Policy S/JH - New Jobs and Homes

Policy S/JH: New Homes and Jobs seeks to deliver 2,111 homes per annum (44,400 homes in total) set against a job forecast of 58,500 new jobs during the plan period. It is encouraging that this target has increased from previous iterations of the Local Plan and the standard method calculation, however we do not think it goes far enough in meeting the employment or housing needs of the district over the Plan Period.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Review (CPIER 2018) has evidenced that job growth has been faster than expected and at a rate that is significantly higher than the Local Plan uses (1.1%) in its assumptions. All indications are that this growth is more than likely to continue. The report concludes that: "it is indisputable that high rates of employment growth have put great strain on the housing market in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, particularly around Cambridge. The result is exceedingly high living costs, longer commutes, social stratification, and extra cost for business. Ambitions for house building should be increased to deal with a housing deficit that has grown up following under-projections of growth".

The HERR also provides an alternative higher job forecast which has not been taken forward by the GCLP. The higher forecast could deliver 78,700 jobs over the plan period, this equates to an additional 20,200 jobs when compared to the medium jobs forecast pursed by the GCLP First Proposals. This forecast places greater weight on the fast growth experienced in the recent past, with the year-on-year growth in jobs higher than that seen between 2001-17 and 1991-17, but lower than the ‘fast growth’ period of 2010-17. To support 78,700 new jobs the GCLP would need to propose a housing target of 56,500 dwellings, 12,100 more dwellings than currently proposed in the GCLP First Proposals.

Given the level of investment and momentum behind growth initiatives and funding in Cambridge we consider more likely that the faster growth in the recent past will continue, rather than defaulting back to long term employment patterns continuing. The emerging Local Plan therefore needs to plan for higher levels of employment growth and ensure there is a sufficient supply of employment land to meet demand.

Furthermore, whilst it is recognised that the Greater Cambridge regional economy is of national importance, and it is also fundamental that the emerging Local Plan delivers opportunities for all types of employment growth and not just those that relate to the more common tech and science park sectors associated with central Cambridge and its urban fringe. This is even more important given the increase in the price of commercial floorspace over recent years and the difficulty ‘lower value’ industries have in being able to locate in and around Cambridge. Affordability of commercial floorspace is becoming a significant issue and one that the Local Plan needs to comprehensively address.

There has been an overarching reluctance in South Cambridgeshire to support B2 and B8 employment uses along the primary transport corridors. Whilst the A14 corridor does have some logistics development it is very minor compared to the amount of development found along the A1 corridor at Peterborough. In considering new employment growth consideration should be given through the plan making process to identify potential employment sites which are located on key transport corridors (A14; M11 or A10) to ensure this employment sector is catered for and suitable sites are identifies throughout the district. This trend is supported by the report produced by Savills which accompanies these representations setting out the need to fully identify additional employment land to meet future demand.

Conclusion
The independent report produced by Savills has identified a rising demand for employment land and the need to allow for greater job creation through the Local Plan process than currently identified. Failure to identify sufficient land for employment development at Melbourn is a missed opportunity to deliver employment development in a highly sustainable location outside the green belt where there will be little impact on the environment or other site-specific designations. It is important that sites which are in locations capable of delivering B2/B8 employment uses or capable of accommodating existing businesses who wish to relocate are fully considered and identified through the Local plan process in order that the future demand can be met. The negative impacts of not allocating enough employment land includes constraining the number of small company’s start-ups and losing businesses who cannot find affordable accommodation in the District.