OBJECT

These representations are submitted on behalf of Endurance Estates, who has promoted land at Crow Green to the north-east of Caxton Gibbet for employment uses. The promoted development comprises mid-tech and advanced manufacturing employment uses and strategic logistics development. The site is located to the north of Cambourne, and the promoted development would increase employment opportunities at Cambourne. The site is located at a junction that is due to be upgraded as part of the proposed A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements project being brought forward by National Highways. The site would also be well-related to the the Cambourne to Cambridge Better Public Transport project being delivered by the Greater Cambridge Partnership and the preferred routes for the East West Rail project including the proposed station at Cambourne.

These representations are supported by a Vision Document (Stephen George & Partners), Employment Need Report (Savills), Market Demand Report (Carter Jonas).

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Devolution Deal included a commitment to deliver substantial economic growth and to double economic output during the next 25 years. The 2018 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Review (CPIER) identified that recent employment growth has been faster than anticipated, and the aim of doubling economic output in the area by 2040 was realistic. It was suggested in CPIER that economic growth could be achieved by attracting knowledge-intensive businesses that would not locate elsewhere in the UK, by delivering new housing, and by prioritising infrastructure projects. The National Infrastructure Commission, the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership acknowledge and support the economic growth potential of the Greater Cambridge area. The preferred growth option also does not reflect the anticipated growth aspirations of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework, or that the economic success of Greater Cambridge is of national significance. As set out below, the employment land evidence and emerging GCLP does not plan for sufficient economic growth.

Barton Willmore, on behalf of Endurance Estates, have assessed the preferred jobs and housing targets in Policy S/JH. Policy S/JH takes forward the ‘Central’ growth scenario, based on employment growth of 58,500 jobs 2020-2041, at an average annual growth rate of 1.1%. However, the CPIER report identified that Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Districts experienced average annual employment growth of 2.4% and 2.3% respectively according to Office for National Statistics data, between 2010 and 2016. This approach by CPIER results in an annual employment growth rate for Cambridge which is the same as the ONS rate (2.4%), but a significantly higher rate (4.2%) is calculated for South Cambridgeshire. Barton Willmore conclude that the Councils current objectively assessed need is far below the potential growth scenarios for the area and, therefore, will need to be revised up and supported by further site allocations in the development strategy.

Therefore, the emerging GCLP should have selected a higher growth level option to support economic growth, and made additional employment allocations to meet that growth..

Requested Change

It is requested that the housing and jobs requirements in Policy S/JH are reviewed to ensure they meet the growth potential of Greater Cambridge, and based on delivering a higher growth level option.