Broadly we support the spatial strategy for locating new development:

The policy of development in a relatively small number of large new settlements, rather than green belt release or a scatter-gun approach across all the villages of South Cambs is supported.

The policy of seeking to keep Cambridge a compact city through support for its green belt against city fringe expansion is supported, however we object to two areas of green belt release.

The sustainability of this strategy will depend on the adequacy of the transport links between the new settlements and the main centres of employment. Northstowe is served by the guided busway (both public transport and active travel), Waterbeach New Town will be served by rail and a new greenway and ‘greater Cambourne’ will be served by East-West Rail and a new greenway. Some of the plans by the Greater Cambridge Partnership to provide busways to these settlements and employment sites would be damaging to the green belt, landscape, ecology and heritage and are not supported.

The transport modelling for the Preferred Option assumes that Cambridge would need to increase the number of Park & Ride parking spaces from just over 7,000 now to over 26,000 in 2041 (Table 41 in the Transport Evidence report: 20,687 Park & Active trips plus 32,239 Park & Ride trips). This is acknowledged nowhere in the draft Local Plan policies, despite it potentially harming the landscape and ecology of the green belt far more than the proposed new and extended settlements.