S/RSC/HW Land between Hinton Way and Mingle Lane, Great Shelford
Cambridge Past, Present & Future OBJECTS to this policy because it would cause a moderate high level of harm to the green belt. We see no evidence that 100 houses could not be provided outside the green belt and therefore this site does not pass the “exceptional circumstances” test. We do not believe that being close to a rail station qualifies for “exceptional circumstances” either.

It is obvious that the development of this site would lead to increased development pressure on the other fields in this location and therefore it undermines the green belt. Indeed, it seems that the longer-term intention of the Planning Department is for further green belt release in this location, this is evidenced by: “open space to be provided to the east of the built development to help provide compensatory improvements to the environmental quality and accessibility of remaining Green Belt.” There is also green belt to the north (indeed that is the longer boundary and the one viewed from higher ground) and therefore if the intention was to contain the development there would be a requirement for public space/green belt mitigation for both the northern and eastern boundaries.

The justification for this site seems to be that it is close to Great Shelford station. However, this means that the new dwellings will appeal to London commuters and therefore there is a high risk that the new housing does not support the new jobs creation set out in the Plan, but instead further exacerbates local housing shortage.