OBJECT

As highlighted in the North BRLOG representations to Policy S/DS: Development Strategy, the key parts of the development strategy for emerging GCLP comprises the delivery of extensions to Cambourne, the planned new settlements at Northstowe, Waterbeach and Bourn Airfield, and the new communities on the edge of Cambridge at North East Cambridge and Cambridge East. These are all complex developments that also require the delivery of transport and community infrastructure. The predicted housing delivery rates at these developments are challenging. Most of these developments will provide less affordable housing than required by policy, at least in the initial phases, to reflect the amount of infrastructure that is needed. It should be a concern for emerging GCLP that most of the strategic sites will not provide enough affordable housing, particularly in an area such as Greater Cambridge which has significant housing affordability issues. In contrast, there is sufficient residual value in strategic greenfield sites on the edge of Cambridge to support planning obligations and policy requirements in full, including affordable housing. The proposed redevelopments at North East Cambridge and Cambridge East are complex and involve the relocation of the existing uses.

Paragraph 140 of the NPPF allows land to be released from the Green Belt through the plan-making process where exceptional circumstances exist. It is considered that exceptional circumstances exist to release land from the Green Belt around Cambridge, which are related to the significant need for housing and affordable housing in Greater Cambridge, and the need for additional housing to support the economic growth of Greater Cambridge. The cost of buying and renting housing in Greater Cambridge is high, and the affordability ratio is high. Those that cannot afford to live in Greater Cambridge will need to live elsewhere and undertake longer distance commuting to access their job, and if as is likely a large proportion of those journeys are undertaken by car this would add to traffic congestion and air pollution.

Paragraph 142 requires any review of Green Belt boundaries to consider the need to promote sustainable patterns of development, and that where the release of land from the Green Belt is necessary that priority is given to previously developed land or sites that are well-served by public transport. It is acknowledged in emerging GCLP and the associated Sustainability Appraisal that the edge of Cambridge is a sustainable location because of its close proximity to employment and the opportunity to travel by non-car modes of transport.

The promoted development by North BRLOG at South West Cambridge would include market and affordable housing, it is accessible by sustainable modes of transport, and is well-related to employment opportunities.

Therefore, it is considered that the development strategy for emerging GCLP should also include additional allocations on the edge of Cambridge at South West Cambridge.

The following reports were submitted with the North BRLOG representations at Issues & Option stage to support the promoted development at South West Cambridge:
• Vision Document (David Lock Associates)
• Landscape and Visual Appraisal and Green Belt Review (The Landscape Partnership)
• Initial Noise Assessment (WSP)
• Air Quality Constraints Report (WSP)
• Archaeological Desk Based Assessment (Cambridge Archaeological Unit)
• Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (The Landscape Partnership)
• Flood Risk and Drainage Appraisal (Peter Brett Associates)
• Initial Heritage Impact Assessment (Bidwells)
• Transport Technical Note (WSP)

The benefits of the promoted development include the following:
• the provision of housing and affordable housing for key workers and others, including but not limited to University and College staff;
• the provision of residential accommodation for the elderly, including care provision;
• the provision of new tenures such as ‘Build to Rent’, co-living and intra-generational housing;
• accessible parkland with potential connections to Coton Countryside Reserve offering significant scope for biodiversity enhancement;
• delivery of green infrastructure in the form of publicly accessible open space providing access from the City to the countryside to the west of Cambridge;
• other green infrastructure and strategic landscaping, including new woodland planting to address visual impact and provide a buffer with the M11 to address noise and air quality impacts;
• improvements to walking and cycling routes to encourage travel by non-car modes of transport, which is far more attainable for an edge of City Centre site;
• potential to provide land for the Cambourne to Cambridge Bus Strategy and the Comberton and Barton Greenways which are Greater Cambridge Partnership projects;
• the creation of additional north south public transport and cycle routes, connecting Barton Road to Madingley Road, and the provision of connections to existing developments at NW Cambridge, West Cambridge and Addenbrookes/Cambridge Biomedical Campus;
• the provision of a new local centre for the west Cambridge area as well as additional health and education facilities.

The promoted development would be consistent with the relevant policies contained in Section 3.1: Climate Change, Section 3.2: Biodiversity and Green Spaces, Section 3.3: Wellbeing & Social Inclusion; Section 3.4: Great Places; Section 3.6: Homes and Section 3.7: Infrastructure of emerging GCLP.

The landowners - Corpus Christi College, Jesus College, St John’s College, Downing College and the University of Cambridge - have a long-standing commitment to Cambridge and its future and will continue to be neighbours of the promoted development. North BRLOG are committed to the identified benefits and policy aims and their long-term stewardship of the site will assist in delivering these.

For all these reasons, the site at South West Cambridge should be allocated for a landscape-led urban extension in the emerging GCLP. The Vision Document for South West Cambridge could form the basis for a site specific policy and additional allocation on the edge of Cambridge. The key policy requirements for the promoted development are set out in the requested changes.

Requested Change

Additional Allocation at Edge of Cambridge: Land at South West Cambridge

A landscape-led urban extension to Cambridge of high-quality, with high sustainability standards and delivering a net gain in biodiversity.

The promoted development contains the following mix of uses:

• Between 2,500 and 2,800 dwellings including market and affordable/social housing with a range of tenures and densities to include housing for University and/or College staff, housing for elderly people (including care) and student accommodation;
• A comprehensive new green infrastructure network comprising open space and sports pitches, a new country park with connections to Coton Countryside Reserve, wildlife areas and biodiversity enhancement, and strategic landscaping including new woodland planting;
• Creation of new flood meadows and the potential re-wilding of Bin brook in certain locations to enhance capacity and its ecological benefits;
• A green landscape edge to the M11 to provide a landscape setting to the South West of Cambridge;
• A community facility including primary school, community centre, health centre;
• A neighbourhood centre including food store and other shops, services and facilities to serve the local community, nearby residents and the West Cambridge campus;
• Enhanced pedestrian and cycle connections to the existing and planned walking, cycling and public transport network in the local area, and a development which places the needs of pedestrians and cyclists ahead of car users;
• A network of streets and spaces that are diverse in their function and character;
• A public transport corridor that will link the site with other service and routes and to other City destinations;
• High levels of energy performance in building design that follows best practice in energy and carbon reduction; and
• Sustainability measures including a water recycling system, district heating system and underground waste collection system.