In respect of the issue of How Much development and Where the Greater Cambridge Local Plan proposes 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 logistics uses are to an extent constrained by external factor, they must be located with good connectivity to the Strategic Road network, on large, relatively flat sites, they do seek to locate in the most sustainable locations appropriate to their use. The NPPF recognises that planning policies and decisions should recognise and address the specific locational requirements of different sectors. This includes making provision for clusters or networks of knowledge and data-driven, creative or high technology industries; and for storage and distribution operations at a variety of scales and in suitably accessible locations.

While the plan is seeking to provide a range of new employment space this will not, together with the existing allocations, provide a good range in the type, size and location of sites that respond to the needs of businesses. A range of employment sites must be able to cater for the needs of the logistics sector and provide sites of at least 10ha close to the SRN. A single warehouse of 25,000 sqm (which is below the current market average) requires a site of around 10ha. Greater Cambridge will need to consider whether regional distribution centres are being provided in sustainable locations in adjoining authority areas to meet any regional need before unilaterally abdicating responsibility to meet regional needs.

The Plan needs to reflect the current and future needs of the logistic industry as that need is now manifesting itself, post Covid and post Brexit. Large sustainable sites close to the SRN need to be identified in a planned way.