Allocations in the rest of the rural area: Allocates sites for homes or employment in or adjoining villages and we agree with this approach. Land at St Peters Road (site ref: 40543) is not included in the site allocations and provides an opportunity to create a well-located extension to Caxton with efficiently designed homes. This site is connected to the core of the village by public footpath 44/6, which provides a direct pedestrian link to Ermine Street, connecting to the immediate vicinity of two bus stops and public house/restaurant, a distance of around 100m. Therefore, development of this site would not be an isolated development in the countryside but would be well connected.

For councils to fulfil their obligations in line with the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015, they need to recognise that smaller sites in rural areas can significantly contribute to meeting the demand for self-build and custom housebuilding, whilst also contributing to the sustainability and vitality of rural villages. The current approach to delivering serviced plots is to allocate sites within larger housing developments and this is not proving to be a successful strategy; the demand for serviced plots is not being met. The proposed policy makes no reference to meeting the self-build and custom housebuilding demand and therefore the demand will not be met under this policy. Smaller sites offering serviced plots are more likely to be delivered and built out within a shorter time frame when compared to sites within larger new build housing developments. By allocating smaller rural sites for self-build and custom-build development, sensitively designed dwellings can be built which will not only meet the demand but also enhance the setting of the village. Allocating smaller rural sites for this type of housing will also provide economic benefits through the construction jobs created and from owner/occupiers using local services and facilities. The Land at St Peters Street (site ref: 40543) provides excellent opportunities for self-build and custom build houses which would see the council meeting the demand for this type of housing as well as meet the needs for local housing, whilst fulfilling their obligations.

As set out in paragraph 69 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 (NPPF) medium sites such as Land at St Peters Road, Caxton will make an important contribution to meeting the housing requirement of the area and can be built out quickly. There is significant demand for housing within Caxton given its proximity to Cambourne and Cambridge.

The NPPF 2021 sets out in paragraph 79 that to promote sustainable development in rural areas, housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities. Planning policies should identify opportunities for villages to grow and thrive, especially where this will support local services. Where there are groups of smaller settlements, development in one village may support services in a nearby villages. With development already approved and being built out for Camborne West, approximately ¾ of a mile north of the site, with improved sustainable transport connections, Land at St Peters Road, Caxton (site ref: 40543) will also be a sustainable location as well as providing an opportunity to deliver self-build housing contributing to the unmet existing demand.

The Land at St Peters Road (site ref: 40543) is ideally placed in relation to Caxton and given its proximity to Cambourne lends itself to be a highly sustainable location for future growth in Cambridgeshire along with the proposed new railway station at Cambourne as part of the Cambridge to Oxford Arc and this site is suitable, deliverable and developable. The Greater Cambridge Local Plan should help to meet its housing need by having a combination of large and small sites and this site would be key to achieving this aim and enable sustainable development in accordance with paragraph 8 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021.