USS supports the ambitions for the Local Plan to encourage a flourishing and mixed economy in Greater Cambridge which includes a wide range of jobs. To ensure this aim is achievable, it is important that proposed policy J/NE allows flexibility for employment uses in Greater Cambridge. This would be in accordance with Paragraph 82 of the National Planning Policy Framework which identifies that planning policies should “be flexible enough to accommodate needs not anticipated in the plan, allow for new and flexible working practices (such as live-work accommodation), and to enable a rapid response to changes in economic circumstances.”

Further, the Government recently introduced the new Use Class E to promote flexibility in town centres. It is crucial that the Local Plan does not seek to restrict sub-uses within the wider Use Class E. This would be in direct conflict with the aims of Use Class E.

USS notes that there is an identified need for warehousing and distribution (Use Class B8) uses within Greater Cambridge. USS notes that the proposed policy J/NE is intended to not support large scale regional and national distribution proposals. However, USS requests that the proposed policy makes clear that small to medium sized warehousing and distribution will be supported to meet the identified need. It should also be made clear that co-location is an acceptable way to help meet both the warehousing and distribution and housing needs in the area. This should also be reflected in the Clifton Road Industrial Estate site allocation, which should be flexible enough to allow for some small to medium sized warehousing and distribution uses on the redeveloped site.