Jobs policies
74. It is clear that the draft Local Plan is focused on the continuation of ‘growth’ in the Cambridge area. CPRE
believes this is a mis-guided approach. The Greater Cambridge area is one which DHSS would consider to
have effectively full employment, with just the usual rotation of people out of work or seeking work.
Therefore, any growth in jobs will require inward migration to fill them. Inward migration creates pressure
on local housing availability and prices, and hence pressure for more house-building. It is an anti-climate
cycle.
75. As stated above CPRE would like to see the skills and resources of Cambridge-based organisations used to
encourage employment and redevelopment in other regions of the country where housing and water
capacity already exist and, in doing so, greenhouse gas emissions would be minimised.
76. CPRE are concerned by policies J/RE: Supporting the rural economy and J/AL: Protecting the best
agricultural land. We think both of these policies should be strengthened and properly enforced. The rural
economy can be diversified but at its core are farmers and their interests must be protected. For example,
the opening up of tracks and bridleways on the scale proposed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership will
cause increasing levels of damage to farms and farm equipment and increased security risk to farm
properties. It will make illegal activities such as hare-coursing easier and the police enforcement job
harder.
77. We think it is in the national interest to stop building on South Cambridgeshire farm land, most of which is
Grade 2 with some Grade 3a. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/127056 This land is already needed to assist the minimisation of food imports and it will be even more needed when the Fens
flood and national food supply is reduced by an estimated 20 – 25%.
78. According to the NFU, the Fens produce one third of England’s fresh vegetables, 20% of England’s potatoes,
more than 20% of England’s flowers and bulbs, 20% of England’s sugar beet as well as a significant
percentage of the country’s cereal, oilseed rape and protein crops. Agriculture in the Fens employs 80,000
people and produces £3bn pa for the rural economy.
79. The government recognises that the UK currently imports 45% of its food; however, some sources estimate
this to be as much as 80%. The Environmental Audit Committee has already warned government that the
UK cannot continue to rely on food imports on this scale because climate change is going to damage foodgrowing areas further south.
80. Building on good Cambridgeshire farm land just does not make sense. There may be short-term economic
pressures to do so but it is not in the national interest.
81. CPRE supports Policy J/PB: Protecting existing business space and Policy J/RW: Enabling remote working.
We also recognise that local affordable workspace can reduce commuting and increase local employment
opportunities, Policy J/AW: Affordable workspace and creative industries. We are concerned to ensure
that existing buildings which could be used for employment are not demolished to make way for maximum levels of housing and maximum profit for developers as we are aware has occurred in some districts.
82. With respect to Policy J/RC: Retail and centres, CPRE are aware of increasing levels of internet shopping
and decreasing footfall in retail centres. This may lead to re-purposing for housing under “Permitted
Development”. CPRE is believes that all such development should be brought back under local authority building control and not be the appalling low-quality free-for-all that it is now.