HLM request that the broad location identified for longer term strategic scale growth not be limited at this stage to an expansion of Cambourne, but be expanded to include other locations accessible to the East West Rail Station and the C2C public transport hub at Scotland Farm. The Councils should give themselves greater flexibility and options for how it delivers growth within this corridor for the following reasons.

There are a number of unknowns at this stage which will impact on the options available, such as the location of the Station and its relationship to Cambourne (existing and committed), and how East West Rail and C2C will be integrated and what implications that may have for improved connectivity with surrounding settlements and other options for growth.

Although proximity and journey time to the new Station is an important consideration in deciding where growth should be located, it is not the only consideration. Other factors and policies will need to be taken into consideration and weighed in the balance before selecting the most appropriate location.

The consultation acknowledges that large scale development at Cambourne would have landscape impacts that would be hard to address. These impacts will need to be weighed against the impacts of other alternative options. Further, mitigating impacts will have implications for the capacity of options around Cambourne, and this may have knock-on consequences for viability and delivery.

There are a wide range of factors to consider as set out in the consultation document. In the context therefore of a future plan review, and looking to plan for needs to 2050 or beyond which are yet to be defined, the Councils should not unnecessarily at this stage limit those options to sites solely around Cambourne.

Other options, such as Scotland Farm (HELAA Ref: 56252), are suitable and appropriate to play a role in the strategy for future growth of this corridor. It should not therefore be excluded from doing so at this early stage of the process.