Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 207070

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

A fundamental concern is how North Cambourne will operate as part of a single, coherent town, particularly given the physical barrier created by the A428. This issue must be addressed explicitly and at an early stage in the planning process. Connections between North Cambourne and existing areas of Cambourne require detailed review and careful design to prioritise permeability, legibility, and safety for all users. Particular concern exists regarding proposed routes into
West Cambourne, where some alignments appear to pass through or conflict with residential areas. The Town Council and the master developer (MCA), as significant landowners, must be recognised as key consultees throughout this process.

Comment

Representation ID: 207071

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

The Council is concerned by references to a “new” town centre for North Cambourne and the reference to the existing Highstreet to be a secondary Highstreet. Cambourne does not yet have a fully realised town centre, and there is a clear risk that proposals for an additional centre could undermine or delay delivery of the existing town centre strategy. Development at North Cambourne must therefore actively reinforce the delivery of a single, viable town centre serving Cambourne as a whole. Strong physical connections, high-quality active travel routes, and effective public transport links between North Cambourne and the existing town centre proposals will be essential.

Comment

Representation ID: 207072

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

The proposed railway station would represent a major asset for Cambourne. However, the Council is concerned that existing and already-committed transport improvements—such as the Cambourne–Cambridge bus service and other measures intended to address current transport pressures—could be delayed or deprioritised as a result of the scale of new development. These commitments must be delivered as planned and not deferred.

Comment

Representation ID: 207073

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

The Council notes that current rates of housebuilding are insufficient to meet demand and are delivered too slowly. For a development of this scale, alternative construction methods—such as modular or modern methods of construction—should be actively encouraged to accelerate delivery. The current approach of developing small parcels over extended periods (often around 18 months), as seen in West Cambourne, is not acceptable for North Cambourne. Clear delivery targets should be established, with an ambition to complete individual parcels within six months where feasible.

Comment

Representation ID: 207074

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

The Council considers that the architectural approach for North Cambourne must be sensitive to the established character and identity of Cambourne and the wider Cambridgeshire context and should inform scale, materials, proportions and public realm. An overly distinctive or self-contained architectural theme risks creating an isolated development that feels disconnected from the existing town and this would be inappropriate for new development at Cambourne. North Cambourne should therefore adopt an architectural language that respects local history and townscape and this should be demonstrated through a context-led, human-scale set of Design Codes.

Comment

Representation ID: 207075

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

The Council supports the inclusion of mixed industrial, laboratory, and office campus uses. However, a different approach to delivery is required. In Cambourne, employment sites have too often been delivered late in the development cycle, undermining local job creation and increasing commuter travel. A small commercial site in Parcel 2a has been at risk of being reduced or constrained. The Council is also concerned about the imposition of unreasonable planning conditions, such as mandatory residential units above commercial premises. In many cases, commercial sites should remain wholly commercial. Given increasing viability pressures on local commercial development, particularly from online retail, planning policy should focus on removing barriers to delivery rather than introducing additional constraints.

Comment

Representation ID: 207076

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

All new housing in North Cambourne should be delivered as zero-carbon or near-zero-carbon from the outset. This must include:
• Renewable-based heating systems
• High standards of insulation and energy efficiency
• Solar panels and battery storage installed as standard, rather than merely “provisioned for”
These measures should be mandatory rather than optional to ensure genuine long-term sustainability.

Comment

Representation ID: 207077

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

The Council is concerned that many homes are built with little regard for future adaptation. Good local examples already exist, such as housing delivered by Arup in Trumpington, where:
• Roofs were designed to accommodate future loft conversions
• Garages were double-skinned to allow later conversion to living space
North Cambourne should adopt similar principles, ensuring homes can evolve as residents’ needs change over time.

Comment

Representation ID: 207078

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

It is essential that the parking strategy is fully future-proofed and grounded in realistic patterns of behaviour rather than idealised assumptions about modal shift. Parking provision must reflect actual car ownership levels, household composition, servicing and delivery requirements, and the transitional period before public transport and active travel networks are fully mature. The proposed railway station is likely to attract additional vehicular traffic from neighbouring towns and villages seeking park-and-ride or informal commuter parking. Without adequate and well-planned provision, there is a significant risk of overspill parking impacting residential streets, local centres, and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Comment

Representation ID: 207079

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Cambourne Town Council

The transport strategy must place a strong emphasis on multi-modal travel, particularly non-car journeys. High-quality active travel infrastructure should be embedded from the outset, including:
• Safe, direct cycle routes linking North Cambourne with the rest of Cambourne, particularly the business
park, town centre, and Bourne Airfield site
• Provision for e-bikes and, where appropriate, e-scooters
• Off-road or segregated cycle routes connecting to surrounding villages, avoiding reliance on high-speed
roads
Early delivery (before housing occupation) of this infrastructure is essential to influence travel behaviour and to ensure community integration. Financing of this infrastructure must not be dependent solely on Section 106 contributions. Alternative funding sources should be secured prior to the construction of the first homes.