Sustainability Appraisal

A key aim of the Sustainability Appraisal process is to make a plan more sustainable. It tests the social, economic, and environmental impacts of various plan options, to help choose the most sustainable options. It also seeks to determine the extent to which the principles of sustainable development are integrated into the plan and its policies.

It is considered by Mr Meadows that the Sustainability Appraisal has not sought to make emerging GCLP more sustainable, and in respect of villages it appears that the assessment against sustainability objectives is not robust because it does not critically review the evidence provided by the Councils. For example, some villages have good access by sustainable modes of transport and contain a good range of services and facilities, there is an identified need for affordable housing in most villages which is ignored in the assessment process, and there is limited capacity within existing settlement boundaries for villages to accommodate additional development.

The sustainability objectives that are relevant to Mr Meadows representations are: SA1 Housing; and, SA2 Access to Services and Facilities.

Mr Meadows representations and requested amendment to the assessment of policy options in the Sustainability Appraisal are as follows:

• Table 5.4: Policy S/DS: Development Strategy: A ‘significant positive effect/uncertain’ score is identified in the assessment for the housing sustainability objective (SA1). However, as set out in Mr Meadows representations to Policy S/DS for off Cottenham Road in Histon, there are no new housing allocations made in most villages, and in Histon an existing allocation for 25 dwellings is carried forward, and as such the identified needs for affordable housing in the villages would not be met by the preferred development strategy. South Cambridgeshire District Council's 'Housing Statistical Information Leaflet' (December 2019) identified affordable housing needs for those with a local connection in all villages – see https://www.scambs.gov.uk/media/18316/affordable-housing-housing-statistical-information-leaflet-december-2019.pdf. That information is not reflected in the assessment contained in Table 5.4. The identified need for 58 affordable dwellings in Histon will not be met by the preferred development strategy, which must be a negative outcome for the housing related sustainability objective. Mr Meadows has requested that land r/o 113 Cottenham Road in Histon is allocated for housing and affordable housing to deliver positive housing related sustainability outcomes.

• Table 5.6: Policy S/SB: Settlement Boundaries. A ‘mixed significant positive and minor negative effect’ score is identified for the housing sustainability objective (SA1). As set out in Mr Meadows representations to Policy S/SB the settlement boundaries at most villages have remained largely unchanged since 2004 and there has been no assessment of capacity within settlement boundaries to accommodate additional development. The assessment in Table 5.6 does not consider whether any capacity exists within the settlement boundaries to accommodate the identified needs for affordable housing. Histon is an example where there are no opportunities within the boundary to accommodate major developments, other than those already allocated, that would require affordable housing i.e. 10 or more dwellings. As set out above there is an identified need for 58 affordable dwellings in Histon. It must be a negative outcome for the housing related sustainability objective if affordable housing needs of villages, including Histon, will not be met by the currently defined settlement boundaries.

• Table 5.22: Policy S/RRA: Allocations in the Rest of the Rural Area: A ‘mixed significant positive and minor negative effect’ score is identified for the housing sustainability objective (SA1). A ‘mixed significant negative and minor positive effect’ score is identified for access to services and facilities objective (SA2). As set out above there is an identified need for 58 affordable dwellings in Histon, and it must be a negative outcome for the housing related sustainability objective if affordable housing needs of villages, including Histon, will not be met by the development strategy or the strategy for rural areas. Histon is defined as a Rural Centre in the settlement hierarchy. It contains supermarkets and other small convenience stores and shops, a post office, doctor’s surgery and pharmacy, dentist, library, public houses and restaurants, banks, primary and secondary schools, and village halls, and a business park and other small businesses. Histon is connected to the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, there are frequent bus services, and there are existing on and off-road cycle routes within the village. The accessibility to services and facilities is very good for Histon, but this is not reflected in the assessment for this sustainability related objective, and additional development in this village would improve the sustainability outcomes and support the existing services and facilities.

It is requested that land r/o 113 Cottenham Road in Histon is allocated in emerging GCLP to deliver better and more positive sustainability outcomes compared with the preferred development strategy.