Pigeon supports a strategy which looks to allocate a greater number of new sites in locations where active and public transport is the natural choice, and where new housing would support services and facilities in existing communities.

The strategy should be amended in the ‘Rest of the Rural Area’ by identifying a greater number of new sites which have very good public/active transport access. Hardwick is one such example of a sustainable settlement which benefits from good cycle links and a bus services to Cambridge, and is proposed to benefit from improved sustainable transport connections as follows:.

• A new Park and Ride facility is proposed at Scotland Farm directly opposite Hardwick, from where existing and new residents will be able to cycle/walk to this transport interchange.
• Cambridge is approximately a 20min cycle ride from the village via an improving cycle network.
• Cambourne, and the new East-West railway station, is less than a 20 min cycle, again via good quality cycling infrastructure.

Amending the strategy by allocating a greater proportion of new growth to locations served by sustainable transport infrastructure will meet the wider sustainability objectives of the plan, whilst providing a more resilient strategy.

Adopting such an approach will help sustain existing services and facilities in rural villages, and offers the opportunity to meet local community aspirations. In the case of Hardwick there is local support for the construction of a new village hall, although a recognition that this would result in the loss of much sought after public open space which is already in short supply. By bringing forward sustainable housing growth outside of the Green Belt there is the opportunity to help facilitate the delivery of the new village hall through S106 contributions, in addition to providing new much sought after public open space.