LVA consider the levels of growth attributed to Infill Villages (indicative maximum scheme size of 2 dwellings, and exceptionally consist of up to about 8 dwellings where this would lead to the sustainable reuse of a brownfield site bringing positive overall benefit to the village) far too restrictive.

The Local Plan should take a more flexible approach to development at Infill Villages and thus encourage an increased amount of growth that that currently proposed, particularly at those that are capable of doing so such as Caxton. This can provide an important contribution to housing land supply over long and short-term period. Housing is needed in villages to support and retain local services and allow vitality. This is highlighted in paragraph 79 of the Framework to promote sustainable development. There is also a need to provide affordable homes suitable for elderly and younger residents to continue living in villages – market housing can support the delivery of such need. LVA would welcome the identification of housing requirements for all villages, particularly so at Infill Villages. The Council must make absolutely certain that sufficient land is identified for development to provide a supply of deliverable sites through the way of allocations.

The Infill Village of Caxton is an example of such a settlement that would be suitable for new housing growth over the Local Plan period. Caxton sits approximately 9 mile west of Cambridge City Centre, 9 miles to the east of St Neots and 1.5 miles to the centre of Cambourne, and contains the following services:
• A church;
• Village hall;
• Allotments; and
• Informal open space and children’s equipped play areas.
• Regular bus services to Cambridge and St Neots.

Caxton also benefits from a number of services and facilities which are available for the local community but are located just outside the settlement boundary. In most cases, Caxton is the closest built-up area to some of these facilities:
• Shopping and food facilities at Caxton Gibbet including McDonalds, Subway, Costa and a Costcutter convenience store.
• Shell Petrol Station (including an ATM) and a car wash;
• A pet store;
• Soft play centre for young children.

The consideration of the sustainability of settlements, especially at villages, should also not be done so in isolation. Instead, access to services and facilities within surrounding settlements within its hinterland should be appropriately considered as people do not meet their needs solely within the settlement they reside. They rely upon the network of urban areas within the locality. Caxton not only benefits from the services and facilities within its village area but is within close proximity to Cambourne and Cambridge City. The site sits approximately 0.6km from Lower Cambourne and less than 9 miles from Cambridge City Centre. Cambourne contains a large range of shops, services and facilities, and is also due to be served by a new East West Rail station. Such a strategic decision to create a new town and rail station is clearly intended to support the local outlying villages and settlements. To a large extent this is the spatial purpose of the creation of this new town.

Whilst in many Infill Villages there will have been little change to the composition of local facilities, that is not the case since 2014 in Caxton. Existing and planned services and facilities at Cambourne are readily accessible to residents of Caxton either via bus, foot, bicycle or car. The Bourne Airfield allocation is also expected to build upon the services and facilities in the wider area; and is within the bus route currently serving Caxton.

The village of Caxton itself stands out as one of the better located and served (in terms of facilities and services) of the ‘Infill Villages’. When considering the wider area and surrounding settlements which support Caxton, the village can be considered to be more sustainable than any of the ‘Infill Villages’. Caxton is not only amongst the most sustainable settlements considered as ‘Infill Villages’ but can also be compared to higher tier settlements such as ‘Group Villages’. Taking all into account, Caxton can be considered a sustainable location for development.

Sustainability is not solely based upon a snapshot in time, and by definition it is considered now and for future generations. The village of Caxton itself could already be deemed a sustainable location for development based on existing access to local facilities and services. The surrounding area is to be the focus of significant and sustained growth and to that end LVA believe the village of Caxton should also be apportioned a level of new housing.