Hallam Land Management (HLM) request the Development strategy be amended in the following two respects.

Firstly, as a general point, whilst the proposed development strategy outlined under ‘Proposed policy direction’ is for the most part supported, it is generic and lacks any spatial interpretation.

It is acknowledged that the strategy goes on to identify areas of growth, and then specific locations. However, there isn’t an overarching spatial strategy that explains the rationale behind the distribution of future development, and why the areas and locations identified will help achieve the Vision and Aims.

There is significant planned investment in sustainable transport infrastructure to the west of Cambridge (Cambourne to Cambridge Better Public Transport Project (C2C) and East West Rail). This should be referenced in the strategy, with recognition that this investment should be shaping the future growth of the area in terms of homes and jobs to 2050.

Further, the strategy should be setting out how this investment will be used to benefit and connect with the wider Greater Cambridge area. The strategy appears on the Map at present as a number of distinct locations separate from each other with no inter-connectivity. Indeed, feedback from the public to earlier consultations highlighted the disconnect between the new settlements and major employment sites to the south.

The strategy should be setting out how these growth areas will be connected to each other, particularly the new towns of Northstowe, Waterbeach new town, Cambourne, and the rural southern cluster, and how these areas will connect with East West Rail and C2C. This is illustrated within the Emerging Vision submitted in support of the new settlement promoted by HLM at Scotland Farm (HELAA Site Reference 56252).

It is requested therefore the Councils consider adding a more specific spatial strategy that explains how Greater Cambridge will grow in the future, and why, and how its existing growth areas will benefit from the substantial investment of East West Rail and C2C

The second point made in respect of the strategy is that HLM consider the locations identified for accommodating growth should be amended to include a new settlement at Scotland Farm (HELAA Site Reference 56252).

Paragraph 11a of the Framework defines what sustainable development means in terms of plan-making, much of which is reflected in the proposed strategy.

One aspect of paragraph 11a that is particularly important is aligning growth and infrastructure. It is clearly vital to make the best use of public investment in infrastructure (existing and new), as well as using new development to support longer term viability. Moreover, utilising existing or planned infrastructure can reduce the financial burden on new development and improve its viability and speed of delivery. In the context of ever increasing pressure on public finances and the need to maximise benefits from development, these are important considerations.

The proposed strategy does recognise this where it states ‘the proposed strategy … responds to opportunities created by proposed major new infrastructure.’

However, the locations for growth identified do not reflect the opportunity created by C2C, and in particular the Scotland Farm Travel Hub.

C2C is a key part of the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s sustainable transport programme. Whilst this is responding in part to existing planned growth, it must also shape future growth given the level of investment.

Scotland Farm Travel Hub is a key element of the C2C route. Work is already underway in preparing the planning application, and the site is expected to be operational by 2024. It will transform the accessibility of this area in terms of its connectivity by sustainable modes of travel with a service every 10 minutes to Cambridge City Centre and Cambourne, and every 15 minutes to Cambridge Biomedical Campus. With a direct service to the City Centre and a likely journey time of less than 20 minutes, it will become one of the most accessible locations in Greater Cambridge outside of the urban area.

Further, there is the potential as illustrated above for this development to support connections between the Travel Hub with Northstowe and Waterbeach beyond by active and sustainable modes.

It is entirely appropriate therefore to align that investment in public transport infrastructure with new development. To do otherwise, would not be consistent with national policy and thereby not sound.

Through careful masterplanning as illustrated within the Emerging Vision submitted with these representations, active travel and public transport would be the natural choice for residents and workers within the new settlement.

It is in this context that HLM consider the proposed strategy should be amended to include a new settlement at Scotland Farm. This should either be in addition to the selected locations in order to bolster supply to meet the housing and employment requirement, or as an alternative to those selected that are not taken forward in the Plan.

Further information in support of the allocation of land at Scotland Farm (HELAA Ref: 56252) and in response to the assessment in the HELAA is provided under New Settlements – General Comments.