OBJECT

It is considered that the growth of the more sustainable villages must be part of the development strategy for 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 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 three promoted developments by Endurance Estates in Bassingbourn would support the existing services and facilities in the village, including the schools, convenience store, post office, doctor's surgery, dentist, pharmacy, public houses, mobile library, sports centre, and existing and future bus services.

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, including those promoted by Endurance Estates at land off Poplar Farm Close, off The Causeway and off Elbourn Way in Bassingbourn, are allocated to meet the requirement for a mix of sites including those that are easily deliverable.

Paragraph 104 of the NPPF expects transport issues to be considered at the earliest stages of plan-making. Those issues include opportunities created by existing or proposed transport infrastructure in terms of the scale, location and density of development, and opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use. Paragraph 105 expects significant development to be focused on locations which are or can be made sustainable. The very good range of services and facilities within Bassingbourn are all accessible by walking and cycling. Bassingbourn is on existing bus routes, with regular services to Royston and a limited service to Cambridge. The Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Making Connections project proposes a more frequent rural bus service for Bassingbourn, with better bus connections to the railway stations at Royston, Meldreth and to the proposed travel hub at Foxton. Bassingbourn will in the future be better served by public transport, with bus services connecting the village to train stations, and providing residents with realistic alternatives to the car for some journeys including for access to employment opportunities. It would be consistent with national guidance in terms of sustainable transport to direct additional development to Bassingbourn.

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, students, renters and self-builders. South Cambridgeshire District Council's 'Housing Statistical Information Leaflet' (December 2019) identified a need for 65 affordable dwellings in Bassingbourn for those with a local connection to the village. This identified need would not be met without allocations in the village. The three promoted developments by Endurance Estates in Bassingbourn would include housing and affordable housing to meet local needs of the village.

For all these reasons, small and medium scale housing allocations should be made in the more sustainable villages within the rest of the rural area, including Bassingbourn, because those villages are accessible by sustainable modes of transport, 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.

Endurance Estates promoted three sites in Bassingbourn as potential allocations in emerging GCLP that were assessed in the HELAA, and are as follows: land off Poplar Farm Close (Site Ref. 40230); land off The Causeway (Site Ref. 40228); and, land off Elbourn Way (Site Ref. 40227). The representations to the assessments in the HELAA comment on the potential constraints identified with the promoted developments and explain how those constraints would be addressed. As set out in the call for site submissions and the supporting technical work for the sites, there are no significant constraints at the three promoted developments by Endurance Estates in Bassingbourn. For example, none of the sites are in the Green Belt. There are heritage assets in Bassingbourn and adjacent to some of the promoted sites, but the initial heritage assessments for the sites demonstrate that there are no constraints to the promoted developments and mitigation measures including appropriate design and layout are possible. The proposed dwellings would be located on those parts of the site which are not subject to flood risk. The trees and hedgerows on the sites would be retained. A vehicular and pedestrian access can be provided at all of the promoted developments. The promoted developments would include biodiversity enhancement measures.

For all these reasons it is requested that the following sites promoted by Endurance Estates in Bassingbourn are allocated for residential development in emerging GCLP:

• land off Poplar Farm Close – for approximately 7 self/custom build dwellings;
• land off Elbourn Way – for between 65 and 80 dwellings; and,
• land off The Causeway – for approximately 80 dwellings.
The call for sites submissions were accompanied by Vision Documents (prepared by Nicholas Jacob Architects) which included an Indicative Masteplan Concept Plan for the promoted developments. The Vision Document could form the basis for the site allocations.

Requested Change

It is requested that the development strategy for the rest of the rural area includes additional allocations in Bassingbourn.

It is requested that land off Poplar Farm Close is allocated with the following policy requirements:

• Site Area of 0.37 Ha
• Capacity for 7 self/custom build dwellings
• Delivery of open space and landscaping
• Main access from Poplar Farm Close
• New pedestrian access from Brook Road
• Improvements to footway on Brook Road
• Development should address the following constraints:
o Retain and enhance existing trees and hedgerows at site
o Design and layout to preserve setting of Poplar Farmhouse (Grade II Listed Building) and the location of the site within Bassingbourn Conservation Area.
o Upgrade existing access from Poplar Farm Close by extending existing turning head to provide a shared use access road.

It is requested that land off The Causeway is allocated with the following policy requirements:

• Site Area of 4.46 Ha
• Capacity for approx. 80 dwellings, including affordable housing
• Open space corridor through the site providing views to the surrounding countryside
• Vehicular access from The Causeway
• New pedestrian footways on south side of The Causeway
• Retain link to footpath network
• New pedestrian crossing on The Causeway
• Development should address the following constraints:
o Landscaping at southern boundary
o Design and layout to preserve setting of Listed Buildings on north side of The Causeway

It is requested that land off Elbourn Way is allocated with the following policy requirements:

• Site Area of 6.19 Ha
• Capacity for up to 80 dwellings, including affordable housing
• Delivery of open space and green infrastructure
• Upgrade existing allotments including the installation of a water supply, improved facilities, a new vehicular access and car parking area
• Improve woodland areas within the site
• Retain, manage and enhance land containing ecological interest within the site
• New access from Elbourn Way
• Emergency access from existing access via North End
• Retain and enhance existing footpath network through site
• Development should address the following constraints:
o Landscaping at eastern boundary
o Design and layout to preserve setting of Church of St Peter and St Paul (Grade I), Manor Farmhouse (Grade II) and Church Farmhouse (Grade II) and Bassingbourn Conservation Area