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Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Summary of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan
Representation ID: 203329
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
Great Wilbraham Parish Council (GWPC) is concerned that the Local Plan disadvantages our residents and 60k residents in ‘Group and Infill’ villages in favour of those in new developments and larger, better-connected villages. SCDC is one of the most rural populations in the country, but when considering infrastructure to make communities viable and sustainable and fulfil key strategic themes we are being ignored. Great Wilbraham has close historic, social and geographic links with Little Wilbraham and Six Mile Bottom. The two Parish Councils would like to work together informally and with the Council to develop a strategy for sustainability.
Great Wilbraham Parish Council (GWPC) is concerned that the Local Plan disadvantages our residents and 60k residents in ‘Group and Infill’ villages in favour of those in new developments and larger, better-connected villages. SCDC is one of the most rural populations in the country, but when considering infrastructure to make communities viable and sustainable and fulfil key strategic themes we are being ignored. Great Wilbraham has close historic, social and geographic links with Little Wilbraham and Six Mile Bottom. The two Parish Councils would like to work together informally and with the Council to develop a strategy for sustainability.
Comment
Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Policy S/DS: Development strategy
Representation ID: 203335
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
The “joint” planning clearly prioritises development in Cambridge City with wider sites as dormitories to serve it. There is no priority given to the needs of Great Wilbraham residents and the more than 60k people living in villages in South Cambridgeshire and the plan clearly establishes a very one-sided relationship that sets a worrying precedent for the planned unitary authority where the rural areas around Cambridge are seen only to serve it rather than having an opportunity to develop themselves.
The “joint” planning clearly prioritises development in Cambridge City with wider sites as dormitories to serve it. There is no priority given to the needs of Great Wilbraham residents and the more than 60k people living in villages in South Cambridgeshire and the plan clearly establishes a very one-sided relationship that sets a worrying precedent for the planned unitary authority where the rural areas around Cambridge are seen only to serve it rather than having an opportunity to develop themselves.
Comment
Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Development strategy
Representation ID: 203336
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
The strategic priorities state that planning should meet the need of “our diverse communities” but in later sections of the plan unfair prioritisation is given for urban centres and the communities that become dormitories for them, whilst rural communities such as Great Wilbraham are disenfranchised. If development in smaller villages is to be severely limited the Plan should include strategies for proactively working with villages to develop more sustainability and viability for residents even if this is means that services such as buses, schools or shops require extra support and are not, in themselves cost effective.
The strategic priorities state that planning should meet the need of “our diverse communities” but in later sections of the plan unfair prioritisation is given for urban centres and the communities that become dormitories for them, whilst rural communities such as Great Wilbraham are disenfranchised. If development in smaller villages is to be severely limited the Plan should include strategies for proactively working with villages to develop more sustainability and viability for residents even if this is means that services such as buses, schools or shops require extra support and are not, in themselves cost effective.
Comment
Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Policy S/SH: Settlement hierarchy
Representation ID: 203338
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
Great Wilbraham PC disagrees with the concept of the settlement hierarchy, which contradicts the aim of making communities viable by putting a stranglehold around villages such as Great Wilbraham and preventing them developing to fulfil their own needs. It consigns our 660 residents and more then 60k others to living in ‘unviable communities’. Rather than preserving our characteristic villages (which are historic and have evolved over time) they become ‘dormitories’, requiring households to have their own transport and depriving all non-car drivers (including all children and many older people) of freedom.
Great Wilbraham PC disagrees with the concept of the settlement hierarchy, which contradicts the aim of making communities viable by putting a stranglehold around villages such as Great Wilbraham and preventing them developing to fulfil their own needs. It consigns our 660 residents and more then 60k others to living in ‘unviable communities’. Rather than preserving our characteristic villages (which are historic and have evolved over time) they become ‘dormitories’, requiring households to have their own transport and depriving all non-car drivers (including all children and many older people) of freedom.
Comment
Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Policy S/DE: Defined development extents
Representation ID: 203346
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
The defined development extent for Great Wilbraham leaves almost no potential sites and prevents further housing even though of a scale, density and character appropriate to the village. We note that developments outside these extents may be allowed where it would support other polices in the plan; we argue that an explicit reason might therefore be to help make local communities sustainable. A small village such as Great Wilbraham does not have the finances or manpower to undertake a Neighbourhood Plan. The Council should be obliged to work with us to assess need and develop a plan.
The defined development extent for Great Wilbraham leaves almost no potential sites and prevents further housing even though of a scale, density and character appropriate to the village. We note that developments outside these extents may be allowed where it would support other polices in the plan; we argue that an explicit reason might therefore be to help make local communities sustainable. A small village such as Great Wilbraham does not have the finances or manpower to undertake a Neighbourhood Plan. The Council should be obliged to work with us to assess need and develop a plan.
Comment
Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Policy S/GB: The Cambridge Green Belt
Representation ID: 203349
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
The Green Belt is intended to protect Cambridge City and the distribution, character, setting and scale of surrounding small rural villages; specifically, to prevent merging. We believe this is too tight around Great Wilbraham village, mainly following property boundaries. Great Wilbraham cannot maintain its community character if it loses amenities such as the school through low and ageing population. The nearest properties in Fulbourn are 1.5 miles from the edge of Great Wilbraham. Some development on plots within the relatively open structure of the village is very far from the ‘ribbon development’ which the Green Belt is designed to prevent.
The Green Belt is intended to protect Cambridge City and the distribution, character, setting and scale of surrounding small rural villages; specifically, to prevent merging. We believe this is too tight around Great Wilbraham village, mainly following property boundaries. Great Wilbraham cannot maintain its community character if it loses amenities such as the school through low and ageing population. The nearest properties in Fulbourn are 1.5 miles from the edge of Great Wilbraham. Some development on plots within the relatively open structure of the village is very far from the ‘ribbon development’ which the Green Belt is designed to prevent.
Comment
Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Policy CC/SD: Sustainable development and the climate emergency
Representation ID: 203361
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
Great Wilbraham would also like to contribute to climate change reduction but is again sidelined through this plan. 1) It is important to maintain/increase our current hourly bus service. 2) Low carbon transport can be achieved by shifting to EV cars; there is a need for charging facilities for those without offroad parking at home, at transport hubs and incentives such as cheaper parking for EVs are important.3) Rural housing often has more space for the technologies that mitigate climate change including ground source heat pumps and solar power
Great Wilbraham would also like to contribute to climate change reduction but is again sidelined through this plan. 1) It is important to maintain/increase our current hourly bus service. 2) Low carbon transport can be achieved by shifting to EV cars; there is a need for charging facilities for those without offroad parking at home, at transport hubs and incentives such as cheaper parking for EVs are important. 3) Rural housing often has more space for the technologies that mitigate climate change including ground source heat pumps and solar power
Comment
Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Biodiversity and green spaces
Representation ID: 203373
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
Great Wilbraham has important local green spaces and nature habitats. However, our SSSI at Great Wilbraham Common has no safe access route from the village; and the Little Wilbraham River, a chalk stream arising in Great Wilbraham is endangered by reduced water in the chalk aquifers and requires pumping to local springs at Wilbraham Temple. The GWPC is concerned that, with no local development, there will be no ‘planning contributions where funding can be used to enhance the wider network’ – so Great Wilbraham nature habitats will miss out. Could planning contributions be pooled and then allocated more widely?
Great Wilbraham has important local green spaces and nature habitats. However, our SSSI at Great Wilbraham Common has no safe access route from the village; and the Little Wilbraham River, a chalk stream arising in Great Wilbraham is endangered by reduced water in the chalk aquifers and requires pumping to local springs at Wilbraham Temple. The GWPC is concerned that, with no local development, there will be no ‘planning contributions where funding can be used to enhance the wider network’ – so Great Wilbraham nature habitats will miss out. Could planning contributions be pooled and then allocated more widely?
Comment
Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Wellbeing and social inclusion
Representation ID: 203377
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
Great Wilbraham residents have a huge love for their village, its historic homes and buildings and, crucially, a shared knowledge of the families who have lived in them over the years. This is based on continuity of people and place over hundreds of years and enables rapid integration of newcomers. We believe this ethos exceeds anything in a new development and is very hard to replicate. It should be cherished in all the South Cambridgeshire villages. However, it requires some refreshment or people and planned, thoughtful small development in the villages, rather than simply preservation of the status quo.
Great Wilbraham residents have a huge love for their village, its historic homes and buildings and, crucially, a shared knowledge of the families who have lived in them over the years. This is based on continuity of people and place over hundreds of years and enables rapid integration of newcomers. We believe this ethos exceeds anything in a new development and is very hard to replicate. It should be cherished in all the South Cambridgeshire villages. However, it requires some refreshment or people and planned, thoughtful small development in the villages, rather than simply preservation of the status quo.
Comment
Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation
Wellbeing and social inclusion
Representation ID: 203378
Received: 29/01/2026
Respondent: Great Wilbraham Parish Council
Great Wilbraham is an inclusive and caring community, in touch with a high proportion of its residents. However, our current facilities (School, Memorial Hall with social activities, Recreation Ground and sports facilities, public house, shop, quarterly magazine etc.) are jeopardised by a dwindling number of volunteers. Old people prefer to stay in the village, and with a policy of highly restricted development there is little refreshing of the population; our village community seems condemned to unmanaged decline. There are also poorer households in Great Wilbraham, but there is no indication through the strategy of how they will be assisted.
Great Wilbraham is an inclusive and caring community, in touch with a high proportion of its residents. However, our current facilities (School, Memorial Hall with social activities, Recreation Ground and sports facilities, public house, shop, quarterly magazine etc.) are jeopardised by a dwindling number of volunteers. Old people prefer to stay in the village, and with a policy of highly restricted development there is little refreshing of the population; our village community seems condemned to unmanaged decline. There are also poorer households in Great Wilbraham, but there is no indication through the strategy of how they will be assisted.
