The proposed development strategy for Greater Cambridge directs the vast majority of growth to the Cambridge Urban Area, the edge of Cambridge and new settlements. Only a very small level of growth is directed to the Rural Southern Cluster and the Rest of the Rural Area. Of the allocations proposed, the vast majority of these are existing commitments (adopted allocations, sites with planning permission etc.). The Council are only proposing a need for an additional 11,640 homes to be allocated through the emerging Local Plan.
As part of their strategy, the Council have stated that their top priority is to reduce carbon emissions and to that end provide jobs and homes in close proximity to one another and major public transport routes. Whilst Taylor Wimpey do understand this approach by the Council, they do have some concerns in relation to how this strategy has been applied.
Firstly, many of the settlements within South Cambridgeshire are highly sustainable in their own right and benefit from excellent public transport links to Cambridge, and other destinations. Linton is one such settlement, and further commentary on its position within the hierarchy is set out in the comments for Policy S/SH. Taylor Wimpey therefore consider that the Council should explore the option to deliver more housing in other sustainable settlements, including Linton, in order to provide a greater spread of housing distribution in the District and provide a portfolio of types of sites to meet needs in a range of locations. In doing so such housing distribution would still accord with the strategy presented by the Council, by providing housing in highly sustainable Linton.
Such housing delivery would help meet the needs of smaller settlements over the plan period, providing greater variety in the types and location of development delivered. It is important to highlight that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear in paragraph 69 that ‘small and medium sized sites can make an important contribution to meeting the housing requirement of an area, and are often built-out relatively quickly’ and that local planning authorities should ‘promote the development of a good mix of sites’. It is considered that the Council strategy focuses on the delivery of very large sites with a much lesser number of smaller allocations. Taylor Wimpey are therefore of the view that the Council should look to deliver a greater number of smaller allocations to ensure that there is a supply of housing that can be built out sooner within the plan period. The site in Linton is one such site that could be built-out relatively quickly.
Furthermore, paragraph 79 of the NPPF is clear that in order to ‘promote sustainable development in rural areas, housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities. Planning policies should identify opportunities for villages to grow and thrive, especially where this will support local services.’ By delivering more housing in settlements such as Linton, development will continue to support local services and facilities, supporting their retention and growth. This point is also recognised in the appraisal of spatial options set out within the Greater Cambridge Local Plan: First Proposals Sustainability Appraisal (October 2021).