This policy is considered to only illustrate further that despite this Rural Southern Cluster Area having been identified by the Council as a growth area, there is in fact limited residential development proposed within this area to support the level of employment growth. Delivering more housing within this area will provide development with opportunities for sustainable travel to the Genome Campus and Babraham Research Campus.
Residential allocations within the Rural Southern Cluster include a carried forward allocation in Sawston, along with new allocations S/RSC/HW in Great Shelford which will deliver no more than 100 homes and S/RSC/MF at Duxford which will deliver around 60 homes. For an area that is identified for growth to support significant employment development, 160 homes is a very small contribution. Linton is equidistant to the Babraham Research Campus compared to Great Shelford and Duxford, and Linton is closer to the Genome Campus than Great Shelford.
Whilst we do not comment on the appropriateness of the proposed allocations themselves at this juncture, it is notable that Duxford is a lower order settlement in the hierarchy than Linton however it receives an allocation whereas Linton does not.
The evidence base is clear that the Rural Southern Cluster is an appropriate location for focusing development as part of the Council strategy. The Greater Cambridge Local Plan: First Proposals Sustainability Appraisal (October 2021) states that development in this area ‘will help to ensure housing is well-located in relation to existing centres of employment’.
The Greater Cambridge Local Plan Development Strategy Options – Summary Report (November 2020) sets out work undertaken to assess further whether the spatial choices set out in the Greater Cambridge Local Plan: First Conversation consultation were indeed reasonable; and to identify whether there are any additional reasonable spatial options that should be added to the First Conversation choices. The assessment identified the following two options as being reasonable and substantively different to the six First Conversation options:
• Supporting a high-tech corridor by integrating homes and jobs (southern cluster); and
• Expanding a growth area around transport nodes (western cluster).
Consequently, eight choices were taken forward for testing as strategic options, which included:
‘Spatial Option 7: Supporting a high-tech corridor by integrating homes and jobs (southern cluster) - this approach would focus new homes close to existing and committed jobs within the life sciences cluster area around the south of Cambridge, including homes at existing villages and at new settlements.’
The assessment noted that opportunities for this area included a good relationship between jobs and homes. It however appears that more limited growth has been directed to this area due to anticipated high carbon emissions due to dispersed village homes. However, this is considered to be a rather general statement and does not focus in on specific settlements within the cluster that benefit from better sustainable travel opportunities.
As set out earlier, Linton offers highly sustainable travel opportunities for residents and these are being further enhanced through ongoing improvements. Residents within Linton are able to access Babraham Research Campus by regular bus service with a journey time of around 15 minutes. Whilst the Genome Campus is not directly accessible by bus, this is only a 10 minute drive. It is therefore considered that the conclusion that development in the southern cluster would result in high carbon emissions is not representative of Linton.
Furthermore, Taylor Wimpey launched their Environment Strategy in 2021. This sets out how they will help protect our environment for future generations, partner with suppliers to reduce the impact of the homes and developments built, and make it easier for their customers to live a sustainable lifestyle. The strategy focuses on the key environmental impacts for the business: climate change, nature, resources and waste. As such the development of Land north of Cambridge Road, Linton could be delivered sustainably, with reduced carbon impact.
It is therefore considered that the Council should look to deliver more homes in this important employment area, with the Land north of Cambridge Road, Linton providing a suitable site in a sustainable location for accessing jobs.