The emerging Policy S/DS: Development Strategy sets out the “proposed strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places created in Greater Cambridge for the plan period and beyond to 2050”. It identifies where the homes and jobs set out in Policy S/JH should be provided, in order to meet the vision and aims of the Local Plan.

The proposed development strategy is to direct development to where it has the least climate impact, where active and public transport is the natural choice, where green infrastructure can be delivered alongside new development, and where jobs, services and facilities can be located near to where people live, whilst ensuring all necessary utilities can be provided in a sustainable way.

We agree that it is fundamental that new developments are built in the most sustainable locations, for the environment, the economy and communities. However, there needs to be a recognition that this will mean different locations for different types of development, including greenfield locations for uses best located outside, but close to settlements such as employment hubs which have a servicing function for all other development sectors.

Locating logistics facilities close to urban centres enables the use of electric fleet and cargo bikes for last mile deliveries. In addition, this encourages workforce to travel to work via sustainable and more active transport modes, such as cycling, encouraging healthier lifestyles, decreasing congestion and improving the air quality.

At present, emerging Policy S/DS directs development to brownfield land and where it responds to opportunities created by proposed major new infrastructure. It then goes on to recognise that locations capable of providing sustainable development include the Cambridge urban area, edge of Cambridge, new settlements (namely Cambourne, Northstowe, Waterbeach and Bourn Airfield), the Rural Southern Cluster and limited development in the rest of the rural area.

We welcome that Policy S/DS recognises that appropriate development in the rest of the rural area including, “new employment sites in the countryside meeting specific business needs” and that Policy S/RRA identifies two manufacturing and warehousing allocations around the Swavesey junction of the A14. We agree that this quadrant of Greater Cambridge along the A14 is the most appropriate location to bring forward future economic opportunities and allow existing and new businesses to invest in the area. This location is served by the upgraded A14 and as such has high accessibility to the strategic network. In addition, this area is bounded by new residential developments including Northstowe (6,345 new homes across the Plan period), Cambourne West (2,590 homes), Cambourne (1,950 homes), Bourn Airfield (2,460 homes), Darwin Green (478 homes) and Eddington (3,142 homes). On this basis, significant additional labour supply will be available in this area over the plan period. Moreover, this location will encourage sustainable commuting to work and sustainable urban transport modes to deliver services in the City.

Given the clear sustainability benefits of locating such business along the strategic road network with minimal local highways trips and the recent major infrastructure improvements to the A14, we would encourage Policy S/DS to explicitly recognise that J25 Bar Hill, which is located outside of the Green Belt provides a valuable, sustainable, suitable and appropriate location for development, and support further development in this location.