Scott Properties considers that Bassingbourn and Kneesworth should be recognised as a single settlement for the purposes of the hierarchy, owing to their close proximity and functional relationship. Both settlements fall within the Parish of Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth, served by the same Parish Council and contained within the Neighbourhood Plan Area. Geographically, there is no physical separation between Bassingbourn and Kneesworth to the north of the Causeway, with the parts of Kneesworth along this route benefitting from close proximity to the services and facilities within Bassingbourn.

Bassingbourn is classified as a Minor Rural Centre within the adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan, recognised as having a greater level of services, facilities and employment than most other villages in South Cambridgeshire. Kneesworth is classified as an Infill Village, which are generally the smallest villages in South Cambridgeshire whereby it is often necessary for residents to travel outside the village for most of their daily needs. The hierarchy fails to recognise that the residents of Kneesworth would only have to travel a very short distance to access day-to-day facilities that are located adjacent to the settlement and accessible within a short walking and cycling distance.

In order to recognise the functional relationship and close physical proximity between Bassingbourn and Kneesworth, we consider that these settlements should be recognised as a single settlement within the hierarchy. This approach has been taken in respect of other settlements in District, including Great Shelford & Stapleford and Histon & Impington.