We strongly support this.

One of the challenges is that trees are needed to screen developments and maintain the green edge to Cambridge and its villages. It will typically take at least 30 years for them to grow large enough to achieve any meaningful screening. As Cambridge is growing rapidly there is a risk of significant cumulative impacts. For example, the developments at Trumpington, Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Wort’s Causeway mean that nearly the entire south eastern fringe of the city will lose its screening for 30 years. Add to this Cambridge East and the developments at west and northwest Cambridge and the impact is clearly significant. We would argue that previous policy has not been effective at protecting the setting of Cambridge from the cumulative impacts of development. As a minimum we would like the policy to require the planting of large trees so that the time taken for them to provide screening is reduced. As a good example we would highlight the trees planted in the courtyard at the new Astra Zeneca head quarters.