OBJECT

Mr Meadows does not object to the principle of settlement boundaries being defined around villages. However, the existing defined settlement boundaries for most villages in South Cambridgeshire have remained largely unchanged since the Local Plan 2004. The settlement boundaries were adjusted in some cases to take into account allocations at some villages through the Site Specific Allocations DPD 2010 and the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018. In Histon, heritage assets, protected village amenity areas, and local green space designations restrict development opportunities within the settlement boundary, and the Green Belt restricts development outside the settlement boundary. One of the allocations from the adopted Local Plan has not yet come forward; Site H/1 (d): Land north of Impington Lane for 25 dwellings. It is very likely most development opportunities that did exist within Histon have been taken up by now, and any that do remain (other than the outstanding allocation) would be for one or two dwellings only that are not required to provide affordable housing.

The Councils have not undertaken an assessment of the capacity land within the existing settlement boundaries of villages to accommodate additional development. It is likely that such an assessment would demonstrate that the capacity is limited.

It is considered that the emerging GCLP should seek to allocate suitable sites on the edge of existing sustainable villages and to adjust the settlement boundary to accommodate those allocations. The site promoted by Mr Meadows at land off Cottenham Road in Histon is suitable and available for housing, and should be allocated for development.

Requested Change

It is requested that a capacity assessment is undertaken of all villages in South Cambridgeshire to determine which potential housing sites might be deliverable or developable during the plan period to 2041 and the number of dwellings that might be delivered from each of those sites.

If the capacity assessment identifies no suitable sites to meet identified affordable housing needs it is requested that additional allocations are made on the edge of those villages to deliver sufficient housing to meet those affordable housing needs.