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Bloor Homes Eastern is promoting land west of Linton for residential development, and in representations has requested that the site is allocated in emerging GCLP. These representations to Policy S/DS are focussed on the preferred development strategy for the rural southern cluster, and specifically the decision to allocate a very limited amount of development to the more sustainable villages and no development to sustainable villages such as Linton.

The overall development strategy is very reliant on the delivery of an extensions to an existing new settlement (Cambourne West + an additional 1,950 dwellings at Cambourne), planned new settlements (Northstowe, Waterbeach and Bourn Airfield) and new communities on the edge of Cambridge (North East Cambridge and Cambridge East). It is acknowledged that the principle of development at most of these strategic sites is already established through adopted development plan documents; the additional dwellings at Cambourne is proposed through emerging GCLP and associated with East West Rail. However, it is considered that there are a number of risks associated with the preferred development strategy, which relate to housing delivery rates and whether these can be increased at some new settlements, the relocation of existing uses from some sites, and the delivery of affordable housing.

The most recent housing trajectory for Greater Cambridge (published April 2021) already predict high average annual housing delivery rates for the new settlements; Northstowe and Waterbeach are predicted to deliver 250 dwellings per annum, and Camboure West and Bourn Airfield are predicted to deliver a combined total of 300 dwellings per annum. Cambourne has historically delivered approximately 230 dwellings per annum. Hampton (in Peterborough) has historically delivered 259 dwellings per annum. Cranbrook (in East Devon) which has the highest annual delivery rate of current new settlements is delivering at 295 dwellings per annum). The Inspector for the Huntingdonshire Local Plan recommended that the combined housing delivery rates Alconbury Weald (the former Alconbury Airfield and Grange Farm) should be no higher than 300 dwellings per annum, and for St Neots East (Loves Farm and Wintringham Park) should be no higher than 200 dwellings per annum. The predicted average housing delivery rates at Northstowe, Waterbeach and Cambourne West/Bourn Airfield already appear to be at levels comparable to or higher than other new settlements elsewhere. It is likely that current predicted delivery rates are already optimistic, but there is no credible evidence that faster housing delivery rates can be achieved at Northstowe or Waterbeach. It is noted that Cambourne, Hampton and Cranbrook all had multiple housebuilders on site at the same time and delivered affordable and market housing in conjunction with one another. It is requested that predicted housing delivery rates for the new settlements take into account the above comments, and the assumption that faster housing delivery rates can be achieved at Northstowe and Waterbeach should be deleted from the development strategy.

North East Cambridge and Cambridge East are allocated in both Local Plans as strategic sites. It is acknowledged that these sites involve the re-use of previously developed land. However, the redevelopment of these sites is complex and involves the relocation of the existing uses; the relocation of a sewage treatment works and existing businesses in the case of North East Cambridge, and the relocation of airport related uses and businesses in the case of Cambridge East. It is considered that the delivery of development at these sites will need to be realistic, taking into account all of the challenges that need to be overcome prior to the commencement of development. It is requested that realistic assumptions about delivery are applied for North East Cambridge and Cambridge East.

It is noted that most of the new settlements will deliver less affordable housing than the normal policy requirement of 40%, mainly because of the need for these developments to also deliver significant levels of new transport and community infrastructure in initial phases. The affordable housing contributions are as follows: 20% at Northstowe, 30% at Waterbeach, 30% at Cambridge East (Wing), 30% at Cambourne West and 40% at Bourn Airfield, although all are subject to a review mechanism that could result in adjustments to the level of affordable housing. The proportion of affordable housing that will be provided from the developments at North East Cambridge and Cambridge East are unknown at this stage, but because of the costs associated with the relocation of existing uses and the delivery of new transport infrastructure it is very unlikely that 40% affordable housing will be provided at least in the initial phases. It is clear that the existing and planned new settlements and new communities in the edge of Cambridge are not and will not provide enough affordable housing, which should be a concern in an area such as Greater Cambridge which has significant housing affordability issues. It is requested that, in order to address the under-delivery of affordable housing from Northstowe, Waterbeach, Cambourne West, North East Cambridge and Cambridge East, the development strategy should allocate additional sites that are capable of providing policy compliant levels of affordable housing including small and medium sites in the villages.

The preferred development strategy for the rural southern cluster is based on providing additional employment land at existing business clusters and a limited amount of additional housing at villages that are well connected to jobs by walking, cycling and public transport. It is considered that Linton contains a very good range of services and facilities, is accessible by sustainable modes of transport with new walking, cycling and public transport routes planned, and is very well related to employment opportunities at Granta Park and Babraham Research Campus. The decision to allocate housing sites at a limited number of villages in the rural southern cluster provides no support for the existing services and facilities in other sustainable villages provides no strategy to meet current identified affordable housing needs of those villages, and ignores the close proximity of major employment sites to Linton. Bloor Homes Eastern are not advocating a dispersed development strategy whereby most development is directed to the villages, but is requesting that a sufficient amount of land is allocated at the more sustainable villages including Linton to support services and ensure that identified affordable housing needs are met.

There are three paragraphs in the NPPF that suggest a different approach is required in the development strategy for rural southern cluster. Paragraph 105 seeks to ensure that development is located where the need to travel will be minimised and the use of sustainable transport modes can be maximised, but acknowledges that the opportunities will be different in urban and rural areas. Paragraph 79 seeks to promote sustainable development in rural areas by locating housing where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities and enable villages to grow and thrive. Paragraph 62 expects the size, type, and tenure of housing needs of the community to be assessed and reflected in planning policies, including for example those with an affordable housing need, students, renters, and self-builders.

Linton contains a very good range of services and facilities, including primary schools, secondary school, convenience stores and post office, village hall, health services including a medical centre, public houses, cafes and restaurants, and bus services. The promoted development at land west of Linton would support the existing services and facilities in the village. The promoted development would also provide land for a GP surgery and early years facility.

The promoted development by Bloor Homes Eastern at land west of Linton is accessible by walking, cycling and public transport to the services and facilities within the village and to employment at Granta Park and Babraham Research Centre. The promoted development would provide additional facilities including a GP surgery, early years facility, play areas, and open space including allotments. The site would be well-related to the transport infrastructure improvements proposed in the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Cambridge South East Transport project, which includes a new public transport route into Cambridge, a greenway/cycle route through Linton to Granta Park and Babraham Research Campus, and a rural travel hub at Linton. The Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Making Connections project also proposes a more frequent bus service for Linton.

South Cambridgeshire District Council's 'Housing Statistical Information Leaflet' (December 2019) identified a need for 50 affordable dwellings in Linton for those with a local connection to the village – see https://www.scambs.gov.uk/media/18316/affordable-housing-housing-statistical-information-leaflet-december-2019.pdf. This identified need would not be met without allocations in Linton. It is noted that no draft neighbourhood plan has been published for the village, there is no community land trust, and rural housing exception schemes are typically very small and are reliant on a landowner willing to offer land up at existing use value. The promoted development by Bloor Homes Eastern at land west of Linton would include housing and affordable housing to meet local needs of the village, and there will be a policy requirement for a proportion of the housing to be provided as self/custom build plots.

For all these reasons, additional medium scale housing allocations should be made in the more sustainable villages within the rural southern cluster , including at Linton, because it is accessible by sustainable modes of transport, it is well-related to the employment sites at Granta Park and Babraham Research Centre, there is a need to support the existing services and facilities within the village, and there is an identified need for affordable housing in the villages which would not be met via other means.

Requested Change

The following changes are requested to Policy S/DS: Development Strategy:

It is requested that predicted housing delivery rates for the new settlements take into account the evidence from similar development elsewhere.

It is requested that the assumptions about faster housing delivery rates for Northstowe and Waterbeach are deleted from the development strategy.

It is requested that realistic assumptions about delivery are applied for North East Cambridge and Cambridge East.

It is requested that additional sites that are capable of providing policy compliant levels of affordable housing are identified in the development strategy, including small and medium sites in the villages, in order to address the under-delivery of affordable housing from Northstowe, Waterbeach, Cambourne West, North East Cambridge and Cambridge East.

It is requested that additional medium scale housing allocations should be made in the more sustainable villages within rural southern cluster, including at Linton, because those villages are accessible by sustainable modes of transport, there is a need to support the existing services and facilities within those villages, and there is an identified need for affordable housing in those villages.

As requested in the Bloor Homes Eastern representations to Section 2.5: Rural Southern Cluster, the land west of Linton should be allocated in emerging GCLP for residential development.