It is considered that the growth of the more sustainable villages must be part of the development strategy for the emerging GCLP, and particularly those villages that contain a good range of services and facilities, are accessible by a range of modes of transport, and/or where there is an identified need for affordable housing for those with a local connection to the village.

Paragraph 79 of the NPPF seeks to promote sustainable development in rural areas and acknowledges that housing can enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities and support local services. The promoted development by MPM Properties (TH) Ltd and Thriplow Farms Ltd at the Grain Store Site, Lodge Road, Thriplow (call for site reference 47379) would support the existing services and facilities in the village.

Paragraph 69 acknowledges the role that small and medium sized sites can make towards meeting the housing requirements, and that such sites are often built-out relatively quickly. Small and medium sized sites typically only require limited new physical infrastructure and amendments to the access arrangements. The housing monitoring data from Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire confirms that small and medium sites are delivered quickly i.e. within two to three years. It is considered that small and medium sized sites make a significant contribution towards the short term housing land supply and the five year housing land supply position in Greater Cambridgeshire. It is requested that small/medium sized sites such as the Grain Store Site, Lodge Road, Thriplow are allocated to meet the requirement for a mix of sites including those that are easily deliverable.

Paragraph 62 of the NPPF expects the size, type and tenure of housing needs of the community to be assessed and reflected in planning policies, including for example those with an affordable housing need. In the case of Thriplow, the emerging Neighbourhood Plan identities a need for 22 affordable homes with a local connection to the village. The promoted development by MPM Properties (TH) Ltd and Thriplow Farms Ltd at the Grain Store Site, Lodge Road, Thriplow would include market and affordable housing to help meet the local needs of the village.

For all these reasons, small scale housing allocations should be made in the more sustainable villages within the rest of the rural area because there is a need to support the existing services and facilities within those villages, and there is an identified need for affordable housing in those villages which would not be met via other means.

Requested Change

It is requested that the development strategy for the rest of the rural area includes an additional allocation at the Grain Store Site, Lodge Road, Thriplow.