Given that the Greater Cambridge area includes vastly different spatial characteristics ranging from dense urban landscapes to rural village locations, Policy S/JH should ensure that housing is provided across the settlement hierarchies; so in larger settlements as well as smaller rural communities to ensure that the policy meets the objectives of supporting and promoting the provision of balanced and mixed communities. The current strategic approach to accommodating development is not considered to be in accordance with the principles outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Concern is raised that insufficient land is being allocated to the rural area overall and too much emphasis is being placed on Cambridge City and new settlements and this focus could lead to problems associated with infrastructure and housing delivery.
Whilst it is recognised that the use of brownfield land is encouraged and this accords with the provisions of the Framework, this should not be at the expense of ensuring that the right sites are allocated in the right places. Not all brownfield land will be appropriate to allocate for development, as sites can be blighted by contamination, have complex ownership issues that affect delivery or be too small or inadequately accessed. There will be a need for greenfield development as well as consideration of Green Belt release to ensure that the demanding housing requirements for the LPA are met. Greenfield sites also offer the opportunity for good levels of affordable housing to be provided that often causes a viability issue in the development of brownfield sites. Furthermore, it is considered that a higher quantum of homes are allocated within the plan period. The current scale of growth is considered inadequate particularly within the rural area, the development strategy proposed is not effective and could threaten the long-term viability of villages.
The following sites have been promoted through previous iterations of the plan and through the Call for Sites process and should be allocated for development:
Land at Bannold Road Waterbeach (ref 40466)
Land off Kingfisher Way, Cottenham (ref 40472)
Land to the north of Cottenham (new site)
Land at Boxworth End Swavesey (ref 40506)
Land at Priest Lane, Willingham (ref 40468)