QUESTION: Do you agree that new development should mainly focus on sites where car travel, and therefore emissions, can be minimised?
Yes, in principle the proposal to focus development on sites where car travel can be minimised is supported. Consistent with this strategy, it is considered to be very important that some growth is delivered in villages. National policy is clear within paragraph 79 of the NPPF that planning policies should identify opportunities for villages to grow and thrive, especially where they will support local services.
The CPIER report (2018), which is referenced as a key document within the evidence base provides a detailed analysis regarding the potential benefits of focusing growth along key transport corridors. Histon and Impington is on the Cambridge Busway and as such is located along a key public transport link into Cambridge, and also nearby towns of St Ives and Huntingdon within Huntingdonshire District. The Busway provides a service every 7 minutes, providing residents and employees with a reliable and sustainable option for travel. A potential new stop on the busway is currently being considered within Histon and Impington, within close proximity to land owned by our client, this is supported by the Histon and Impington Neighbourhood Plan and would further encourage a shift away from car use, towards more sustainable modes of transport for both existing and future employees and residents.
The release of Land West of South Road, Impington from the Green Belt would facilitate the creation of a cycleway/footway that could link into the Darwin Green development to the south, on the opposite side of the A14. It is proposed that as part of any development of the site, of any size, a cycleway/footway route connecting Histon and Impington to Cambridge to the south would be incorporated and provide an improved linkage over the A14 and directly to the existing cycle and pedestrian links within Cambridge. This would further encourage a shift away from car use and towards more sustainable modes of transport.
The encouragement of the use of public transport, cycling and walking in and around the South Cambridgeshire District and City of Cambridge would assist in addressing a key and fundamental issue, congestion. New development should aim to address this problem which would also be compliant with the key issue of Climate Change, a big theme underlying the new Local Plan. This new link has the potential to reduce pressure on the Strategic Road Network which currently does not have capacity to accommodate any new growth in the area.
In addition, Impington (and Histon), benefit from being sustainable settlements in their own right. Histon and Impington are identified in the current South Cambridgeshire Local Plan as a Rural Centre (Policy S/8) and are described as ‘the largest, most sustainable villages of the District.’ Due to this, there is no strategic constraint on the amount of development land for housing within their development frameworks. They benefit from both primary and secondary education facilities and a large range of services, including shops, pubs, restaurants and community facilities.
For the above reasons, it is considered that additional growth within Impington would be consistent with the objectives of the Local Plan, which seeks to minimise car travel.