of protecting the best agricultural land (Policy J/AL, page 235, and the Jobs Topic Paper, page, 21). The National Planning Policy Framework states "Where significant development is demonstrated to be necessary, areas of poorer quality land should be preferred to those of a higher quality".

It is not clear how the proposed housing fits in with the overall Plan. There is a reference to providing "affordable and key worker homes for campus employees" (page 85, final line). Is the intention to have no market housing? If the affordable housing is limited to campus employees to support the expansion of the Campus, it would have limited impact on the existing shortfall in affordable housing.

If the expansion was approved in principle, there is a strong case for phasing it well in the future (beyond 2041), after other steps have been taken to maximise the use of the existing site and the already approved development area; limiting the area taken up by the development; requiring a design code that restricts the visual impact of high-rise buildings; prioritising functions that really need to be close to the existing Campus; and for removing or reducing the number of homes within the development. We believe that it is essential that the best use is made of the existing Campus site first.

Mitigating the flood risk would require a comprehensive approach to drainage.