MPM Properties (TH) Ltd and Thriplow Farms Ltd does not object to the principle of settlement boundaries being defined around villages. However, the existing defined settlement boundaries for 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. It is very likely that most of the development opportunities within existing village boundaries have now therefore been taken up. It is also likely that heritage assets within some villages, such as conservation areas and listed buildings, will constrain/limit some of the development opportunities within the existing built up area that do remain.

The Councils have not undertaken an assessment of the capacity of 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. Where opportunities for growth/development are limited, it is unlikely that the development needs of local communities that exist now or which will exist in the future will be able to be met.

The emerging GCLP should therefore carry out a capacity assessment and, utilising the evidence it gathers, seek to allocate suitable sites on the edge of existing sustainable villages, adjusting the settlement boundary to accommodate those allocations. There is a need for additional housing sites in the more sustainable villages to support existing services and facilities and to meet identified affordable housing needs in those villages. The GCLP needs to ensure that these additional homes can be delivered and positively planned for to ensure their future delivery.

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 the affordable housing need.