In our response to the Area Action Plan consultation for North East Cambridge in 2019, the department suggested that a D1 use (now F1) of the type and specialism described would be complementary to the high tech science park and the university, while fitting well within the proposed residential-led mixed use development. The location close to the new railway station was considered highly suitable for CMS, given the larger-than-local catchment area for the school and the need to encourage sustainable travel choices. We requested that a site be allocated for a school within the larger mixed use allocation.

We note that the proposed policy direction for Policy S/NEC includes schools among the necessary infrastructure to be provided. As well as providing new school places directly linked to the need from housing growth, the councils should have regard to the NPPF requirement to allow for sufficient choice of school places, giving great weight to the need to widen choice in education (para 94). CMS would be instrumental in diversifying educational opportunities for this new community, the rest of Cambridge and the wider sub-region. The local education authority, Cambridgeshire County Council, has provided the attached letter of support, and confirmed they would also consider supporting alternative sites for CMS provided they are equally accessible by public transport and offer equally good connectivity for students travelling from a wide area. If a site for CMS within the NEC allocation were secured, the department would work closely with the councils to ensure the development accorded with the NEC Trip Budget, making sustainable transport the most attractive option for students and staff.