Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

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Support

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy H/SH: Specialist housing

Representation ID: 201645

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:

We are broadly supportive of this policy. We strongly support para 9.60 on p637, which makes clear the need for C2 and C3 developments to contribute towards the delivery of affordable housing.

Full text:

We are broadly supportive of this policy. We strongly support para 9.60 on p637, which makes clear the need for C2 and C3 developments to contribute towards the delivery of affordable housing.

Support

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy H/DC: Dwellings in the countryside

Representation ID: 201646

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:

We are broadly supportive of this policy.

Full text:

We are broadly supportive of this policy.

Support

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy I/ST: Sustainable transport and connectivity

Representation ID: 201647

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:

We are broadly supportive of this policy.

Full text:

We are broadly supportive of this policy.

Comment

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy I/ST: Sustainable transport and connectivity

Representation ID: 201648

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:

Many walking routes currently in use are not recognised as public rights of way, but are instead informal tracks or permissive paths. These routes are an essential part of the daily walking network and enhance connectivity where public rights of way are insufficient.

There is ambiguity regarding the application of clause 2e in relation to these informal routes. The respondent suggests that routes frequently used should be upgraded to public right of way (PRoW) status for better management and safety.

Upgrading these routes to PRoW status would provide dual benefits, serving both local connectivity and recreational purposes.

Full text:

P671 Policy I/ST clauses 2d and 2e – it should be recognised that many walking routes in daily use are not public rights of way but are instead either informal tracks used without permission (often around the edges of farmland) or permissive paths (lapsed or otherwise). They are an integral and largely unmanaged part of the daily walking network and improve connectivity in the absence of an adequate network of public rights of way. It is unclear how clause 2e could be applied under such circumstances. Therefore, routes in daily use should be upgraded to PRoW status such that they can be managed appropriately and better and more safely improve local connectivity. Dual benefits will accrue from their use for recreational purposes.

Comment

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy I/TH: Travel hub facilities

Representation ID: 201649

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:

We are concerned that:
• Policy I/TH and supporting paras 10.16-10.17 give undue precedence to P&R facilities. Building new and expanding existing P&Rs encourages driving to those P&Rs and merely provides a more sustainable alternative for part of the journey. In so doing, it undermines the commercial viability of local bus services, which would otherwise have the potential to provide a sustainable alternative for the whole journey.
• Travel Hubs and Travel Hub facilities must be appropriate to the location. For example, we would support them in principle at Whittlesford Parkway, where there is currently an underused station.

Full text:

We are concerned that:
• Policy I/TH and supporting paras 10.16-10.17 give undue precedence to P&R facilities. Building new and expanding existing P&Rs encourages driving to those P&Rs and merely provides a more sustainable alternative for part of the journey. In so doing, it undermines the commercial viability of local bus services, which would otherwise have the potential to provide a sustainable alternative for the whole journey.
• Travel Hubs and Travel Hub facilities must be appropriate to the location. For example, we would support them in principle at Whittlesford Parkway, where there is currently an underused station.

Comment

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy I/CM: Construction management

Representation ID: 201650

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:

We are broadly supportive of this policy. We have learnt through recent experience of major development in greenbelt to the east of Stapleford that clause 2j on p708 (compliance monitoring) is critical; however, the emphasis should not be on self-monitoring by the constructor but should instead sit with the LPA/planning enforcement.

Full text:

We are broadly supportive of this policy. We have learnt through recent experience of major development in greenbelt to the east of Stapleford that clause 2j on p708 (compliance monitoring) is critical; however, the emphasis should not be on self-monitoring by the constructor but should instead sit with the LPA/planning enforcement.

Comment

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy BG/GI: Green and blue infrastructure

Representation ID: 209679

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:


Support is expressed for Policy BG/GI clause 2b, but the respondent advocates for improved links to greenbelt areas to enhance access and reduce car usage, referencing Policy S&GS 19 in the local Neighbourhood Plan.

Full text:

Stapleford Parish Council is broadly supportive of this policy with the following caveats:

P461, para 5.31-5.32 – the title of this section is green and blue infrastructure, yet there is nothing in these paragraphs about the aims of the policy which mentions blue infrastructure. This should be addressed. With respect to the policy itself, green infrastructure seems to be an all-encompassing term and this is confusing; look at, for example, the so-called ‘green infrastructure’ initiatives listed in clause 5, the majority of which are actually water-related and so, surely, would be more accurately described as ‘blue infrastructure’.

P461, Policy BG/GI cause 2b – we strongly support the use of green infrastructure to improve links within the landscape for the benefit of nature and people. With respect to benefits to people, our parish is surrounded by greenbelt, but we have very little access to it. And when we do, access is often limited to ‘out and back’ routes. Better links between open/green spaces would also reduce use of private cars to travel to sites. Policy S&GS 19 in the Stapleford & Gt Shelford Neighbourhood Plan highlights aspirational routes into and through our countryside that residents of these parishes, and elsewhere, would like to enjoy.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 4 – where it is not possible to meet the greening factor onsite but a neighbourhood plan is in place for that location which identifies suitable opportunities to enhance green or blue infrastructure within the neighbourhood area, then those opportunities should take priority over resorting to off-site opportunities, otherwise the net effect of development on green infrastructure within that neighbourhood area is negative.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 5(3) – we note the rightful inclusion of the Gog Magog Hills and chalkland fringe in the list of identified priorities for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge. However, (1) data underpinning this policy is flawed in its inaccurate portrayal of the extent of the Gog Magog Hills (2) the Gog Magog Hills are, unfathomably, not included in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and (3) the Gog Magog Hills will be negatively impacted by CSET. We expand upon these points below.

1. We are very concerned that the mapped extent of the Gog Magog Hills in supporting documents for the LPA is arbitrarily shrinking over time. This will undermine the aims of the Policy BG/GI. With respect to our immediate area, the northwestern extent of the Gog Magog Hills for the purposes of the draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan is established in Landscape Character Area 7B: Gog Magog Chalk Hills. This is incorrect: (a) it is at odds with the underlying local geology (b) it excludes the prominent slope and bulk of the open chalk hill in Stapleford which puts the ‘character’ into the ‘character area’ (c) it excludes the aptly named Chalk Hill Down, a new countryside park on rare open chalk soil managed by The Magog Trust as calcareous grassland, and (d) it is at odds with the pattern of early development which occurred below the spring line (which occurs at the junction between chalk and clay) at the 20m contour to avoid contamination of valuable fresh water supplies and the need to dig deep wells.

The consequences of inaccurately mapping the extent of the Gog Magog Hills have already been felt in Stapleford. In fact, it critically influenced the Appeal Inspector’s decision in Dec 2021 (appeal ref. APP/W0530/W/21/3280395) to approve major development of a retirement care village on greenbelt outside Stapleford’s development framework. As the Inspector noted in his decision report (paras 15-19): “Two recent landscape character assessments place the boundary between the two local character areas in different places, either side of the site. The Cambridge Inner Green Belt Study produced in 2015 as part of the evidence base for the extant South Cambridgeshire Local Plan adopted in 2018 places the boundary between what it calls Landscape Character Area 4B Granta Valley and Landscape Character Area 3B Gog Magog Hills along the edge of the built extent of Stapleford village, hugging the 20m contour line but rising to the 30m contour line further to the east of the site. The Greater Cambridge Landscape Assessment, produced in 2021 as part of the evidence base for the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan places the boundary between what it calls Landscape Character Area 3D Cam and Granta Tributaries Lowland Farmlands and Landscape Character Area 7B, Gog Magog Chalk Hills along the track which hugs the northern boundary of the site. In effect, one landscape character assessment places the site within the valley; the other places it on the hills.” Against this discrepancy, the Inspector effectively created a third location for the boundary, at the 25m contour line, and was then able to approve major development below this height because it placed it in the ‘valley area’ rather than on the higher chalk hills, which rightly have greater protection from development.

2. There is a glaring inconsistency between the draft Local Plan, which prioritises the Gog Magog Hills for enhancing strategic green infrastructure, and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which inexplicably fails to recognise them appropriately. There is no recognition of Wandlebury Country Park or Magog Downs (both are County Wildlife Sites), or of Stapleford Pit (a Local Nature Reserve) in the LNRS, all designated in Policy NH/5: Sites of biodiversity or geological importance. Ironically, the LNRS hails S. Cambs for its growing network of chalk grassland yet singularly fails to map them accurately; we are alarmed about the impact this will have on opportunities to enhance calcareous grassland sites, buffer and enlarge them, and to create habitat stepping stones and corridors.

3. Inaccurate mapping of the Gog Magog Hills and their exclusion from the LNRS means that, despite being a priority for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge, they are not being accorded sufficient value and hence protection when evaluating the environmental and landscape impacts of the proposed route of the CSET busway. As proposed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, the lengthy section of the busway from where it crosses the track to the east of Stapleford Granary and continues in a north-westerly direction to where it passes Nine Wells Local Nature Reserve near Cambridge South Station will use the lower slopes of the Gog Magog Hills. There is, therefore, a glaring inconsistency between the green infrastructure aims of the draft Local Plan and its transport strategy. This inconsistency could be at least partly mitigated if an alternative, on-road route along the A1307 corridor from the A11 to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus was pursued instead. If requested, we can provide more evidence of the benefits of this on-road route.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 5(13) – we fully support the inclusion of allotments and community gardens as an identified priority for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge.

Comment

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy BG/GI: Green and blue infrastructure

Representation ID: 209680

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:


In Policy BG/GI clause 4, the respondent recommends prioritising local opportunities for enhancing green or blue infrastructure over off-site solutions when a neighbourhood plan is in place.

Full text:

Stapleford Parish Council is broadly supportive of this policy with the following caveats:

P461, para 5.31-5.32 – the title of this section is green and blue infrastructure, yet there is nothing in these paragraphs about the aims of the policy which mentions blue infrastructure. This should be addressed. With respect to the policy itself, green infrastructure seems to be an all-encompassing term and this is confusing; look at, for example, the so-called ‘green infrastructure’ initiatives listed in clause 5, the majority of which are actually water-related and so, surely, would be more accurately described as ‘blue infrastructure’.

P461, Policy BG/GI cause 2b – we strongly support the use of green infrastructure to improve links within the landscape for the benefit of nature and people. With respect to benefits to people, our parish is surrounded by greenbelt, but we have very little access to it. And when we do, access is often limited to ‘out and back’ routes. Better links between open/green spaces would also reduce use of private cars to travel to sites. Policy S&GS 19 in the Stapleford & Gt Shelford Neighbourhood Plan highlights aspirational routes into and through our countryside that residents of these parishes, and elsewhere, would like to enjoy.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 4 – where it is not possible to meet the greening factor onsite but a neighbourhood plan is in place for that location which identifies suitable opportunities to enhance green or blue infrastructure within the neighbourhood area, then those opportunities should take priority over resorting to off-site opportunities, otherwise the net effect of development on green infrastructure within that neighbourhood area is negative.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 5(3) – we note the rightful inclusion of the Gog Magog Hills and chalkland fringe in the list of identified priorities for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge. However, (1) data underpinning this policy is flawed in its inaccurate portrayal of the extent of the Gog Magog Hills (2) the Gog Magog Hills are, unfathomably, not included in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and (3) the Gog Magog Hills will be negatively impacted by CSET. We expand upon these points below.

1. We are very concerned that the mapped extent of the Gog Magog Hills in supporting documents for the LPA is arbitrarily shrinking over time. This will undermine the aims of the Policy BG/GI. With respect to our immediate area, the northwestern extent of the Gog Magog Hills for the purposes of the draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan is established in Landscape Character Area 7B: Gog Magog Chalk Hills. This is incorrect: (a) it is at odds with the underlying local geology (b) it excludes the prominent slope and bulk of the open chalk hill in Stapleford which puts the ‘character’ into the ‘character area’ (c) it excludes the aptly named Chalk Hill Down, a new countryside park on rare open chalk soil managed by The Magog Trust as calcareous grassland, and (d) it is at odds with the pattern of early development which occurred below the spring line (which occurs at the junction between chalk and clay) at the 20m contour to avoid contamination of valuable fresh water supplies and the need to dig deep wells.

The consequences of inaccurately mapping the extent of the Gog Magog Hills have already been felt in Stapleford. In fact, it critically influenced the Appeal Inspector’s decision in Dec 2021 (appeal ref. APP/W0530/W/21/3280395) to approve major development of a retirement care village on greenbelt outside Stapleford’s development framework. As the Inspector noted in his decision report (paras 15-19): “Two recent landscape character assessments place the boundary between the two local character areas in different places, either side of the site. The Cambridge Inner Green Belt Study produced in 2015 as part of the evidence base for the extant South Cambridgeshire Local Plan adopted in 2018 places the boundary between what it calls Landscape Character Area 4B Granta Valley and Landscape Character Area 3B Gog Magog Hills along the edge of the built extent of Stapleford village, hugging the 20m contour line but rising to the 30m contour line further to the east of the site. The Greater Cambridge Landscape Assessment, produced in 2021 as part of the evidence base for the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan places the boundary between what it calls Landscape Character Area 3D Cam and Granta Tributaries Lowland Farmlands and Landscape Character Area 7B, Gog Magog Chalk Hills along the track which hugs the northern boundary of the site. In effect, one landscape character assessment places the site within the valley; the other places it on the hills.” Against this discrepancy, the Inspector effectively created a third location for the boundary, at the 25m contour line, and was then able to approve major development below this height because it placed it in the ‘valley area’ rather than on the higher chalk hills, which rightly have greater protection from development.

2. There is a glaring inconsistency between the draft Local Plan, which prioritises the Gog Magog Hills for enhancing strategic green infrastructure, and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which inexplicably fails to recognise them appropriately. There is no recognition of Wandlebury Country Park or Magog Downs (both are County Wildlife Sites), or of Stapleford Pit (a Local Nature Reserve) in the LNRS, all designated in Policy NH/5: Sites of biodiversity or geological importance. Ironically, the LNRS hails S. Cambs for its growing network of chalk grassland yet singularly fails to map them accurately; we are alarmed about the impact this will have on opportunities to enhance calcareous grassland sites, buffer and enlarge them, and to create habitat stepping stones and corridors.

3. Inaccurate mapping of the Gog Magog Hills and their exclusion from the LNRS means that, despite being a priority for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge, they are not being accorded sufficient value and hence protection when evaluating the environmental and landscape impacts of the proposed route of the CSET busway. As proposed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, the lengthy section of the busway from where it crosses the track to the east of Stapleford Granary and continues in a north-westerly direction to where it passes Nine Wells Local Nature Reserve near Cambridge South Station will use the lower slopes of the Gog Magog Hills. There is, therefore, a glaring inconsistency between the green infrastructure aims of the draft Local Plan and its transport strategy. This inconsistency could be at least partly mitigated if an alternative, on-road route along the A1307 corridor from the A11 to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus was pursued instead. If requested, we can provide more evidence of the benefits of this on-road route.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 5(13) – we fully support the inclusion of allotments and community gardens as an identified priority for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge.

Comment

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy BG/GI: Green and blue infrastructure

Representation ID: 209681

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:


Concerns are raised regarding the Gog Magog Hills in Policy BG/GI clause 5(3), noting flawed data (inaccurate mapping of the extent of the Hills), their exclusion from the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and negative impacts from CSET.

Full text:

Stapleford Parish Council is broadly supportive of this policy with the following caveats:

P461, para 5.31-5.32 – the title of this section is green and blue infrastructure, yet there is nothing in these paragraphs about the aims of the policy which mentions blue infrastructure. This should be addressed. With respect to the policy itself, green infrastructure seems to be an all-encompassing term and this is confusing; look at, for example, the so-called ‘green infrastructure’ initiatives listed in clause 5, the majority of which are actually water-related and so, surely, would be more accurately described as ‘blue infrastructure’.

P461, Policy BG/GI cause 2b – we strongly support the use of green infrastructure to improve links within the landscape for the benefit of nature and people. With respect to benefits to people, our parish is surrounded by greenbelt, but we have very little access to it. And when we do, access is often limited to ‘out and back’ routes. Better links between open/green spaces would also reduce use of private cars to travel to sites. Policy S&GS 19 in the Stapleford & Gt Shelford Neighbourhood Plan highlights aspirational routes into and through our countryside that residents of these parishes, and elsewhere, would like to enjoy.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 4 – where it is not possible to meet the greening factor onsite but a neighbourhood plan is in place for that location which identifies suitable opportunities to enhance green or blue infrastructure within the neighbourhood area, then those opportunities should take priority over resorting to off-site opportunities, otherwise the net effect of development on green infrastructure within that neighbourhood area is negative.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 5(3) – we note the rightful inclusion of the Gog Magog Hills and chalkland fringe in the list of identified priorities for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge. However, (1) data underpinning this policy is flawed in its inaccurate portrayal of the extent of the Gog Magog Hills (2) the Gog Magog Hills are, unfathomably, not included in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and (3) the Gog Magog Hills will be negatively impacted by CSET. We expand upon these points below.

1. We are very concerned that the mapped extent of the Gog Magog Hills in supporting documents for the LPA is arbitrarily shrinking over time. This will undermine the aims of the Policy BG/GI. With respect to our immediate area, the northwestern extent of the Gog Magog Hills for the purposes of the draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan is established in Landscape Character Area 7B: Gog Magog Chalk Hills. This is incorrect: (a) it is at odds with the underlying local geology (b) it excludes the prominent slope and bulk of the open chalk hill in Stapleford which puts the ‘character’ into the ‘character area’ (c) it excludes the aptly named Chalk Hill Down, a new countryside park on rare open chalk soil managed by The Magog Trust as calcareous grassland, and (d) it is at odds with the pattern of early development which occurred below the spring line (which occurs at the junction between chalk and clay) at the 20m contour to avoid contamination of valuable fresh water supplies and the need to dig deep wells.

The consequences of inaccurately mapping the extent of the Gog Magog Hills have already been felt in Stapleford. In fact, it critically influenced the Appeal Inspector’s decision in Dec 2021 (appeal ref. APP/W0530/W/21/3280395) to approve major development of a retirement care village on greenbelt outside Stapleford’s development framework. As the Inspector noted in his decision report (paras 15-19): “Two recent landscape character assessments place the boundary between the two local character areas in different places, either side of the site. The Cambridge Inner Green Belt Study produced in 2015 as part of the evidence base for the extant South Cambridgeshire Local Plan adopted in 2018 places the boundary between what it calls Landscape Character Area 4B Granta Valley and Landscape Character Area 3B Gog Magog Hills along the edge of the built extent of Stapleford village, hugging the 20m contour line but rising to the 30m contour line further to the east of the site. The Greater Cambridge Landscape Assessment, produced in 2021 as part of the evidence base for the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan places the boundary between what it calls Landscape Character Area 3D Cam and Granta Tributaries Lowland Farmlands and Landscape Character Area 7B, Gog Magog Chalk Hills along the track which hugs the northern boundary of the site. In effect, one landscape character assessment places the site within the valley; the other places it on the hills.” Against this discrepancy, the Inspector effectively created a third location for the boundary, at the 25m contour line, and was then able to approve major development below this height because it placed it in the ‘valley area’ rather than on the higher chalk hills, which rightly have greater protection from development.

2. There is a glaring inconsistency between the draft Local Plan, which prioritises the Gog Magog Hills for enhancing strategic green infrastructure, and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which inexplicably fails to recognise them appropriately. There is no recognition of Wandlebury Country Park or Magog Downs (both are County Wildlife Sites), or of Stapleford Pit (a Local Nature Reserve) in the LNRS, all designated in Policy NH/5: Sites of biodiversity or geological importance. Ironically, the LNRS hails S. Cambs for its growing network of chalk grassland yet singularly fails to map them accurately; we are alarmed about the impact this will have on opportunities to enhance calcareous grassland sites, buffer and enlarge them, and to create habitat stepping stones and corridors.

3. Inaccurate mapping of the Gog Magog Hills and their exclusion from the LNRS means that, despite being a priority for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge, they are not being accorded sufficient value and hence protection when evaluating the environmental and landscape impacts of the proposed route of the CSET busway. As proposed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, the lengthy section of the busway from where it crosses the track to the east of Stapleford Granary and continues in a north-westerly direction to where it passes Nine Wells Local Nature Reserve near Cambridge South Station will use the lower slopes of the Gog Magog Hills. There is, therefore, a glaring inconsistency between the green infrastructure aims of the draft Local Plan and its transport strategy. This inconsistency could be at least partly mitigated if an alternative, on-road route along the A1307 corridor from the A11 to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus was pursued instead. If requested, we can provide more evidence of the benefits of this on-road route.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 5(13) – we fully support the inclusion of allotments and community gardens as an identified priority for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge.

Comment

Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Policy BG/GI: Green and blue infrastructure

Representation ID: 209682

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Stapleford Parish Council

Representation Summary:


The respondent argues that inaccurate mapping of the Gog Magog Hills has already negatively influenced development decisions, citing a specific appeal case (Rangeford retirement care village) as an example.

Full text:

Stapleford Parish Council is broadly supportive of this policy with the following caveats:

P461, para 5.31-5.32 – the title of this section is green and blue infrastructure, yet there is nothing in these paragraphs about the aims of the policy which mentions blue infrastructure. This should be addressed. With respect to the policy itself, green infrastructure seems to be an all-encompassing term and this is confusing; look at, for example, the so-called ‘green infrastructure’ initiatives listed in clause 5, the majority of which are actually water-related and so, surely, would be more accurately described as ‘blue infrastructure’.

P461, Policy BG/GI cause 2b – we strongly support the use of green infrastructure to improve links within the landscape for the benefit of nature and people. With respect to benefits to people, our parish is surrounded by greenbelt, but we have very little access to it. And when we do, access is often limited to ‘out and back’ routes. Better links between open/green spaces would also reduce use of private cars to travel to sites. Policy S&GS 19 in the Stapleford & Gt Shelford Neighbourhood Plan highlights aspirational routes into and through our countryside that residents of these parishes, and elsewhere, would like to enjoy.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 4 – where it is not possible to meet the greening factor onsite but a neighbourhood plan is in place for that location which identifies suitable opportunities to enhance green or blue infrastructure within the neighbourhood area, then those opportunities should take priority over resorting to off-site opportunities, otherwise the net effect of development on green infrastructure within that neighbourhood area is negative.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 5(3) – we note the rightful inclusion of the Gog Magog Hills and chalkland fringe in the list of identified priorities for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge. However, (1) data underpinning this policy is flawed in its inaccurate portrayal of the extent of the Gog Magog Hills (2) the Gog Magog Hills are, unfathomably, not included in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and (3) the Gog Magog Hills will be negatively impacted by CSET. We expand upon these points below.

1. We are very concerned that the mapped extent of the Gog Magog Hills in supporting documents for the LPA is arbitrarily shrinking over time. This will undermine the aims of the Policy BG/GI. With respect to our immediate area, the northwestern extent of the Gog Magog Hills for the purposes of the draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan is established in Landscape Character Area 7B: Gog Magog Chalk Hills. This is incorrect: (a) it is at odds with the underlying local geology (b) it excludes the prominent slope and bulk of the open chalk hill in Stapleford which puts the ‘character’ into the ‘character area’ (c) it excludes the aptly named Chalk Hill Down, a new countryside park on rare open chalk soil managed by The Magog Trust as calcareous grassland, and (d) it is at odds with the pattern of early development which occurred below the spring line (which occurs at the junction between chalk and clay) at the 20m contour to avoid contamination of valuable fresh water supplies and the need to dig deep wells.

The consequences of inaccurately mapping the extent of the Gog Magog Hills have already been felt in Stapleford. In fact, it critically influenced the Appeal Inspector’s decision in Dec 2021 (appeal ref. APP/W0530/W/21/3280395) to approve major development of a retirement care village on greenbelt outside Stapleford’s development framework. As the Inspector noted in his decision report (paras 15-19): “Two recent landscape character assessments place the boundary between the two local character areas in different places, either side of the site. The Cambridge Inner Green Belt Study produced in 2015 as part of the evidence base for the extant South Cambridgeshire Local Plan adopted in 2018 places the boundary between what it calls Landscape Character Area 4B Granta Valley and Landscape Character Area 3B Gog Magog Hills along the edge of the built extent of Stapleford village, hugging the 20m contour line but rising to the 30m contour line further to the east of the site. The Greater Cambridge Landscape Assessment, produced in 2021 as part of the evidence base for the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan places the boundary between what it calls Landscape Character Area 3D Cam and Granta Tributaries Lowland Farmlands and Landscape Character Area 7B, Gog Magog Chalk Hills along the track which hugs the northern boundary of the site. In effect, one landscape character assessment places the site within the valley; the other places it on the hills.” Against this discrepancy, the Inspector effectively created a third location for the boundary, at the 25m contour line, and was then able to approve major development below this height because it placed it in the ‘valley area’ rather than on the higher chalk hills, which rightly have greater protection from development.

2. There is a glaring inconsistency between the draft Local Plan, which prioritises the Gog Magog Hills for enhancing strategic green infrastructure, and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which inexplicably fails to recognise them appropriately. There is no recognition of Wandlebury Country Park or Magog Downs (both are County Wildlife Sites), or of Stapleford Pit (a Local Nature Reserve) in the LNRS, all designated in Policy NH/5: Sites of biodiversity or geological importance. Ironically, the LNRS hails S. Cambs for its growing network of chalk grassland yet singularly fails to map them accurately; we are alarmed about the impact this will have on opportunities to enhance calcareous grassland sites, buffer and enlarge them, and to create habitat stepping stones and corridors.

3. Inaccurate mapping of the Gog Magog Hills and their exclusion from the LNRS means that, despite being a priority for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge, they are not being accorded sufficient value and hence protection when evaluating the environmental and landscape impacts of the proposed route of the CSET busway. As proposed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, the lengthy section of the busway from where it crosses the track to the east of Stapleford Granary and continues in a north-westerly direction to where it passes Nine Wells Local Nature Reserve near Cambridge South Station will use the lower slopes of the Gog Magog Hills. There is, therefore, a glaring inconsistency between the green infrastructure aims of the draft Local Plan and its transport strategy. This inconsistency could be at least partly mitigated if an alternative, on-road route along the A1307 corridor from the A11 to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus was pursued instead. If requested, we can provide more evidence of the benefits of this on-road route.

P462, Policy BG/GI clause 5(13) – we fully support the inclusion of allotments and community gardens as an identified priority for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge.

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