Marshall fully endorses and embraces the vision and aims of the ‘First Proposals’ consultation and is committed to embedding these aims at the heart of the vision for Cambridge East. Marshall has prepared separate detailed representations in response to the individual sections and policies that relate to the Development Strategy and to Cambridge East. The key points outlined in Marshall’s representations and how these relate to the Local Plan’s vision and aims are summarised below:

- Marshall strongly supports the allocation of Cambridge East for a truly mixed-use development which will comprise a significant number of new jobs, homes, community services / facilities and infrastructure. Marshall is pleased that the importance of the Site to Greater Cambridge’s growth strategy is recognised through this significant allocation.

- Whilst the Greater Cambridge Local Plan has planned for more homes than required by the standard method, Marshall considers that the Development Strategy is currently understating growth and could go even further to maximise Greater Cambridge’s economic potential.

- The safeguarded land at Cambridge East is one of the largest brownfield sites located outside of the Green Belt on the edge of Cambridge. It is one of the most sustainably located sites and represents the best opportunity to meet the GCSP’s Local Plan aims through the creation of a new, but complementary quarter for Cambridge. The opportunity to optimise the capacity of Cambridge East and maximise the site’s social, economic and environmental credentials should be thoroughly explored. Marshall considers that the scale of growth potential that could be achieved together with the quality of the Site justify optimising the allocation at Cambridge East and would justify the allocation of additional land east of Airport Way.

- Cambridge East provides a significant opportunity to address inequalities that exist to the east of Cambridge. Cambridge is one of the most unequal cities in the UK and has some of the least affordable housing, with pockets of deprivation. Cambridge East has the scale to achieve transformational change in the east of the City that will significantly improve the lives of local residents through the provision of access to skills development, education and life-long learning, a range of job opportunities, affordable homes and a range of cultural, leisure and retail options.

- Cambridge East also provides an opportunity to address the current lack of cross-city connectivity through the provision of a transformational transport strategy.

- Cambridge East is being planned to achieve an exemplar sustainable development which can act as a flagship for the Councils’ objectives. By pioneering new technologies and considering the long term welfare of our planet and its people, Cambridge East can create a transformative green infrastructure connecting the City with the countryside that sets the new global standard for sustainability. The potential for the sustainability benefits of Cambridge East would be even greater if development also includes land east of Airport Way, enabling planning at a genuinely strategic scale.

- In any event, however, Marshall is keen to work collaboratively with the GCSP and local communities to establish the best policy approach to the Site identified in the Preferred Options, ahead of the publication of the draft Local Plan in Autumn 2022.