Objection is raised in respect of the Councils’ policy on the ‘rest of the rural area’. It is considered that there is insufficient consideration being given to the long-term viability of rural settlements and their resident population. In order for Greater Cambridge to deliver a robust development strategy that meets the needs of its residents adequately, it is necessary for the LPA to provide an adequate quantum of development in the rural settlements. By adopting the approach currently proposed of limited levels of development being allocated in the rest of the rural area this would result in an outcome that would run counter to the national policy objective of supporting and promoting the provision of balanced and mixed communities. As currently drafted, the policy approach is to propose some development in and around villages that have good transport links and services while in smaller villages only small-scale infill development is envisaged. This could lead to a trend of rural communities being threatened. New affordable and market housing should be allocated to rural settlements to ensure their long-term viability is protected. Investment should also be put into improving public transport links in the rural area rather than penalising those areas further where links are not up to standard.