Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 203391

Received: 29/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

The College's full comments are set out in the uploaded 29th January letter.

Comment

Representation ID: 204751

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

Affordability of student accommodation is crucial to diversity and inclusion priorities. The viability of affordable student accommodation is already challenging. The cost to providers, and thereby students would need to increase to a sufficient level to sustain the financial burden of a 40% contribution. A a requirement does not provide for or take account of lower income students or those with other challenging socio-economic backgrounds. There is a clear disparity between the possible student loan vs student housing costs in Cambridge. Whilst it is acknowledged that there is a need for general affordable housing in Cambridge, there is a continuing need for affordable student accommodation and the proposed policy would inhibit this from being delivered.

Comment

Representation ID: 204781

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

1(b) includes a prohibition on “three or more adjacent properties as HMOs”. This is unduly restrictive in the context of College accommodation in Cambridge City Centre, where there are many examples of high-quality rows of College-owned HMOs. Part 1. a. is considered to be sufficient to avoid over concentration. Part b. is unduly restrictive in circumstances where, for example, there is a single house already ‘sandwiched’ between existing HMOs which may be best used as a College HMO. The part b. restriction should be removed from the Policy itself, and instead a more nuanced approach to the definition of over-concentration can be set out in the SPD already referenced as being considered by the Councils in the consultation.

Comment

Representation ID: 204787

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

Cambridge Colleges are increasing the range of part-time courses and making increased provision to accommodate part-time students in line with Government policy. For some courses, which often recruit students from across the UK and overseas, part-time study at Cambridge University involves block periods of intensive teaching with mandatory requirements to reside in Cambridge. If these accommodation needs are met elsewhere in the Cambridge housing market, this risks tying up accommodation potentially more suited to the general market needs in Cambridge. To meet this need, it is therefore important that that part 1.a. and part 8. of policy H/SA allow for part-time student accommodation where there is a residential requirement of more than two days per week.

Object

Representation ID: 204896

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

It is evident that the housing land identified in the Draft Local Plan is insufficient to meet the real-world need in and around Cambridge including for two key reasons: the continuing reliance on in-commuting; and the reliance on strategic sites. It is understood why the 2021 census information is not considered robust, as it was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is not robust to use “Census 2011 commuting assumptions applied up to the population supported by the standard method, and 1:1 commuting assumptions above this” as the basis for justifying the housing requirement. The proper planning of the area would see a greater housing requirement identified, and that requirement being met by sites that can readily access existing and ‘currently being delivered’ public transport and cycle links. The proposed (inadequate) identified housing requirement risks increasing strain on key infrastructure whilst also driving up property values due to a shortage of supply relative to demand.

Object

Representation ID: 204904

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

It is the College’s position that the Draft Local Plan does not currently provide sufficient land to meet the housing
requirement. It is evident that the housing land identified in the Draft Local Plan is insufficient to meet the real-world need in and around Cambridge including for two key reasons: the continuing reliance on in-commuting; and the reliance on strategic sites.

Object

Representation ID: 209328

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

A strategy that includes a particular focus, and reliance, on strategic sites in Greater Cambridge is logical and supported in principle. However, a higher housing supply buffer would provide the necessary flexibility of delivery, and ensure a robustness of supply. The current buffer of 6.5% is insufficient and fails to recognise the delivery challenges which have historically held back early delivery on the large-scale strategic sites. Limited growth within villages, including villages within the Green Belt, is also essential to ensure they continue to be vibrant, inclusive communities with new opportunities for residents to stay in those communities. Please see the attached letter for The College's full comments.

Comment

Representation ID: 209329

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

It is not evident though that the Councils have given sufficient weight to the climate crisis and housing crisis we now face (which were not material factors when the green belt policy was originally established), and these are exceptional circumstances which would justify a more flexible and permissive approach to grey belt release in particular. We understand that the Councils are undertaking a Grey Belt review which is due to be published after the Draft Local Plan consultation. It will be important to ensure that this review is published and the opportunity provided for it to be reviewed and commented upon in advance of the finalisation of the Proposed Submission Consultation (Regulation 19) scheduled for Summer / Autumn 2026.

Comment

Representation ID: 210715

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

If the policy is to apply to student accommodation, the campus layouts in Cambridge often make defining an existing university or college campus site challenging. Any application of the phrase “within an existing university or college campus site” is potentially problematic in this scenario. Accepting that it is also not entirely clear, adding the words “or nearby” in line 1 of policy Part 10.a. would assist, but potential difficulties in interpreting this also goes to demonstrate that the proposed approach to require 40% affordable housing as part of student accommodation is flawed. Any discouragement to provide Student Accommodation also risks discouraging the benefit of student accommodation in freeing up family accommodation in the city for families.

Comment

Representation ID: 210716

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: St John's College Cambridge

Agent: Savills

Notwithstanding all of these comments, the following revisions to the precise wording of the policy would also
be required:
• In Part 9. of the policy it should state “…both the Council(s) and the University or College (as relevant)…” rather than just referring to the University;
• In Part 10. b. the reference to “….existing purpose-built student accommodation….” should be replaced with “….existing student accommodation….” as this exclusion needs to be applicable to all existing student accommodation; and
• In Part 10. b. the reference to “….to meet its needs.” should be replaced with “….to meet its needs or the needs of other Colleges and the University.” to recognise that Colleges / University can work together to meet needs.