Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 207671

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Please find attached the response from East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust to the draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan 2024 – 2045 Regulation 18 Consultation (December 2025 – January 2026).

Comment

Representation ID: 210320

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

A new purpose-built ambulance hub is required for Cambridge and the
surrounding areas, ideally in the area of green belt south of the Cambridge
Biomedical campus. The right infrastructure would include 1 ha of land to build
the ambulance hub with close access to nearby main roads. The new ambulance
hub would b e designed to enable expansion to allow for population growth for
the next 30 years. A new Ambulance Hub would cost around £20-£22m (including land purchase, EV charging infrastructure requirements).

Comment

Representation ID: 210321

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Flooding significantly affects residents physical and mental health in both the
short and long term. Systematic reviews show consistent increases in PTSD,
depression and anxiety after flooding events.
Evidence that flooding disrupts healthcare systems and emergency access,
damaging infrastructure and increasing demand.
EEAST therefore requests:
• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)
• Permeable paving accessible to mobility aids
• Greywater harvesting via water butts or underground attenuation
• Swales and flood-protection features in Zones 2 and 3
• Care homes should NOT be located in Flood Zones 2 or 3 unless they include
a fully independent evacuation plan that does not require emergency service
intervention
• Community centres should not be built in Flood Zones 2 or 3 as they are often
used as places of refuge
• Health and emergency services buildings should not be built in Flood Zone
areas 2 and 3.

Comment

Representation ID: 210322

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Consider that as areas become more built up, the risk of localised flooding is
likely to increase above the 1% annual flood risk probability.

Emergency ambulance services have to use specialised vehicles (including
onboard equipment such as life jackets) and trained staff to support flood/water
related incidents and these sites are strategically located around the region and
my not be local to Greater Cambridge area.

Comment

Representation ID: 210324

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Should any data centres be built in or adjacent to the Greater Cambridge to
utilise capture of heat generated to support industry or domestic heating.

Comment

Representation ID: 210325

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

shows flooding and environmental change can worsen mental health,
reinforcing the value of natural and restorative environments.
In addition to the points in the IDP, EEAST recommends for both physical and
mental health and wellbeing:
• Community gardens, orchards, allotments and wildlife corridors
• Seating areas for those with limited mobility
• Consideration of sensory planting (sight, touch, smell, sound, taste) to
promote wellbeing.

Comment

Representation ID: 210326

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

EEAST fully supports the proposals as quality design which builds in nature
conservation helps the physical and health and well-being of residents eg
interesting and varied roof lines, mental health benches, places for those with
mobility issues to rest and enjoy the views (both blue and green). Include as part
of residential and commercial design places for nature to be incorporated into
the buildings (eg Swift nesting boxes), fencing (eg hedgehog shelters/gaps,
planted living walls instead of fencing). All of these help residents to enjoy
nature and provide nature corridors.

Scooter/mobility scooter parking also needs to be included (and not just in care
homes/specialist housing) with safe charging options to prevent the potential
risk for fires. Similar issues should be considered for electric wheelchairs which
are used indoors and provision of charging facilities. Ensure sufficient parking spaces/road width and design to enable emergency vehicles to pass safely without delaying attendance on a call. Similar issues exist for refuse lorries.

Comment

Representation ID: 210327

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

EEAST recommend building all homes and commercial buildings to BREEAM
standard or PASSIVHAUS. As a minimum EEAST recommends the proposed 40%
affordable/social housing are built to Passivhaus or BREEAM Excellent
standards, as this would provide significantly long-term environmental savings
for residents who are more likely to be from the most deprived backgrounds or
have limited disposable income.

Comment

Representation ID: 210329

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Community facilities and infrastructure need to include all emergency services (ambulance, fire and police) and s106/CIL made available to mitigate population growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 210330

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Given the national push toward early intervention and the ambulance sector’s
expanding role in community public health, defibrillator installation is a critical
feature.
EEAST would request:
• S106 funding for community AEDs, including:
o AED device
o Heated, outdoor-rated cabinet
o 10-year consumables and maintenance
• Placement near power sources and high-footfall areas
• An AED every 800 meters (best-practice community resuscitation standard).