The widespread promotion of Neighbourhood Plans (page 24) is likely to act as a constraint on development in the rural area. Research on the progress and effectiveness of neighbourhood plans found that 55% of the draft plans published for consultation have ‘protectionist’ agendas and many are openly anti-development. Therefore, there is a likelihood that this agenda will create inevitable conflicts between the national aim to significantly boost housebuilding and local community NIMBYism. The idea of ‘top down’ housing targets being set by the local authority may also dissuade some areas from engaging with the neighbourhood planning process altogether.

A more pragmatic and flexible approach would be for the Greater Cambridge authorities to carry out up-to-date local housing need surveys for the whole area (e.g. at ward or parish level) to determine quantitative and qualitative need. Used as robust evidence for the determination of planning applications, this would be a fairer system which would guide development to the right locations and, given the reliance on the private housing building sector to deliver affordable housing, also ensure that housing needs are met across the whole District, more effectively tackling the chronic affordability issues present. The process could be managed and controlled by the relevant Council, with local input from the relevant Parish Council. A bottom-up approach where small to medium scale developments are planned for local people in housing need (those named on the housing register), would also be less controversial.

Additional commentary on the proposed housing and employment targets and overarching development strategy as outlined in Policy S/DS is provided in a separate report by Barton Willmore.