The same principles should be applied to this green belt release as for Policy S/CBC: Cambridge Biomedical Campus, namely that “National Planning policy requires that the impact of removing land from the Green Belt to be offset through compensatory improvements to the environmental quality and accessibility of remaining Green Belt land”.

The Preferred Options documents do not seem to recognise that this site is located within the Cambridge Nature Network (www.cambridgenaturenetwork.org) and that it is adjacent to two strategic green infrastructure areas making it an important site (Green Infrastructure Strategic Initiatives: Gog Magog Hills (3) and River Cam Corridor (2c)). We would expect the proposals in the policy area to reflect this with a very strong emphasis on biodiversity enhancement within or adjacent to the grounds of the campus combined with better public access/benefits. We note that google earth seems to show an area of exposed chalk in the south-west corner which could provide an opportunity for ecological restoration of priority calcareous grassland habitat.

The proposals for this policy area must recognise that the area identified for development would be on much higher ground than those buildings that have already been built on the campus (which are sunk into the hillside). This location is sensitive in landscape character terms, being visible from the higher ground of the Gog Magog Hills, including from the Roman Road Schedule Ancient Monument. There is a potential conflict between the development of this site and policies designed to protect landscape character. To be acceptable in planning terms, any new buildings would need to be below tree height as viewed from the Gog Magog Hills (including any chimneys or rooftop plant), they should also be designed to blend into the landscape when viewed at distance.

One of the newer buildings on the campus has already had a very negative impact on landscape which is contrary to planning policy and, in our view, should not have been granted permission (see attached photos taken from a public right of way on the Gog Magog Hills). We request that before any future development of the site takes place there is a requirement for retrospective action to screen this building and/or better blend it into the landscape when viewed at distance.