COMMENT

The Greater Cambridge City Deal recognised the relationship between housing and economic growth, and that the shortage of available and affordable housing within Greater Cambridge has an impact on house prices, commuting patterns, and recruitment and retention of employees. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Devolution Deal included a commitment to deliver substantial economic growth and to double economic output during the next 25 years. The Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership acknowledge and support the economic growth potential of the Greater Cambridge area, and consider that there is a need to substantially increase housing delivery in order to support economic growth and address the significant housing affordability issues that exist.

The preferred allocation at Site Ref. S/RSC/HW (Land between Hinton Way and Mingle Lane, Great Shelford) for 100 dwellings would be consistent with the commitments to support economic growth and increase housing delivery and the supply of affordable housing. It is acknowledged that this site is identified as a preferred allocation within the preferred housing target, which is based on a ‘medium plus’ growth option, and there are no objections to Policy S/JH.

However, it is not clear whether the ‘medium plus’ growth option makes sufficient upward adjustments to the housing requirement to take into account growth strategies, strategic infrastructure improvements and housing affordability in Greater Cambridgeshire - see Section Id.2a of the Planning Practice Guidance. It also appears that the ‘medium plus’ growth option might not reflect the anticipated growth aspirations of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework.

The housing target in Policy S/JH should definitely not be reduced. In due course, and once the upward adjustments required by Section Id.2a of the Planning Practice Guidance and the growth aspirations of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework have been taken into account, the ‘higher’ growth option might need to be selected at the next stage of emerging GCLP. This highlights the need to retain the preferred allocation between Hinton Way and Mingle Lane, Great Shelford.