Homes

Homes need to be of good quality and high environmental standard.

While the current allocations are noted, we would also draw attention to the potential for mixed-use development at Hazlewell Court, Bar Road, Lolworth (Site URN 676). While the primary focus is on the proposed new hotel, EV Charging Hub, supporting services, and the commercial development potential. It should be recognised that there are existing dwellings on the site, and that the location is quite sustainable, being within a short walk or cycle of Bar Hill. The site offers potential for some small scale residential development, or the potential for live-work development to add to the mix of housing typologies. While a formal promotion has not been submitted, our client wishes to take this opportunity to alert the Council to the potential of the site to make a positive contribution towards housing delivery, coupled with the commercial development of the site.

Abrdn notes the housing targets for the Local Plan and is supportive of appropriate brownfield sites being redeveloped to help contribute towards the housing need across Greater Cambridge.

USS notes the housing targets for the Local Plan and is supportive of appropriate brownfield sites being redeveloped to help contribute towards the housing need across Greater Cambridge.

Huntingdonshire District Council has no comment on this matter.

This is the designation of the village of Stapleford.
The building of a new village at Hinxton has been approved providing housing and infrastructure for the employees at this Campus.
The A1307 has already been redesigned by the GCP to provide for expansion and travel needs to the Babraham Research Centre.
The proposal for 100 houses on a 10 hectare site in Stapleford is put forward as an exception site due to its excellent transport links! There is one train per hour from the Great Shelford Station to the next proposed stop at Cambridge South! The CBC is a 5 minute cycle away from the site so it is difficult to imagine why anyone would use the train to commute to work.
The proposed site is in Green Belt land, is very small compared to the site size and extends the village boundary to make it almost link to the City (especially once the new developments between the A1307 and Wort’s Causeway are built.). At the moment the village has unique landscape character assessments which include the Magog Hills and Wandlebury. This development destroys our relationship with both these valuable assets in our Parish environ and destroys the long views from Mingle Lane to the rolling chalk hills to the north. ( see sections 4.2 and 4.6.5 of the Stapleford draft conservation area appraisal and management plan )

Homes – Is oversupply of flats that have been on the market for many months. Not enough Houses, all sizes - family homes with gardens, in City’s 2 mile radius.
H/AH: Affordable housing More are needed such as at the Biomedical Campus.
H/ES: No
H/HM: Approved developments such as Waterbeach & Bourne should be made to change their plans to provide good mix if not already. No further developments.
H/HD: Densely developed areas create ill health of all types and must not be allowed
H/GL: Garden land must not be developed. Subdivision of existing plots must not be allowed except with very large plots and then only in keeping & density with surrounding properties.
H/SH: Specialist housing and homes for older people important. Development in areas near local shops and good transport
H/CB: NO
H/BR: There are too many already
H/MO: NO
H/SA: There is plenty already
H/RC: Not in the City. Possibly small developments elsewhere.
H/GT: Area on Fen Road could be developed to accommodate them, if further need. This would be better than the NE Cambridge plans
H/CH: No

We support the proposal to encourage the reuse of vacant buildings, where this is an effective way of minimising whole life carbon emissions.

We support the proposal for homes to be concentrated at higher densities (rather than spread out through the countryside) However there needs to be plenty of public realm green space, so these don’t become unattractive slums

Homes policies

4.54. In previous representations, MGH has emphasised that if insufficient housing is built to meet local need it will result in:-
 worsening affordability;
 damage to the local economy;
 damage to equality and social inclusion;
 adverse implications arising from climate change; and
 adverse impacts on the ability of people to live healthy lives.
4.55. The government has been clear that the Oxford Cambridge Arc should support economic growth. To do so will require housing to support the growing local work force. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Growth Deal is predicated on the delivery of increased employment growth. The CPIER indicated that in order to realise the growth that could be delivered, a total of some 2,900 homes per year would be needed, which is notably higher than the ‘Central Scenario’ that has been assessed in the First Proposals consultation. MGH strongly agrees that the Local Plan should provide for higher levels of housing growth to support a strong economy, in accordance with government policy.
4.56. There is a need to provide for a wide range of housing in the Local Plan, including a diverse range of tenures, with rented accommodation, retirement living, market housing, and affordable housing together with some custom and self-build homes. A diversity of typologies will improve the ability of the market to achieve enhanced levels of delivery of all types of housing whether rent or buy. Such diversity is best achieved on larger sites which can adapt to market trends as demand changes in order to create diverse communities with a range of socio-economic groups.
4.57. High standards of housing can be achieved through use of the preparation of development briefs or design codes. The recent changes to the national planning policy guidance and the introduction of a national design guide prescribe that local ‘design codes’ be produced which are informed by the traditions of an area, assisting in creating identity and distinctiveness. MGH endorses this approach to design.

see attached

See attached comments.

USS notes the housing targets for the Local Plan and is supportive of appropriate brownfield sites being redeveloped to help contribute towards the housing need across Greater Cambridge.

The mix and affordability of homes is critical.

Hallam Land Management (HLM) support the Councils aims in respect of homes, however it is concerned its approach will constrain sustainable economic growth and not meet the housing requirement to 2041. This concern is elaborated in representations made in response to S/JH and New Settlements General Comments.

Orwell Parish Council supports the proposed policies relating to Homes.

support

Marshall is strongly supportive of the principle of planning for enough housing to meet the needs of Greater Cambridge including the provision of significant quantities of housing. There is an opportunity, through the preparation of this new Local Plan, to be ambitious and the GCSP should therefore be seeking to identify a suitable housing requirement that balances with the economic growth ambitions of CCC/SCDC and the wider area. Whilst Marshall is supportive of the GCSP’s approach to deliver more homes than are required by the standard method, it is Marshall’s view that there is a significant opportunity for the GCSP to consider increasing this target as a positive response to the evidence base and the scale of potential employment growth.

The development of Cambridge East provides a significant opportunity to tackle the affordability crisis that exists within Cambridge through accommodating a wide range of homes, of different sizes and tenures. The final mix will be determined by the latest market advice and will be discussed and agreed with the GCSP through future discussions, affordable housing policies and guidance, as well as site specific negotiations relating to a scheme of this scale.

Section 3.6 of the First Proposals relates to ‘Homes’ policies. It is noted that the Councils’ aim, as stated at page 258 of the First Proposals document, it to “plan for enough housing to meet our needs, including significant quantities of housing that is affordable”. As was highlighted in the response to the Plan’s emerging vision and aims, the Church Commissioners for England consider that the Councils could be more aspirational in relation to the number of homes to be delivered within the Plan period. Whilst paragraph 16(b) of the NPPF calls for strategic policies within Plans to be “aspirational”, the aim contained at page 258 is to simply, “plan for enough housing to meet our needs”. As previously stated within this representation, the Commissioners suggest that the aim is updated to read “…for enough housing to meet our needs, as a minimum”.

The general approach to the provision of housing is supported. It is recognised that affordable housing is an important component of major development schemes, and that the rate of affordable housing proposed is appropriate in the context of the GCLP area where affordability is a key issue.

The inclusion of a specific policy relating to rural exception sites is supported. This should recognise that where there is evidence of need, schemes which provide new homes to meet this address this issue should be supported even where these may be contrary to other policy objectives. Any policy approach should ensure that particular weight is given to the provision of housing which addresses a specific need for housing, particularly where it is possible to demonstrate that this represents sustainable development and access is provided to a range of facilities and transport links.

Please see additional written representations for further details.

TMLC supports the need to plan for sufficient housing to meet the economic growth aspirations of the local plan and to ensure the right mix of housing tenures to meet all the requirements of the diverse communities within the region.

The policy directions should recognise the important that purpose built student accommodation for both colleges and university students plays in reducing the demand on the existing and proposed housing stock. Moreover, the policy directions should also recognise the benefits of developing purpose built accommodation adjacent to or as part

Please refer to the responses to the Development Strategy, particularly in relation to ‘How much development, and where – general comments’, S/JH: New jobs and homes, and S/DS: Development strategy

Grosvenor generally supports the housing policies, with the exception of the failure to provide adequate housing to the south of the City in the RSC as explained in the representation report and Design Vision. At Whittlesford
it can deliver a mix of housing types and tenures that would cater for all generations, and can be tailored to provide choices for residents of Whittlesford, for example –
i. Homes to rent for young households.
ii. Key worker housing for people working in the science or medical sectors.
iii. Family housing
iv. Elderly living, for which there is a growing need.

In areas of significant housing growth, appropriate funding must be consistently leveraged through developer contributions for health and care services in order to meet growing demand. We request that when setting planning obligation policies, the Council seek to address strategic as well as local priorities in planning obligations and engage the NHS in the process as early as possible.

Continuous requirement for housing - something should be done regarding properties being bought to rent or as an investment and standing empty.
New builds / developments could require owners to live in the property rather than rent / buy to let - taxable penalty to deter. Whilst so many properties are bought with no intention to be lived in by the owner the
housing shortage will never end, further development using more and more land will continue to be sought.

Policy H/AH
Affordable housing and dwelling mix
As much as legally allowed of the "affordable" housing should be truly affordable, not just use that name.
That clearly means that all "affordable" housing should be at social rents, and not "affordable" rents or discounted purchase.

A policy is also needed to ensure that the number of "affordable" flats/houses is proportionate to the commercial part of the site - not like the "Wing" site, where the ratio of commercial flats to houses is almost the inverse correlation to the "affordable" dwellings.

All "affordable" housing should be council housing, to provide security of tenure, accountability, and efficiency.

Policy H/SS
Residential space standards and accessible homes
Paragraph 1:
The adoption of the Nationally Described Residential Space standard is welcome. The councils should lobby government to make this part of the building control regulations, rather than an optional part of the planning system.

Paragraph 2:
This is a loophole, and these homes should always be subject to the above standard.

Paragraph 5:
This policy is welcome but must urgently be backed with generous minimum private amenity space standards.
We have for a long time been building rabbit hutches with little or no private amenity space, and these are the slums of tomorrow.

Policy H/HD
Housing density
We need to get away from the obsession with higher densities.
We have for a long time permitted far too dense building, which has led to lower internal space and external private amenity space standards, leading to family homes totally unsuitable for bringing up a family (i.e. the "Swifts" development at Fulbourn) and a myriad of "Rabbit hutch" type blocks of flats.
These are the slums of tomorrow, with a built-in encouragement of anti-social behaviour, crime, anxiety and mental ill-health.
We need proper family homes with generous gardens.

Great Shelford Parish Councillors feel that there is too much emphasis on an unrealistic definition of affordable housing and not enough on truly affordable housing and social housing. Affordable at 80% of market value in Great Shelford is not affordable for the majority of people who wish to live there, close to family.

If possible, it would be good to see restrictions on buy to let.

We would also support action to prevent building of new homes whilst others lie empty, whether intentionally or through neglect.

Flats or houses for young, single professionals would be a boost as there is no post graduate provision by the Universities.

Cllrs feel that houses do not make community. It needs to have the infrastructure around it.

Cambourne Town Council supports the theme as it addresses the aims contained in the vision.

Introduction
Thank you for consulting Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) on the first proposals consultation for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan 2041. Please accept this letter as our formal response. We welcome the opportunity to respond to the proposals in this consultation and look forward to continuing the good working relations that CBC has already forged with the two substantive authorities. We have provided some comments below on the consultation documentation which we hope are useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

General Comments on Strategy

Overall, the Council supports the approach you have taken in terms of undertaking a joint local plan to ensure a consistent approach to planning and building across both Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council up to 2041.

We support the proposed Vision for the Greater Cambridge Plan especially as it places climate impacts at the heart of key decisions. It states that Greater Cambridge will be a place where a big decrease in your climate impacts comes with a big increase in the quality of everyday life for all your communities. It also promotes new development minimising carbon emissions and reliance on the private car; creating thriving neighbourhoods with the variety of jobs and homes you need; increasing nature, wildlife and green spaces; and safeguarding your unique heritage and landscapes. CBC considers this to be a laudable, succinct overarching Vision that we hope you will be able to carry through to effective policy and decision-making on the ground.

CBC considers that the proposed strategy outlined within the First Proposals could help ensure that Greater Cambridge makes a valuable contribution to the Oxford to Cambridge Arc and to the overall delivery of the Government’s ambitious growth aspirations. However, the Council considers that it would be useful to include reference to the emerging Arc Spatial Framework, identifying that alongside the NPPF, this will set the overarching strategic framework for the area with which all local plans within the Arc must accord. CBC would be keen to understand the timescales for the delivery of the Greater Cambridge Plan and how the emerging Spatial Framework will be taken into consideration to inform future iterations of the plan.

We appreciate that the Plan is at an early stage of development, and at the current time you are considering locations that could be delivered alongside allocated sites being carried forward from the adopted 2018 Local Plans for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, as well as sites which already have planning permission.

We note that you are proposing to meet in full your objectively assessed needs of 44,400 new homes to 2041, which is supported by CBC and is necessary to ensure needs can be met across the area.

CBC recognises that Cambridge has seen significant economic and jobs growth in recent years and that there is an ambition to maintain this direction of growth as the impacts of the recent pandemic subside. As stated in our comments made in response to your Issues and Options Consultation in February 2020, we would not support a level of jobs growth that could detrimentally impact upon the ability of neighbouring authorities, such as Central Bedfordshire, to meet and deliver their own economic ambitions and growth aspirations. CBC therefore supports the housing numbers proposed to meet the OAN and the identified buffer and welcomes the move away from the higher job number which were put forward in your Issues and Options consultation. We agree that the higher jobs forecast previously considered would not be the most appropriate scenario to pursue. Overall, CBC considers that the proposed level of housing of 44,400 new homes and complementary economic growth of 58,500 new jobs across all sectors including business, retail, leisure, education and healthcare, is an appropriate level of growth to deliver for over the plan period.

The First Proposals have suggested 19 new possible locations that might be suitable for additional development to meet your needs across the Greater Cambridge area up to 2041. Overall, CBC supports the proposed approach taken to the geographical spread of these sites and welcomes the inclusion of sites in the most sustainable locations around the Cambridge urban area and on the outskirts of the City, where existing and future residents can take most advantage of the proximity to jobs and services using public transport and active travel options. The proposals to direct development to where it has the least climate impact, where active and public transport is the natural choice is logical and fully supported.

It is noted that the consultation material suggests that the majority of your objectively assessed need can be provided for in the core preferred strategic sites of North East Cambridge, Cambridge East and Cambourne. This approach is supported as the locations will reduce potential climate impacts through the delivery of well connected, sustainable, compact development where active and sustainable travel can be maximised.

CBC have not provided detailed comments on all of the proposed 19 sites included within the consultation material but note the proposals for new strategic scale development at Cambourne which lies in close proximity to Central Bedfordshire. It is noted that in total, there are 3 development sites proposed for Cambourne - two of these are existing allocations; Cambourne West which has capacity for 2,590 units and Bourn Airfield which has capacity for 2,460 units, alongside a new proposed broad location for growth at Camborne - expected to deliver 1,950 homes.

CBC recognises that whilst a final decision has not yet been announced, the preferred East West Rail route between Bedford and Cambridge will likely result in a new stopping station at Cambourne and that this will transform the area, maximising sustainable opportunities for growth. Whilst we support the opportunities that the proposed new station would potentially bring, CBC would suggest that any future transport impact assessments and traffic modelling associated with the proposals should consider the cumulative impacts of both existing and proposed development at Cambourne and any implications for the wider area, including potential impact upon the strategic and local road network within Central Bedfordshire. It is likely that there will be cumulative impacts from growth at Cambourne on communities within CBC related to an increase in demand on the A1, particularly if / when the A428 dualling and Black Cat works are carried out, and also the more minor roads through areas like Potton, Sandy, Biggleswade. Whilst outside of the Greater Cambridge plan area, the capacity of the A1 in this area is already a key concern that affects a much wider area and must be considered carefully and comprehensively when decisions are being made in relation to future growth.

We would, therefore, welcome further engagement to understand the scale of those impacts and their likely implications for Central Bedfordshire communities as the work on the local plan and the sites themselves, progresses. We would welcome being involved in early engagement with National Highways in relation to these impacts. We would also be keen to look at opportunities to secure sustainable links (via public transport) between CBC and the development areas to the west and south of the Greater Cambridgeshire area.

As noted above, whilst a formal decision is yet to be announced in relation to EWR between Bedford and Cambridge, or indeed the location of a new stopping station at either Tempsford or to the south of St Neots, CBC consider it essential that the Greater Cambridge Plan considers the wider context of strategic growth within the Arc, particularly in terms of future connectivity opportunities that will undoubtedly arise as proposals within neighbouring authority areas emerge. Your approach to enabling some development within smaller villages is supported as this will support rural services and the vitality and viability of villages and their shops and services contributing to overall sustainability. We appreciate that it is unsustainable to encourage high levels of growth where car travel predominates and that therefore, in smaller villages you will continue to support infill development and affordable housing on suitable sites only. This approach is supported, especially given the very rural nature of the areas close to the Central Bedfordshire border.

The 7 Themes
We welcome the approach taken in this consultation to identify 7 key themes and we have provided some high-level comments on each of them below. It is understood that each of the themes will influence how you will plan homes, jobs and infrastructure and ultimately where growth will be directed. In our previous response to the Issues and Options stage of consultation (February 2020) we suggested that “connectivity” both within and beyond the Greater Cambridge area should perhaps be considered as an additional theme. Whilst we note this suggestion has not been taken onboard, CBC considers that connectivity is the ‘golden thread’ that runs through all the key themes and could potentially be referenced as such within the Greater Cambridge Plan.

Climate Change
We support your aim to help Greater Cambridge to transition to net zero carbon by 2050 through a number of comprehensive measures including ensuring that development is sited in places that help to limit carbon emissions, is designed to the highest achievable standards for energy and water use and is resilient to current and future climate risks. It is clear that responding to climate change has influenced the shape of the plan as an important factor in determining where future development should be located and how it should be built. CBC would be keen to have future conversations to share experiences and to understand how net zero carbon can be achieved in terms of viability, and to explore how this can be monitored to ensure the approach is successful. In terms of detailed policy, Policy GP/QD could benefit by also referring to building orientation to maximise the opportunities for renewables.

Biodiversity and Green Spaces
We support your aim for biodiversity and green space policies to increase and improve your extensive network of habitats for wildlife and green spaces for people, ensuring that development leaves the natural environment better than it was before. We also welcome confirmation that the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Environmental Principles have informed your approach to this theme, in particular, we welcome and support the ambitious policy to require 20% Biodiversity Net Gain. As this will be an issue for all Local Authorities within the Arc, CBC would also be keen to discuss how this could be delivered and the impacts this might have not only on site viability, but
the delivery of other key services and facilities across the Arc .

Wellbeing and Social Inclusion
We support your aim of helping people in Greater Cambridge to lead healthier and happier lives ensuring everyone benefits from the development of new homes and jobs.

Great Places
We support your aim for the delivery of great places through policies that sustain the unique character of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire and compliment the area with beautiful and distinctive new development, creating a place where people will want to live, work and play.
The themes from the Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth covering the four “Cs” of Community, Connectivity, Climate and Character is a sensible approach consistent with the National Model Design Code.

Jobs
CBC supports the aim of your proposed jobs policies in terms of encouraging a flourishing and mixed economy which includes a wide range of jobs while maintaining the areas global reputation for innovation. The Council considers the policies are positive and forward thinking in the current climate in that they seek to reflect how the approach to working environments is changing, by supporting remote working and improving facilities on employment parks.
We support the inclusion of a remote working policy but consider that it could be strengthened to refer to the provision of home office space in new dwellings as the emphasis is currently on the delivery of external hubs or extensions of existing dwellings.

Homes
As commented above, the Council supports the proposed strategy to plan for and deliver enough housing to meet your objectively assessed needs, including significant amounts of affordable housing and a mix of tenures to suit your diverse community’s needs. The proposed policy requiring 40% affordable housing in new developments is particularly supported.

Infrastructure
We support the approach taken that the relationship between jobs and homes and sustainable transport opportunities has been a key consideration and influence of the development strategy proposed. Recognising that infrastructure is not limited to the provision of new roads, CBC also supports the recognition for the need to consider and plan for water, energy and digital networks, and health and education and cultural facilities in the right places and at the right times to ensure your growing communities are supported. Looking to the future, your policies on electric vehicle charging points and digital infrastructure will be key given the need to move away from carbon-based vehicle fuels and the shift to homeworking that has been accelerated by the pandemic. We also note that whilst there is an objective for Air Quality within the Sustainability Appraisal, there is no objective included for Transport and Access.

We welcome this opportunity to comment on this latest stage of your development plan proposals and largely offer our support to the approach you have taken. We also appreciate how you have digitally presented and structured the documentation in order to make it as accessible as possible to everyone. The use of maps and diagrams throughout the document is an effective way of setting out the context and portraying the information within the text. In addition, the ability to explore the documentation through the “themes” and “maps” is a particularly helpful way of organising the consultation.
I hope you find these comments useful and look forward to continued engagement as your plan progresses.

Thank you for consulting Natural England on the above in your letter dated 1 November 2021.

Natural England is a non-departmental public body. Our statutory purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced, and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

Natural England’s key comments
We are pleased that many of our comments at the Issues and Options stage, in our letter dated 24 February 2020 (ref. 304246), are reflected in the First Proposals Plan, helping to strengthen the Plan’s approach to the ‘big themes’ including climate change, biodiversity and green spaces, wellbeing and social inclusion. Natural England supports the general thrust of the Plan in directing development to where it will have least environmental impact and provide opportunities for enhancements.

Natural England’s previous advice highlighted the need for the Plan to address uncertainties relating to water resources and infrastructure needed to support new growth, in light of evidence that current levels of abstraction are already damaging the natural environment. We also signalled the need for the establishment of a strategic green infrastructure network that is resilient to the scale of proposed Plan development, capable of meeting people’s needs and addressing adverse impacts to the natural environment. We therefore welcome that the First Proposals Plan recognises the challenges in identifying long-term and interim solutions to the current water resource crisis to enable sustainable development without further detriment to the natural environment. We support the Plan’s progress, through the Green Infrastructure Recommendations (LUC, September 2021), in presenting opportunities for the Plan to deliver /contribute towards delivery of strategic green infrastructure.

Notwithstanding the above, Natural England believes significant additional work is required through the next stages of Plan preparation to progress these ‘solutions’ and demonstrate that development can be delivered sustainably. We have major concerns with the scale of proposed Plan development, and the 2041 timeframe for delivery, given the damage already being inflicted on the natural environment and the lengthy lead-in time for identification and delivery of measures to address the water resource issue and to implement strategic green infrastructure. Some of this Plan development is already progressing, through the adopted strategy, prior to solutions being identified and implemented; the natural environment is already being impacted. The Plan should consider how these impacts and spiralling environmental deterioration can be retrospectively

mitigated.

The section on ‘Ensuring a Deliverable Plan – Water Supply’ recognises the challenge relating to water resources; however, the Councils need to act urgently, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to identify strategic and interim water resource/infrastructure solutions to ensure any level of proposed development is delivered sustainably. There are currently no measures in place to mitigate the adverse effects of current development on the natural environment i.e., more water is being abstracted from the aquifer to serve this development, depleting groundwater resources and causing further declines in the condition of designated sites and supporting habitat.

Potential solutions to address Greater Cambridge’s green infrastructure deficit, and the recreational pressure effects of development, lie within the Green Infrastructure Initiatives identified in LUC’s Opportunity Mapping Recommendations Report. Natural England fully supports the Initiatives identified; however, these aspirational areas must be progressed into real projects that are happening on the ground by the time the Plan is adopted. Robust Plan policy requirements should secure funding for the delivery and long-term management of these projects from all major development.

We have provided additional comments on the Plan’s key themes and policies below; however, reference should be made to the detailed advice provided in our response to the Issues and Options consultation.

Vision and aims
We support the Plan vision and aims for decreases in our climate impacts and increase in quality of life for communities, minimising carbon emissions and reliance on the private car, increases in nature, wildlife, greenspaces and safeguarding landscapes focusing on what is unique to Greater Cambridge embracing bold new approaches.

Natural England strongly recommends that the vision should advocate a more holistic approach to securing multi-functional benefits through the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. In accordance with paragraphs 17 and 109 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) the Plan should encourage multiple benefits from the use of land in urban and rural areas, recognising that land can deliver a wide range of ecosystem services required for sustainable development including climate change mitigation, flood management, improved water resources and water quality, biodiversity net gain, accessible high quality green infrastructure and associated health and wellbeing benefits, enhanced landscapes and soil resources.

The Plan should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by recognising the wider benefits of ecosystem services, considering a natural capital evidence approach and making strong links to the Nature Recovery Network and the Cambridge Nature Network. National Habitats Network mapping is available to view at www.magic.defra.gov.uk.

Development Strategy
The Plan will deliver around 44,400 new homes and provide for approximately 58,500 new jobs. We welcome that the new development strategy aims to meet our increased need for new homes in a way that minimises environmental impacts and improves the wellbeing of our communities.
The strategy proposes 19 additional sites for development, along with sites already allocated in the adopted 2018 Local Plans, along with associated infrastructure including green spaces.

We support proposals 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. The vision includes creating new city neighbourhoods which have the critical mass of homes, jobs and services to create thriving communities, making best use of brownfield and safeguarded land and making the most of public transport links.

Natural England welcomes the use of evidence including the Employment Land and Economic Development Evidence Study and the Greater Cambridge Housing and Employment Relationships

Report to understand the relationship between future jobs and housing growth. We note that these studies found that planning for the standard method housing figure set by government would not support the number of jobs expected to arise between 2020 and 2041. Planning for this housing figure would risk increasing the amount of longer distance commuting into Greater Cambridge, with the resulting impacts on climate change and congestion. On this basis planning for a higher jobs figure and planning for government’s standard method local housing need figure have been rejected as reasonable alternatives.

We note that high-level consideration has been given to the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the economy of Greater Cambridge, to inform this First Proposals consultation. We support the proposal to gather evidence to consider the potential longer-term quantitative impacts of COVID- 19 prior to the Draft Plan stage to understand any implications for the objectively assessed need for jobs and homes for the plan.

Natural England has no objection in principle to the proposed Plan development strategy; however, this is subject to: 1) the identification of strategic water supply solutions and / or interim measures; and 2) development of deliverable strategic GI initiatives and developer requirements and funding mechanisms being secured through the Plan.

Policy S/DS: Development strategy
Figure 6: Map shows proposed sites to be included in the Plan including existing planning permissions alongside a limited number of new sites in the most sustainable locations. We welcome that the sustainability merits, opportunities and constraints for each of the nine potential strategy choices have been considered through the Sustainability Appraisal. Alongside considering the best locations for new homes and jobs, consideration has also been given to the best locations to restore the area’s habitat networks and provide more green spaces for people providing health and wellbeing benefits. Natural England fully supports the identification of 14 Strategic Green Infrastructure Initiatives, through the Green Infrastructure evidence, to help achieve this. We welcome the approach to preparing the preferred development strategy / draft allocations and green infrastructure initiatives in parallel.

We support the general policy direction to focus development where it will have the least climate impact, where it can be aligned with active and public transport, opportunities for delivery of green infrastructure and where jobs, services and facilities can be located nearby whilst ensuring all necessary utilities can be provided in a sustainable way. We support the approach to using less land for development to reduce carbon emissions and allow more space for nature and wildlife.
The strategy focuses on opportunities to use brownfield land and opportunities created by proposed major new infrastructure.

We note that delivery of the adopted strategy is progressing well with development permitted/underway /completed at the edge of Cambridge sites and new settlement sites including Northstowe and Waterbeach New Town. Natural England is aware that these schemes are being delivered in the absence of adequate sustainable water supply infrastructure to serve the development without adverse impact to the natural environment including statutorily designated sites. Many of these schemes are also unlikely to deliver sufficient level of accessible high quality green infrastructure to meet the needs of new residents without adverse recreational pressure impacts to the existing ecological network including statutorily designated sites. These issues need to be addressed urgently through further stages of Plan preparation as discussed in our advice above and below.

Ensuring a deliverable plan – water supply
We welcome the Councils’ recognition that water supply is a significant issue for the deliverability of the Local Plan and we fully support preparation of the Integrated Water Management Study: Outline Water Cycle (WCS) by Stantec (August 2021) to address this. The WCS has identified the need for new strategic water supply infrastructure, such as a new fens reservoir, to provide for longer term needs, and to protect the integrity of the chalk aquifer south of Cambridge, in addition to a range of interim demand management measures. The draft Sustainability Appraisal also identifies significant environmental impacts if the issue is not resolved. This is a major concern for

Natural England in light of proposed growth levels and the damaging effects that groundwater abstraction is already having on the natural environment including water-dependent designated sites and important chalk stream habitats. Natural England has provided its detailed advice on this matter, and highlighted the statutorily designated sites potentially affected, in our response to the consultation on the WCS. These ‘Designated Sites of Concern’ are listed in Appendix B of the August 2021 report.

We are aware that Water Resources East is currently preparing its Water Management Plan for the region and that this will help to identify long-term measures to address the issue. However, these strategic measures, including a new fens reservoir, are unlikely to be available until the 2030’s hence interim measures are required to enable some level of sustainable growth. We welcome the suggestion of including Plan policies to phase delivery of development that can be supported by a sustainable water supply until new strategic infrastructure is in place; however, it will need to be clearly demonstrated that interim solutions are sustainable and will not cause further environmental decline. The risk is that it may not be possible to demonstrate delivery of the full objectively assessed needs within the plan period.

Natural England appreciates that pressure on water supplies is a regional issue. We share the Councils’ aspirations that the water industry, supported by government, will set out its intentions for positively addressing this key infrastructure issue at an early point in the ongoing plan making process, to provide confidence that adequate water supply will be available to support delivery of the preferred options allocations, before the next stage of a full draft Local Plan. In our view the Councils need to act urgently, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to identify strategic and interim water resource/infrastructure solutions, including demand management measures, to ensure any level of proposed development is delivered sustainably.

We have serious concerns that Plan development is already being progressed, through the adopted strategy, without sustainable water supply measures in place. More water will be abstracted from the aquifer to serve this development, depleting groundwater resources and causing further declines in the condition of designated sites and supporting habitat. The Plan will need to consider the impacts of this development and identify measures to address adverse environmental impact.

Natural England fully supports the concerns raised by the Environment Agency, as lead authority on this matter, including the high degree of uncertainty as to whether sufficient sustainable water supplies can be provided for the proposed growth over the plan period without further detriment to the natural environment. Further development of the WCS, informed by evidence from regional and water company water resource plans, will need to demonstrate that appropriate deliverable mitigation measures can support sustainable growth until new strategic water supply infrastructure becomes operational. We agree with the Environment Agency that it in the face of current challenges it may be appropriate to consider an extended timeframe for delivery of Plan development to limit further environmental degradation until new strategic measures become available. This would allow further time for the identification of truly sustainable options that build in resilience to climate change and robust mitigation and monitoring measures to address impacts to the natural environment and restore habitat condition.

Duty to Cooperate
Natural England welcomes consideration of how the Plan fits with other plans and strategies including cross boundary projects such as the Ox Cam Arc. We support recognition of the Plan to be prepared within a wider regional context noting the Councils’ legal duty to cooperate with key stakeholders and surrounding areas of cross boundary issues. We agree that the development of a clear and positive vision for the future of the Greater Cambridge area can help to shape the proposals for the Ox Cam Arc, noting that the outcome of the Oxford-Cambridge framework is currently awaited.

We particularly support the Councils’ recognition that the water supply challenge discussed above is a serious issue to be resolved.

Natural England will be pleased to engage with the Councils in the preparation and development of a draft Statement of Common Ground.

Transport Strategy
Natural England welcomes that the proposed strategy is heavily informed by the location of existing and committed public transport schemes. We support the use of transport modelling to understand whether additional infrastructure and policies are required to address the transport impacts of the preferred development strategy.

Transport policies should include requirements for projects to undertake robust ecological impact assessment and application of the ecological mitigation hierarchy.

Site allocation policies
Proposed site allocation policies are described through sections 2.2 – 2.5. Natural England has no objection in principle to the existing and new allocations, areas of major change or opportunity areas being taken forward for development. However, this is subject to:
• identification of strategic water supply infrastructure and/or feasible interim solutions to demonstrate that development can be delivered sustainably and without adverse impact to the natural environment;
• establishment of a framework and robust plan policies to deliver the 14 Strategic Green Infrastructure initiatives ahead of development, to meet development needs and to address the effects of recreational pressure on sensitive sites and habitats.

The site allocation policies will need to include robust requirements to secure delivery of biodiversity net gain and on-site accessible green infrastructure to meet people’s need and to contribute towards the Plan’s 20% BNG targets and delivery of the Nature Recovery Network / Cambridge Nature Network. Our advice is that major allocation policies should set a framework for development to maximum opportunities for environmental gains.

Climate Change
We welcome the proposed policies relating to net zero carbon and water efficiency, designing for climate change, flooding and integrated water management, renewable energy projects, reducing waste and supporting land-based carbon sequestration. We particularly support the proposed requirement for residential developments to be designed to achieve a standard of 80 litres/person/ day; however, we support the Environment Agency’s concerns as to whether the Plan is likely to achieve the reductions in demand required to support sustainable growth. As indicated above the WCS will need to demonstrate how water, to meet growth needs, will be supplied sustainably without adverse impact to the natural environment.

Proposed requirements for developments to provide integrated water management, including sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) where possible and for SuDS and green /brown roofs to provide multiple benefits (including biodiversity and amenity) are welcomed.

We support requirements for renewable energy projects to consider impacts on biodiversity, geodiversity, landscape and water quality.

Natural England welcomes a proposed policy to support the creation of land and habitats that play a role as carbon sinks and protect existing carbon sinks from development, particularly peatlands such as those remaining in the north of South Cambridgeshire district. We welcome recognition of the importance of peatlands as a carbon store and the role of other habitats such as woodlands and grasslands, noting loss and degradation of natural habitats results in the direct loss of carbon stored within them.

As indicated above we recommend that the Plan takes a more holistic approach to securing multi- functional benefits for climate change, flood management, water resources and water quality through the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. Natural solutions can achieve significant additional benefits for biodiversity, green infrastructure and associated health and wellbeing benefits, enhanced landscapes and soil resources.

Biodiversity and green spaces
We strongly support the proposed biodiversity and green spaces policies and the inclusion of Figure 53 depicting the existing Greater Cambridge green infrastructure network including designated sites.

We welcome that these policies will help to deliver the aims of the Ox Cam Arc of doubling the area of land managed primarily for nature and to deliver a minimum 20% biodiversity net gain on development sites, beyond the mandatory 10% biodiversity net gain requirements of the Environment Act 2021. We agree that Greater Cambridge has a relatively low level of designated sites and priority habitats, highlighting the need for development to deliver net gains beyond the 10% proposed nationally, hence we are fully supportive of minimum 20% BNG ambitions. Our advice is that the Councils, working with key partners, should identify BNG opportunities through the next phases of Plan preparation. This should take the form of a BNG opportunities / requirements map building on the foundations of the Nature Recovery Network and the Cambridge Nature Network. National Habitats Network mapping is available to view at www.magic.defra.gov.uk.

The Councils should also set a landscape / GI framework for the Site Allocations to maximise opportunities for delivery of GI and BNG within the development sites.

BG/BG: Biodiversity and geodiversity
Natural England fully supports this policy and requirements for development to achieve a minimum 20% biodiversity net gain, delivered on site where possible and calculated using the Defra Metric
3.0 or its successor. Requirements for off-site measures to be consistent with the strategic aims of the Greater Cambridge green infrastructure network strategic initiatives are welcomed.

The policy should take a natural capital evidence approach and recognise the wider benefits of ecosystem services for climate change, flood risk management, green infrastructure and health and wellbeing, in addition to biodiversity. They main thrust of this policy should be the Plan’s contribution to the Nature Recovery Network / Cambridge Nature Network and the establishment of a framework for the development of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

We support proposed requirements for development to avoid adverse impact to site of biodiversity or geological importance and development to mitigate recreational pressure on statutorily designated sites, applying Natural England’s SSSI Impacts Risk Zones (IRZs). The Plan’s biodiversity policy should recognise the hierarchy of international, nationally and locally designated sites across Greater Cambridge. This should be accompanied by a map of the existing ecological network and enhancement opportunity areas to guide site allocations / development away from more sensitive areas and to identify opportunities for developers to deliver net biodiversity gain enhancements.

We welcome that the policy will seek wider environmental net gains. These should focus on measures to restore ecological networks, enhance ecological resilience and provide an overall increase in natural habitat and ecological features.

Reference should be made to the detailed advice provided in our response to the Issues and Options consultation with regard to protecting and enhancing biodiversity including designated sites, priority habitats, ecological networks and priority and/or legally protected species populations. This includes additional detailed advice on embedding biodiversity net gain into the Greater Cambridge Local Plan policies.

BG/GI: Green infrastructure
We welcome the comprehensive and thorough approach taken in developing the GI evidence base for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, including the Opportunity Mapping and the identification of 14 Strategic GI initiatives. The multifunctional benefits of GI are fully recognised, as well as the links between GI provision and the delivery of other strategic policy areas including the wider natural environment, sustainable transport and social inclusion. These threads/links

should continue through future drafts to ensure the value of GI for people and the natural environment is fully reflected in the Local Plan.

The Strategic GI initiatives are comprehensive and capture a wide variety of GI opportunities within the 14 proposals; this range of GI elements and habitats will help to maximise benefits for people and nature through the strategic planning and delivery of GI across Greater Cambridge. We support the emphasis given to blue infrastructure in Strategic Initiatives 1 and 2 given the considerable pressures on Cambridgeshire’s chalk streams and aquifer from agriculture and development. The Chalk Stream Strategy Report1 recently published by CaBA identifies a number of recommendations to protect/restore chalk stream habitats, including those in areas of high population density such as Cambridge. This report may be a useful reference in planning and progressing strategic blue infrastructure initiatives as part of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

We support the proposed approach to have a distinct GI policy within the Local Plan, rather than a stand-alone SPD. As noted in the Topic Paper, we agree that the policy should require all developments to contribute towards GI and that it should be incorporated into design from an early stage and through all phases of development, with a longer-term plan in place for its management and maintenance. As well as a GI policy, Green Infrastructure should be integrated into other strategic policy areas and Local Plan themes where relevant. This will give weight to the multifunctional role of GI and demonstrate where it can contribute to policy delivery and outcomes (e.g., in climate change adaptation, supporting healthy communities etc). It will also support the role of GI in implementing other mechanisms and tools, such as Biodiversity Net Gain, and may help in targeting and prioritising opportunities for GI creation and enhancement.

In addition to securing GI within individual developments, the Local Plan should also provide a framework for proposals to contribute to / link up with the wider Strategic Initiatives, including the ‘dispersed initiatives’ 10-14 (e.g., ‘Expanding the Urban Forest’). Consideration should also be given to potential join-ups on cross-boundary projects and, in time, how the strategic GI network in Greater Cambridge may contribute to greenspace at the regional level (as one of the 5 Ox-Cam counties). There may also be overlaps with other initiatives, such as the Nature Recovery Network, where Cambridgeshire’s GI resource can make an important contribution (such as that highlighted in Strategic Initiative 3 for the Gog Magog Hills and Chalkland fringe).

We note from the Part 2 Recommendations Report that there are several points for further consideration, including the funding mechanisms required to ensure that all developments include GI and contribute towards the strategic initiatives. Funding mechanisms (e.g., developer contributions) should be embedded in policy where required and should be identified as early as possible to ensure that benefits are secured long-term. For example, the policies for major allocations will need to include specific requirements for the funding / delivery of the strategic GI ahead of the developments being occupied so that these are clear from the outset. The report presents a number of potential funding sources, including land use planning obligations (e.g., S106) agri-environment streams (such as ELMS) and any ad-hoc opportunities that may arise through partnership working. The increasing emphasis on nature-based solutions may also bring in new revenue streams to support strategic projects, given that many NBS will require a landscape scale / ‘ecosystem’ approach. The costings for the delivery of the GI and biodiversity aspects of the Local Plan could be included in the IDP so that the investment required to bring about delivery is clear and transparent from an early stage and factored into development proposals. Given the significant scale of the work required, consideration should also be given to how the land will be secured to deliver the GI initiatives, whether through direct purchase, lease or management agreements. A long-term approach to the management and maintenance of GI (ideally in perpetuity) also needs to be factored in from an early stage.

Alongside its value for natural capital and placemaking, green infrastructure provides alternative natural greenspaces that can help alleviate and buffer recreational pressures on protected sites. We welcome the recognition of the recreational pressure impacts across Greater Cambridge, and

1 1 Catchment Based Approach (October 2021) Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy: Main Report. See: New strategy launched to protect chalk streams - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

the Strategic Initiatives aimed at addressing these (e.g., the Coton corridor and multifunctional GI corridors, Strategic Initiatives 7-8). We support the development of clear policy requirements to address these significant pressures (as suggested in the Topic Paper).

Given the Local Plan’s strong emphasis on GI and the widespread benefits that it can achieve, we feel there is clear value in having a recognised GI standard in place. A standard would help to guide and inform GI planning and delivery and provide a consistent benchmark on quality across different scales/locations of development. It would also support the recommendation in the report for a GI-led design approach to new development. A standard could be supported by other documents, e.g., Local Design Guides, to ensure that nature is fully built into design through the provision of high-quality green infrastructure. Natural England is currently developing a Green Infrastructure Framework to set standards for green space and access to natural greenspaces, as well as a Design Guide and mapping data2 to support this work. We would encourage the use of these resources to guide and inform development of strategic Green Infrastructure and policies for Greater Cambridge. The Framework of GI Standards and products are due for launch in summer/autumn 2022, with a pre-release of the beta mapping and the principles of good green infrastructure in December 20213.

Natural England fully supports the proposed inclusion of policies to improve tree canopy cover, enhance river corridors and protect and enhance open spaces. We advise that robust policy requirements should be included to secure delivery of enhancements through development to ensure the achievement of multi-functional benefits for climate change, biodiversity, water quality, access. As indicated in our comments at the Issues and Options stage tree planting needs to be targeted in appropriate locations and considered in the context of wider plans for nature recovery. Consideration should be given to ecological impacts and the opportunities to create alternative habitats that could deliver better enhancements for people and wildlife, and store carbon effectively. Where woodland habitat creation is appropriate, consideration should be given to natural regeneration, and ‘rewilding’ for the economic and ecological benefits this can achieve.
Any tree planting should use native and local provenance tree species suitable for the location. Natural England advocates an approach which seeks to increase biodiversity and green infrastructure generally, not simply planting of trees, and protecting / enhancing soils, particularly peat soils.

For further advice and guidance on green infrastructure please refer to our comments at the Issues and Options consultation stage.

Wellbeing and inclusion
Natural England is fully supportive of the proposed policies including WS/HD: Creating healthy new developments. Our advice is that the policy should include strong links to the importance of adequate level and quality of accessible green infrastructure for people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Great places
Natural England supports the proposed Great Places policies. We welcome the establishment of a Place and Design Quality Panel to conduct a site typologies study to understand, protect, utilise and enhance the valued characteristics of different areas in the plan, with the intention of using this information to raise design standards to ensure development reflects and enhances Cambridge’s distinctive landscape and townscape character.

We support Policy GP/LC Protection and enhancement of landscape character. Natural England is pleased to see that the Greater Cambridge landscape character assessments have been updated and will provide an up-to-date evidence base for the development of policy GP/LC. Existing retained policies form the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan NH/1, NH/2 and NH/13 and policy 8 of the Cambridge Local Plan should be reviewed and updated in the light of these updated landscape

2 See the GI Framework Mapping Portal: https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/GreenInfrastructure/Home.aspx 3 How Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework can help create better places to live - Natural England (blog.gov.uk)

character assessments to ensure they reflect the most recent baseline evidence.

Policy GP/LC seeks to identify, protect and enhance locally valued landscapes. Any locally designated landscapes, e.g., Areas of Greater Landscape Value, should be identified within the plan and given appropriate policy protection to protect and enhance them and to ensure that development reflects their distinctive character. It is not the role of Natural England to define locally valued landscapes – this is for LPAs and their communities. However, it should be noted that NE considers World Heritage Sites designated for their natural interest, local landscape designations and Inheritance Tax Exempt land to be locally valued. Therefore, these areas should be identified and included on policy maps showing locally designated landscapes along with any ‘Protected views’.

The Strategic Spatial Options Assessment appears to have considered a wide range of options based on up-to-date evidence on landscape and townscape character considerations. We support this approach which is useful in identifying and considering key landscape issues early in the Plan- making process, to feed into the Sustainability Appraisal. We note that the appraisal of the strategic spatial options is based on the interim draft findings of the emerging Landscape Character Assessment. We trust that the preliminary conclusions will be updated following completion of this work. The analysis also notes that recommendations are provided for strategic landscape mitigation and enhancement for each of the strategic spatial options. Natural England supports the proposal to identify specific mitigation as part of more detailed studies in locating and designing future development.

We are generally supportive of policies to protect and enhance the Cambridge Green Belt, achieve high quality development and establish high quality landscape and public realm.

Jobs
Natural England supports proposed policy J/AL: Protecting the best agricultural land. We welcome recognition of soil as a valuable resource and key element of the environmental ecosystem which requires protection, in accordance with paragraph 174 of the NPPF. We note that the protection of peat soils is addressed under the climate change theme discussed above.

Beyond the wider water resource / supply issue, discussed above, we have no substantive comments on the other proposed policies. However, policies will need to include appropriate requirements to ensure that all development avoids adverse impact to the natural environment and delivers net gains for biodiversity in accordance with the requirements of policy BG/BG: Biodiversity and geodiversity.

Homes
Beyond the wider water resource / supply issue we have no specific comments to make on these proposed policies subject to the inclusion of appropriate requirements to ensure that all development avoids adverse impact to the natural environment and delivers net gains for biodiversity in accordance with the requirements of policy BG/BG: Biodiversity and geodiversity. Residential development should also contribute towards delivery of the Strategic GI Initiatives.

Infrastructure
Natural England supports proposed policy I/ST: Sustainable transport and connectivity for the environmental and health benefits this could achieve including reduced emissions, air quality and climate change benefits.

We have no substantive comments on the other proposed policies subject to the inclusion of appropriate requirements to ensure that all development avoids adverse impact to the natural environment and delivers net gains for biodiversity in accordance with the requirements of policy BG/BG: Biodiversity and geodiversity.

Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
Natural England supports preparation of the HRA Report by LUC (August 2021). We welcome that this incorporates a screening assessment and Appropriate Assessment. The Screening stage

identifies likely significant effects on European sites, either alone or in combination with other policies and proposals, for several plan policies. These include:
• Physical damage and loss (offsite) – in relation to Eversden and Wimpole Woods SAC.
• Non-physical disturbance (offsite) – in relation to Eversden and Wimpole Woods SAC.
• Recreation – in relation to Wicken Fen Ramsar SAC and Fenland SAC.
• Water Quantity and Quality – in relation to Ouse Washes SAC, SPA and Ramsar site, Wicken Fen Ramsar site, Chippenham Fen Ramsar site, Fenland SAC and Portholme SAC.
The Appropriate Assessment concludes no adverse effect on site integrity as follows: Eversden and Wimpole Woods SAC
Subject to the following safeguards and mitigation measures being implemented:
• Completion of bat surveys for site allocations identified with moderate or high potential to support barbastelle to determine the ecological value of these sites in relation to this bat species and to inform specific mitigation proposals.
• There is a commitment in the plan that proposed development will avoid key habitat features likely to be used by this species and to create and enhance suitable habitat for this species.
• It is also recommended that policy wording in the plan is strengthened to include specific inclusion of the safeguard measures detailed above and that Policy BG/BG Biodiversity and geodiversity is strengthened to include specific reference that mitigation provided should be suitable to the level of protection afforded to designated sites.

Wicken Fen Ramsar site and Fenland SAC
The Appropriate Assessment concludes no adverse effect on integrity as a result of increased recreational pressure provided that the following safeguards and mitigation measures are required by the plan and successfully implemented:
• A commitment in the plan to ensure that development within 20km of the Ramsar site and SAC to provide sufficient suitable alternative natural greenspace in line with advice from Natural England and that there should be specific detail on the policy on the appropriate quantity and quality of open spaces and how delivery and management in perpetuity will be secured.

The Appropriate Assessment is currently unable to conclude no adverse effect on the integrity of the Ouse Washes SAC, SPA and Ramsar, Wicken Fen Ramsar site, Chippenham Fen Ramsar site, Fenland SAC and Portholme SAC, with regard to water quantity and quality, pending the provision of further evidence through the Greater Cambridge IWMS and the WRE IWMP.

We welcome that the HRA has provided a detailed consideration of air quality impacts, associated with Plan development, for the relevant European sites. This is based on best practice Highways England Design Manual for Road and Bridges (DMRB) LA 105 Air quality guidance and considers the potential for traffic-related emissions on the affected road network based on traffic modelling data, in line with the advice provided by Natural England at the Issues and Options stage. Whilst the assessment has ruled out likely significant effects on all relevant European sites Natural England has been unable to carry out a detailed review of this information and will provide comments at the next stage of Plan consultation.

Please note that Natural England is reviewing the Impact Risk Zone (IRZ) for Eversden and Wimpole Woods SAC to take into account the findings of emerging SAC barbastelle tracking surveys being undertaken for major development schemes. It will also take into consideration the availability of suitable foraging resource which is considered to be quite scarce in the local area. In the meantime, until the IRZ is formally amended, and accompanying guidance prepared, we welcome application of a precautionary 20km buffer zone for SAC barbastelles in line with Natural England’s current local guidance.

Natural England is generally supportive of the interim findings of the HRA and will provide further

advice as the HRA is updated in line with the development of Plan policies and further evidence.

Sustainability Appraisal
Through the Sustainability Appraisal (LUC, October 2021) the preferred policy approaches for the Local Plan have been subject to appraisal against the SA objectives. A range of reasonable alternative options has also been assessed, including alternatives to the preferred policy approaches, Strategic Spatial Options and site options. We welcome that the findings of the HRA will be incorporated into the SA and will provide further insight into biodiversity impacts specifically at designated sites, presenting the opportunity to limit adverse impacts at these locations.

We support recognition of the over-abstraction of water in this region as a serious concern. We welcome acknowledgement that action is required now to ensure the availability of water for future uses without detrimental impact on the environment. Natural England agrees that water resource availability and water quality are inter-related and that these are likely to be exacerbated by the effects of climate change.

The new Local Plan presents the opportunity for new development to come forward at the most appropriate locations in order to avoid detrimental impacts on biodiversity assets. However, we support recognition of potential risks to the ecological network including statutorily designated sites, through degradation and other impacts associated with development.

We agree that the new Local Plan provides the opportunity to promote biodiversity gain and to improve the overall ecological network. Natural England also agrees that opportunities identified through the Green Infrastructure Study (2020) could support delivery of Natural England's Habitat Network nearby opportunity zones and support pollinator corridors. Robust plan policies will need to be developed to secure delivery of these enhancements through all relevant development.

The report concludes that overall, the proposed direction of the Local Plan performs well in sustainability terms with a strong focus on providing an appropriate amount of development and policies focused on minimising carbon emissions, particularly through minimising the need to travel, using land efficiently and making the most of existing and planned sustainable transport links. Natural England suggests this is a premature conclusion in the current absence of strategic water supply infrastructure and sustainable interim measures. Development through the adopted strategy is already being progress without these measures in place. Further development of the Green Infrastructure Initiatives is also required to ensure adequate GI to meet development needs and to alleviate recreational pressures on some of our most sensitive sites habitats. Robust plan policies, to secure timely delivery of this strategic green infrastructure, will be required to demonstrate the Plan’s sustainability.

We generally welcome the policy recommendations presented within Chapter 5 of the SA report including reference to the mitigation hierarchy within Policy BG/BG: Biodiversity and geodiversity and stronger commitments to protect and enhance biodiversity within this and the site allocation policies. However, in our view SA recommendations should focus on the urgent requirement for the identification of strategic and interim water resource/infrastructure solutions and further work to progress the GI Initiatives into real projects.

Natural England will provide further advice as the SA is updated in line with the development of Plan policies and further evidence.

We hope our comments are helpful. For any queries relating to the specific advice in this letter only please contact Janet Nuttall on […]. For any new consultations, or to provide further information on this consultation please send your correspondences to consultations@naturalengland.org.uk.

Vision and aims
I support the vision and aims of the Local Plan and the general direction of the development strategy, but am concerned about the overall scale of development and the continuing high levels of growth which are driven by technical economic growth forecasts.

How much development, and where – general comments
I recognise that Greater Cambridge has a strong and nationally important economy, but I do not support the continuing pace and scale of high levels of growth that has increasing cumulative impacts on the environment, water supply, heritage and carbon emissions.
I would argue that the growth of the Cambridge and the impacts of that level of growth on South Cambridgeshire are disproportionately high (a third higher than the government targets) compared with other Local Plans, because the scale of growth is driven by technical economic forecasts studies and the desire to continue to stoke the engine of growth yet again.
The area over the last 30 years has absorbed major levels of development which has brought many benefits and disbenefits.
But the time has come with this Plan, in a new era having to seriously address the causes and impacts of climate change and net zero carbon goals to set t Cambridge on a different course.
The development strategy should with this Plan start to reduce the scale of growth to more manageable levels, perhaps towards the Low option so as to set the direction of travel for the next planning round in the era of climate change .

S/JH: New jobs and homes
The level of new homes proposed in the Plan is driven by the need to enhance economic growth, so much so that it is 37% higher than the Government targets for the area.
This proposes larger amounts of housing growth in the surrounding South Cambridgeshire District to serve Cambridge and the surrounding area.
A large amount of new development proposed in the housing pipeline is already allocated to known sites. A moderated target would lessen the uncertainty of deliverability, ease of the identified water supply issue and give time to for water companies to decide and implement sound options, and reduce climate impacts.
Even a moderate reduction in the housing target, which goes so far beyond what the Government requires, could provide more reserve housing sites, providing flexibility to maintain a five year housing supply, reduce pressure on villages and start to slow the pace of change in an area, which has seen so much cumulative change over the recent decades.

S/DS: Development strategy
I generally support the Development Strategy that supports sustainable development and proposes compact active neighbourhoods in Cambridge, development and /or expansion of new towns connected by good public and active transport and the proposals for very limited new development in the rest of the rural area.

S/SH: Settlement hierarchy
I support the proposed Settlement hierarchy policy area as a means of planning and directing new development towards the most suitable and sustainable locations.
In my comment on the rest of rural area, I am concerned about the impact of unallocated housing windfalls being used by possible speculative planning applications contrary to the development strategy to direct development to the most sustainable locations.
I would suggest that the word indictive in the proposed policy SS/SH is omitted to strengthen and add clarity to the proposed policy in the light of the revised annual windfall target.
Support the reclassification of Cottenham and Babraham villages to provide locations for development and new jobs on good public transport routes.

S/SB: Settlement boundaries
I support the work on the development of Settlement boundaries, especially to protect the open countryside from gradual encroachment around villages and on high quality agricultural land.
The work on settlement boundaries should include the involvement of Parish Councils at an appropriate stage in the development of the Policy because of their local data and knowledge of past development.

Cambridge urban area - general comments
Support in Cambridge urban area for good designed, active compact new developments, reuse of brownfield land and continued development of larger neighbourhoods where possible.

S/NEC: North East Cambridge
Support the development of NE Cambridge as a sustainable neighbourhood with good public transport and active transport into Cambridge

Edge of Cambridge - general comments
Support edge of Cambridge planned new neighbourhoods and new sustainable developments and settlements of sufficient size to cater for daily needs and with good access to public and active transport

New settlements - general comments
Support for new settlements of substantial size to cater for more than local needs. I particularly support the growth of Cambourne which can provide good rail access into Cambridge and to the West in the mid-term from new East West rail infrastructure.

S/BRC: Babraham Research Campus
Support the release of land from the Green Belt to support nationally important R and D and life science jobs located near to public transport routes and active transport.

S/RSC: Village allocations in the rural southern cluster
NB, Policy has different name on map page.
In accordance with reducing carbon emissions, and supporting access to the existing rail network the villages of Shelford and Whittlesford could be locations for more sustainable development, despite Green Belt locations

S/SCP: Policy areas in the rural southern cluster
Support existing site allocations to be carried forward including the expansion of Babraham research campus using Green Belt land

Rest of the rural area - general comments
I support the development strategy approach which directs new development to a limited number of sites in the most sustainable development locations supporting the sustainability of villages.
There is still the matter of the unallocated housing windfall development identified in the strategy Topic Paper of 5345 homes for 2021-2041 which is not included in the additional allocated land target of the 11596.
The anticipated dwellings per year for SCDC is between 240 and 255 dwellings a year. Notwithstanding the proposed policy SS/SH, there is a risk that developers will seek speculative permission in the open countryside greenfield sites contrary to the development strategy using the windfalls allocation and I have made a comment on this on Policy SS/SH.

Climate change - general comments
All new development will have impacts relating to increasing carbon emissions and require adaptation responses. A Local Plan can only seek to mitigate these impacts and by far the most impacts are from the existing development, their use and getting around using carbon fuelled transport.
The rate of change in and around Cambridge over the past 30 years has been significantly greater than for just local needs, mainly to develop nationally important economic development. This Plan continues this approach despite the issue of climate change and water supply and large amounts on new development still to be implemented from current Local Plans.
I would argue that the time has now come to step back from this direction of travel and begin to reduce the scale of growth around Cambridge using the Low option as a first step.
I was hoping, given the aims of the Plan and the input of the Net Zero Carbon study for a more radical Plan which addressed climate change and zero carbon targets through aiming to reduce the total amount of new development to meet local needs need and move to a position which is in line with Government targets in the next planning round.

CC/NZ: Net zero carbon new buildings
Support in general
Although I have concerns about how for example heat pump technology can be installed and used at reasonable cost in new development.

CC/WE: Water efficiency in new developments
Support, important given the water supply issues coming forward up to 2041

CC/DC: Designing for a changing climate
Support especially with regards balancing insulation and overheating with increasing hot to very hot summers risk brought about through a changing climate.
Site wide approaches should include appropriate lower densities through good design which allow for beyond minimum garden space and space for Suds and open space and greening.

CC/FM: Flooding and integrated water management
Support
Especially permeable surfaces and integration of water management with enhancements to biodiversity and greening.

CC/CS: Supporting land-based carbon sequestration
Support the creation of land for use as carbon sinks through the development process. Perhaps a suitable use of land in the Green Belt or on lower grade agricultural land.

Biodiversity and green spaces - general comments
Support the identification of 14 strategic GI initiatives and enhancing the linkages between GI and open spaces to provide corridors for wildlife.

BG/BG: Biodiversity and geodiversity
Support delivery of a minimum 20% biodiversity net gain.
I would comment that funding for long term management of biodiversity assets is key for the long-term benefits from such a policy.
I could also emphasis the creation of winter wet areas, water space and Suds designed to benefit enhanced biodiversity should be planned in to developments at an early stage

BG/GI: Green infrastructure
Support the use of a GI standard, particularly on larger developments.
In particular early identification of GI and biodiversity assets and potential gains as an early part of the design process and /or planning brief

BG/TC: Improving Tree canopy cover and the tree population
Support increasing tree and woodland cover, ensuring right tree(s) in right places and species futureproofed for lifetime changing climate adaptation.
A particular opportunity is the rural field margins of agricultural land to help increase the linkages and biodiversity gains and in specific places the creation of woodland belts in the open countryside, green belt land and around villages.
In Cambridge urban areas, where there are existing trees there is a need to plan their replacement with adaptation species to gradually adapt to a changing climate.
Also, to provide sufficient future tree cover to mitigate the urban heat island effect, provide shade and mitigate microclimatic effects.

BG/RC: River corridors
Support the protection and enhancement of river corridors and restoration of natural features and use of GI to support the alleviation of flooding risk.
Support the delivery of the continuous Cam Valley Trail.

BG/PO: Protecting open spaces
Support the protection of the wide variety of open spaces and use of Local Green Space designation in appropriate locations

BG/EO: Providing and enhancing open spaces
Support the provision of open space and recreation provision, including appropriate play space.

WS/HD: Creating healthy new developments
Support the use of health impact assessments in proposals.
I would comment that with the increase in ride on electric vehicles and increasing older communities there are opportunities to coordinate with transport professional the delivery of smooth pathways with minimal dropped kerbs which gives smoother access to local centres and bus stops linked to older persons housing and also can prevent falls.

GP/PP: People and place responsive design
Support the requirement of inclusion of a comprehensive design and access statement and recognise the importance of good design tailored to the local area and involving local communities and Parish Councils particularly in villages.

GP/LC: Protection and enhancement of landscape character
Support the use of landscape character assessment to enhance the setting of Cambridge and protect and enhance the setting of villages.

GP/GB: Protection and enhancement of the Cambridge Green Belt
National guidance places great importance on Green Belt policy and sets out how planning proposals should be considered.
I support the use of GI and other opportunities to provide access and increase tree and woodlands where appropriate in the Green Belt.
But I think where there are locations where there is good public transport especially rail access or future rail access there is a good case to consider the special circumstances judgment.
I think it is time to question if this national policy is still relevant to the situation Greater Cambridge in the period up to the middle of the century. Further Green Belt assessments may be better served by considering sustainable development and the extension of the Green Belt to prevent coalescence around villages beyond the current Green Belt boundary which was made before most of the new development (over 70%) is beyond the current outside boundary or further modification of this policy to enable growth to be planned for the 21st century rather than the conditions which related to the last century.

Jobs – general comments
I am concerned about the scale of economic growth in the area and its use to drive large amounts of housing growth well about what would be required in other planning areas.
However, I support the life science sector and its national importance and the appropriate development in science parks including their expansion using Green Belt land

J/AL: Protecting the best agricultural land
Support the restriction of development on the best agricultural land as supported in the Sustainability Appraisal.

Homes – general comments
Support the objective for planning enough housing to meet our needs, including affordable housing to rent or buy.
I object to needs being directly driven by future economic assessments, the direction of travel of the plan should be as much balanced by the climate change as future economic demand.

H/HD: Housing density
Support design led approach to determine optimum capacity of sites and appropriate density to respond to local character, especially in villages.

H/GL: Garden land and subdivision of existing plots
Support for controlling the use of gardens for new development.