Policy S/JH of the draft Local Plan identifies the proposed housing need for the plan period of 2020-2041. A housing requirement of 44,400 is stated, and equates to 2,111 dwellings per annum which is significantly above the minimum housing need established by the standard method (para 61 of the NPPF). The Council’s decision to create a higher housing target than what is required by the standard method is supported, provided that housing provisions can accommodate for a diversity of needs in Greater Cambridgeshire and are in accordance with national planning guidance.

It is urged that the council may take a more flexible approach towards the allocation and delivery of housing sites in Rural Areas. The Council has a duty to ensure that Green Belt land is protected, and not developed on unless there are no other suitable options available. The proposed approach is ignoring and indeed preventing obvious development opportunity sites such as farm buildings within/contiguous with settlements from being developed. Such sites would enable investment and regeneration in rural communities, whilst minimising the amount of greenfield land needed for housing.

The Council is required to provide a supply of housing for the next five years to ensure that it can meet its housing delivery targets. The Housing Delivery Study sets out the development trajectory for each site and the expected time frame for its completion. The council state that there is a housing supply of 5.15 years which is close to the minimum amount required. The uncertainty around the deliverability of sites means that there is reasonable potential for the council to not meet its housing targets if multiple developers fail to provide housing within the five year period. Therefore, it is proposed that the council should consider additional suitable housing sites through a more dispersed approach to development across settlements within the Plan area that could be delivered within the five year period to ensure that it can safely meet its housing target.