The importance the plan places on climate change and the achievement of net zero status by 2050 is supported, recognising NPPF (2021) Paragraph 153, which requires plans to take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The First Proposals document states that the spatial strategy has been informed by carbon assessment that highlights the impact that transport emissions can have, and promotes patterns of development that enable low carbon transport modes, shifting away from a reliance on the private car. Many of the rural settlements, despite being a lower order in the settlement hierarchy, are sustainably located on public transport networks, as well as having good access to local services, facilities and employment opportunities. Land West of London Road, Fowlmere benefits from local employment, primary school, village hall, recreation ground and places of worship and is also serviced by two bus services, providing frequent links to Cambridge as well as other sustainable settlements that benefit from train stations.

In adapting to climate change, it should be noted that well-designed new residential development can contribute to carbon offsetting through tree planting, and the delivery of sustainable technologies such as water reduction, solar panels, ground source heat pumps, high levels of installation, improved lighting and other measures, whilst encouraging existing and new communities to adopt more sustainable methods of travel, including the provision of attractive open spaces and green linkages to encourage walking and cycling.

The provision of Sustainable Drainage Systems within new development can also alleviate existing fluvial and pluvial flood issues.

Land West of London Road, Fowlmere is proposed to contribute to carbon offsetting through the provision of a landscape strategy, including additional tree planting, provision of sustainable drainage systems that are multi-functional, and delivering an attractive open space in the form of a village park. The proposed development would also deliver low carbon housing, electric vehicle charging at every dwelling and promote low water consumption, therefore proactively mitigating the effects of climate change through reducing overall carbon emissions.

Climate change policy should not be overly prescriptive such that it provides a barrier to sustainable development. It should also be acknowledged that technologies are constantly changing. For example, the shift to electric vehicles significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the private car and the introduction of new sustainable technologies such as water reduction, solar panels, ground source heat pumps, high levels of installation and improved lighting, all of which contribute to sustainability and reducing carbon footprint. Therefore, policies should enable flexibility to accommodate evolution in technology and way of life.