Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 209061

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Fowlmere Parish Council

Fowlmere is a village of about 1200 inhabitants & about 500 dwellings. It has one public house / restaurant, a village hall, a primary school, a nursery and a playgroup. There are no shops. The nearest doctors’ surgeries are in Harston and Melbourn. Two sites on the edge of the village are occupied as small travellers sites in breach of planning control. Planning applications were submitted for each of the sites. One of those applications was withdrawn. Neither application complied with planning policy.

Comment

Representation ID: 209062

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Fowlmere Parish Council

FPC notes that draft policy H/GT recognises that some pitches within the plan area have become occupied by persons who are not members of the gypsy or traveller community, nor travelling showpeople. The draft seeks to ensure that proposed occupiers of any site for which permission is sought will be members of the gypsy or traveller community. FPC also notes that the draft policy does not contain mechanisms or safeguards to ensure that subsequent occupiers are only members of the gypsy or traveller community. It is not enough only to regulate the first occupiers. FPC considers that the policy should be explicit on this issue and require planning permissions to limit occupiers to members of those communities so as to ensure that the stock of pitches across the plan area is not depleted.