Paragraph 22 of the NPPF states “Strategic policies should look ahead over a minimum 15 year period from adoption, to anticipate and respond to long-term requirements and opportunities, such as those arising from major improvements in infrastructure. Where larger scale developments such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns form part of the strategy for the area, policies should be set within a vision that looks further ahead (at least 30 years), to take into account the likely timescale for delivery.”

In addition, the NPPF (at paragraph 73) states that the supply of large numbers of new homes can often be achieved through planning for larger scale development, including significant extensions to existing towns, provided they are well-located and designed, and supported by the necessary infrastructure and facilities.

The spatial development of Cambridge to date partly reflects a lack of transport investment; therefore, Marshall supports the GCSP’s policy intent to focus on planning for the right services, facilities and transport opportunities in the right place, and bringing these forward at the right times to support the delivery of housing and employment.

Marshall extends it support to the Local Plan’s intention to distribute development to locations that can make the most of existing infrastructure and that present opportunities to address any infrastructure deficits. The infrastructure deficit in the east of the city can only be transformed through a partnership of co-ordinated public sector working and high quality new development planned on a scale to incorporate infrastructure of real value.

Cambridge East is identified in the transport evidence base reports as offers the opportunity to plan for both housing and employment at a scale which would provide a substantial contribution to the future needs of the city. The site provides an opportunity to deliver transformational solutions that unlock the investment needed in transport infrastructure to fix its economic geography. It provides the opportunity to improve connectivity to the city centre via a segregated link to the station, as well as improved connectivity to the existing clusters in the north and the south. This would result in benefits to residents – reduced journey times and reduced congestion – but also would create economic benefits by increasing the effective density of the city, making jobs effectively closer to each other, resulting in productivity benefits. The level of transport improvement that is possible will depend largely on the scale of development at Cambridge East. Commercial space and homes result in more transport journeys and therefore require more investment in transport, whilst making that investment more viable.