The settlement hierarchy review within the strategy topic paper appears to assess each settlement in terms of the services located within Parish boundaries rather than considering how different settlements interact and support each other. Paragraph 79 of The NPPF states that “Planning policies should identify opportunities for villages to grow and thrive, especially where this will support local services. Where there are groups of smaller settlements, development in one village may support services in a village nearby.”
When assessing each settlement perhaps the distance to the nearest service should be the criteria (such as was used within the HELAA site assessments) rather than just whether the service is available or not in the Parish. For example, the village of Meldreth is closely supported by the facilities of Melbourn. We question whether the Shared Planning Services had considered an analysis of existing communities under the 20-minute neighbourhood principles, how would Cambourne perform under such analysis? This may indicate what additional services are required within existing communities to help achieve a more local sustainable growth to our communities. Identifying shortfalls in community service and facilities in this manner may help local communities plan and encourage other benefits and facilities within neighbourhood plans, for example.