A key aim of the Sustainability Appraisal process is to make a plan more sustainable. It tests the social, economic and environmental impacts of various plan options, to help choose the most sustainable options. It also seeks to determine the extent to which the principles of sustainable development are integrated into the plan and its policies.

It is considered by NW Bio that the Sustainability Appraisal has not sought to make emerging GCLP more sustainable, and in respect of villages it appears that the assessment against sustainability objectives is not robust because it does not critically review the evidence provided by the Councils. For example, some villages have good access by sustainable modes of transport and contain a good range of services and facilities, there is an identified need for affordable housing in most villages which is ignored in the assessment process, and there is limited capacity within existing settlement boundaries for villages to accommodate additional development.

The sustainability objectives that are relevant to NW Bio’s representations are: SA1 Housing; and, SA2 Access to Services and Facilities.

NW Bio’s representations and requested amendment to the assessment of policy options in the Sustainability Appraisal are as follows:

• Table 5.4: Policy S/DS: Development Strategy: A ‘significant positive effect/uncertain’ score is identified in the assessment for the housing sustainability objective (SA1). However, as set out in NW Bio’s representations to Policy S/DS, identified needs for affordable housing in the villages, including Sawston, would not be met by the preferred development strategy. South Cambridgeshire District Council's 'Housing Statistical Information Leaflet' (December 2019) identified affordable housing needs for those with a local connection in all village. That information is not reflected in the assessment contained in Table 5.4. The identified need for 115 affordable dwellings in Sawston will not be met by the preferred development strategy, which must be a negative outcome for the housing related sustainability objective. NW Bio has requested that the Mill Lane Site, Sawston is allocated for housing and affordable housing to deliver positive housing related sustainability outcomes.

• Table 5.6: Policy S/SB: Settlement Boundaries. A ‘mixed significant positive and minor negative effect’ score is identified for the housing sustainability objective (SA1). As set out in NW Bio’s representations to Policy S/SB the settlement boundaries at most villages have remained largely unchanged since 2004 and there has been no assessment of capacity within settlement boundaries to accommodate additional development. The assessment in Table 5.6 does not consider whether any capacity exists within the settlement boundaries to accommodate the identified needs for affordable housing. Sawston is an example where there are very limited opportunities within the boundary to accommodate major developments that would require affordable housing i.e. 10 or more dwellings, and the Green Belt restricts development outside the settlement boundary. As set out above there is an identified need for 115 affordable dwellings in Sawston. It must be a negative outcome for the housing related sustainability objective if affordable housing needs of villages, including Sawston, will not be met by the currently defined settlement boundaries.

• Table 5.20: Policy S/RSC: Village Allocations in the Rural Southern Cluster: A ‘mixed significant positive and minor negative effect’ score is identified for the housing sustainability objective (SA1). A ‘mixed significant negative and minor positive effect / uncertain’ score is identified for access to services and facilities objective (SA2). As set out above there is an identified need for 115 affordable dwellings in Sawston, and it must be a negative outcome for the housing related sustainability objective if affordable housing needs of villages, including Sawston, will not be met by the development strategy or the strategy for rural southern cluster. Sawston contains a good range of services and facilities, including a variety of convenience stores, a post office, library, primary schools, health services including doctors and dentist, banks, public houses and restaurants. Sawston is also served by Bus Services Citi 7 and 7A, providing access existing services and facilities in Sawston and beyond. The nearest railway station is Whittlesford Parkway Railway Station which can easily be reached by private car and bus, and is within an acceptable cycling distance, providing access to existing services and facilities in Cambridge and the wider area. The accessibility to services and facilities is excellent for Sawston and for land the Mill Lane Site, but this is not reflected in the assessment for this sustainability related objective, and additional development in this location would improve the sustainability outcomes and support the existing services and facilities. It is requested that the Mill Lane Site, Sawston is allocated in emerging GCLP to deliver better and more positive sustainability outcomes compared with the preferred development strategy.