Marshall acknowledges the GCSP’s emerging target to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) of at least 20%. This is a challenging target but Marshall appreciates the ambition given the global biodiversity crisis and that locally there is seen to be a significant opportunity to ‘double nature’. However, it is appreciated that it comes not without its challenges, as achieving BNG of this level on a site where development is proposed, is likely in many cases to prove to be very difficult given other land-use constraints. Marshall’s view is that, as a result, there will be a need for GCSP to have clearly identified appropriate planning mechanisms for achieving off-site BNG provision likely through the ability to buy off-sets. This should be achieved in areas identified as having strategic biodiversity potential, for example the Local Nature Networks or areas identified as priorities in the Greater Cambridge Green Infrastructure Strategy. This will allow off-site BNG to be targeted in the areas where it will provide most potential value, and balanced against other needs for open and green spaces, including for recreation and wellbeing of existing and future residents.

Marshall would like to, as a part of the evolving Local Plan process, work with the GCSP to help develop these mechanisms. For Cambridge East, Marshall commits to seeking to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain of 20% or more. The ambition will be to achieve as much of this as is possible through on-site BNG provision and via a significant Green Infrastructure Strategy that will include a major green corridor that will run from west to east through the development. In addition, green infrastructure of value for biodiversity will penetrate the built environment too, creating a series of green networks that will allow wildlife to occupy the urban areas of Cambridge as well as the large areas of greenspace.

If development is confined to the airfield, Marshall will seek to achieve BNG of 20% or more within the area of the airfield itself albeit the initial view is that even with large scale green infrastructure provision there is likely to be a need for some off-site provision. For this Marshall would seek to engage with the GCSP to utilise any BNG off-set mechanism that has been developed (and as stated previously Marshall would like to engage with GCSP as soon as is possible to help support the development of such a scheme).

If the extent of the development area was to be extended to cover land to the east of Airport Way, Marshall would propose to continue the green corridor through the development. This would have the benefit of creating an accessible green link that extends from the centre of Cambridge to the countryside that lies to the east. In fact, and as shown in the Cambridge East submission Marshall made in December 2020 to support the evidence base for the Local Plan, if access could be achieved across only a small area of land just to the south and north of the A14, this connection could extend all the way into the area of the Wicken Fen Vision, creating a hugely significant new green network and active travel route. This could potentially link to green infrastructure being proposed as part of Anglian Water’s DCO for the Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Works.

Development in this area would also support the potential re-wetting of Teversham Fen which occurs in land east of Airport Way. This would have a multitude of benefits for wildlife including through the reinstatement of an important biodiversity habitat in its right, and by potentially taking visitor pressure from nearby and more sensitive fenland. Although Marshall has not yet investigated the feasibility of this in detail, it is thought most likely achievable if development was to occur to the east of Airport Way so that surface water run off could be utilised.

In summary, Marshall therefore support the ambition of BNG of 20% or more and will be seeking to achieve this at Cambridge East. The focus will be on provision on-site, but we acknowledge that it is likely that off-site provision will also be required. To achieve this Marshall would like to engage with GCSP at the earliest possible point. In addition Marshall feel that the greatest BNG opportunity would come with extending development and BNG provision to land east of Airport Way, thereby allowing a more extensive Green Infrastructure network to be created.