The promotion of healthy living and the incorporation of health considerations into new developments is supported. If the site at Comberton were to be allocated this would provide a key opportunity to provide much needed specialist housing for older people in a sustainable location which would benefit the wider community and provide an integrated development with a mixed community to support social cohesion.
The provision of specialist housing is the central element to this proposal and provides an opportunity to support integrated living with the community rather than providing housing older people at the edge of settlements in urban extensions. The provision of community facilities within the site as well as the promotion of healthy lifestyles with enhanced pedestrian and cycle connectivity will improve the wellbeing of all residents in this location. A range of on-site services and facilities (e.g. café/bar, restaurant, small shop, hair salon, wellbeing centre, etc) which meet many of the day to day needs of existing and future residents would be delivered alongside the residential development proposed and would significantly increase the sustainability of the development and existing settlement.
The characteristics of Extra Care development (such as the provision of on-site services and facilities) should enable consideration of where this can contribute towards mixed and balanced communities and sustainable growth in rural areas (in accordance with NPPF2021 paragraph 79 and paragraph 92(a).