“Alongside this, we want our new towns to mature into great places to live and work, making the most of their existing and planned public transport links to Cambridge and other centres. In the case of Cambourne, East-West Rail means that it will be one of the best-connected places in our region, and whilst things like the location of the new station are yet to be resolved, we do think it can develop into a more substantial town with a more fully developed and lively centre.”

• This does not apply only to new towns. Other scales of settlements will be extremely well connected also, e.g. Papworth Everard.
• Papworth Everard is currently a minor rural centre but one that is highly sustainable and has real growth potential. It too could grow, in a sensitive manner, to provide new services and support and improve existing services, helping to make it a vibrant and attractive place to live.

“We want our rural villages to continue to thrive and sustain their local services, but we don’t want to encourage lots of new homes in places where car travel is the easiest or only way to get around. We therefore propose some development in and around larger villages that have good transport links and services, and to support important employment clusters. In smaller villages, we’ll continue to support infill development and affordable housing on suitable sites, but we do not propose lots of village growth.”

• Given all of the transport improvements planned for the A428/E-W Rail/OxCam Arc corridor, and connecting directly to Papworth Everard, there will be a multitude of transport options available for residents from early in the plan period. Car travel will not therefore be the easiest or only option for getting around.
• Papworth Everard stands out from the other minor rural centres and villages in the plan as what will be one of the best connected villages, if not the best connected village, in the plan area. Unlike many other villages in the plan, therefore, it is a logical location for growth. The southern side of the settlement is the obvious location for such growth in view of its proximity and connection to the various forthcoming new transport and transport upgrade schemes.
• Land at Crow's Nest Farm, Papworth Everard (Greater Cambridge HELAA (2021) Site Reference: 48096) would have excellent transport links and could provide a Rural Travel Hub to optimise and maximise the use of those links, making sustainable travel modes easier and more attractive than car travel for those living at the site, and residents of Papworth Everard more generally.