COMMENT

Policy I/ST: Sustainable Transport and Connectivity set out how the transport impacts of development should be managed, and how new development should be connected to the transport network. An aim of the policy is to reduce transport emissions. The preferred development strategy seeks to co-locate housing close to jobs, services and facilities in order to reduce the need to travel and support travel by walking, cycling and public transport. This approach is consistent with Paragraphs 104 and 105 of the NPPF and is supported. However, it is considered of the aim of Policy I/ST will only be fully implemented if all available opportunities to direct development to sustainable locations are taken, including additional employment development being directed to the A428 corridor close to Cambourne edge of Cambridge.

There are a number of transport infrastructure projects already planned at an in the vicinity of Cambourne that will improve accessibility along the A428 corridor in South Cambridgeshire. Those transport projects are the proposed A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements project, the preferred routes for the East West Rail project including the proposed station at Cambourne, and the Cambourne to Cambridge Better Public Transport project. Therefore, in due course Cambourne and the promoted development at Caxton Gibbet will be very well connected by road, rail and bus.

The pedestrian and cycle access to the promoted development would be provided by the new bridge over the A428 (connection to proposed Cambourne West development) and via the existing bridge over the A428 at Cambourne Road/St Neots Road (connection to existing Cambourne). All of this infrastructure will be delivered through the A428 improvement works. Connections into and any required improvements to these footways and cycleways would be provided both to Cambourne and Papworth Everard from the promoted development.

Therefore, walking, cycling and public transport options would be available once the proposed and planned projects in the A428 corridor are delivered, providing realistic options for sustainable travel to and from the promoted development. The promoted development provides an excellent opportunity to provide employment generating development that capitalises on infrastructure investment and that has a significantly enhance opportunity to drive a shift to commuting by sustainable modes, reducing the reliance on the private car and reducing commuting into Cambridge.

An additional allocations on the edge of Cambourne, including at the promoted development at land at Caxton Gibbet, would be consistent with the aims of Policy I/ST.

Requested Change

It is requested that the promoted development by Endurance Estates at land at Caxton Gibbet is allocated for employment development, in order to support the aims of Policy I/ST e.g. reduce transport emissions, reduce the need to travel, and encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport.