Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

We support the plans for moving to net zero but calls for more focus on transport in the discussions about sustainable new housing. Evidence from other new developments suggests that even if vehicle spaces are radically reduced people buy cars and park all over the sites. Investment in public transport and 'active travel' modes counters this. This involves more penetration of housing developments by buses that offer commuters a real alternative; safe walking routes to bus stops; and safe cycling routes. Cars are the biggest source of air pollution and we need to highlight how they damage air quality.

Cambridge Living Streets welcomes theses policies and we organise walks in older and new developments to investigate green spaces. There is a balance to be struck between protecting green spaces and encouraging access to them. In one walk our helpful guide was disappointed by the lack of local residnts visiting the site but looking around there was no seating and little information about what was growing there. This needs to change if residents are to engage more widely with green space and not focus in Cambridge city) on the downsides eg kerbside weed growth blocking drains!

Our focus is on walking/wheeling as the healthiest form of sustainable local travel, so our main concern is that new settlements and developments deliver this as a primary prioirity. If there are good local shops and control of unhealthy fast food retail outlets as you suggest then this is a major boost for people's health. They are more inclined to walk and meet others walking, helping to build a sense of community. We would be happy to organise walks in developments that are being constructed providing it is safe to do so - see our attachments in Great Places section.

Good to make HIAs a formal requirement and important points about social isolation and poorer health outcomes but add community severance issue where high traffic levels/layout impede neighbourliness.
Walkers/wheelers don't always feel safe near cyclists and micromobility vehicles/skateboards (?) - speed, footway abuse, lack of lights -build in remedies
Add building continuous footways at junctions fostering pedestrian priority/wheeling accessibility/slowing vehicle speeds.

Good to make HIAs a formal requirement.
Important points about social isolation and poorer health outcomes but add community severance issue where high traffic levels/layout impede neighbourliness.
Active Travel glib phrase - walkers/wheelers don't always feel safe near cyclists and micromobility vehicles - speed, footway abuse, lack of lights -build in remedies
Add building continuous footways at junctions fostering pedestrian priority/wheeling accessibility/slowing vehicle speeds.

Tree management issue - fine to plant but leaf fall/lack of maintenance brings trip hazards/impassable footways
New but also 'enhancing existing' routes - excellent but so much to do! Where are priorities/plans for later?

Jobs: Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Representation Summary:

We support plans to provide varied and relevant jobs and emphasise the need for residents as well as commuters to benefit. One key is accessibility not just by cycle or public transport but by walking/wheeling. Not enough consideration is being given to this in new retail and office developments. The Beehive redevelopment is one example, where cheap local shopping on the Beehve site – accessible by walking/wheeling from the densely populated Romsey, Abbey and Petersfield districts will be replace by lab space/offices. Residents will have to travel to the Cambridge Retail Park across busy Coldhams Lane – a significantly longer journey for walkers/wheelers to shops that are less likely to be cheap/bargain retail. The conversion of the Grafton Centre to lab space with the removal of almost all the retail laves walkers/wheeers with greatly reduced choice. Their response is likely to be either more home deliveries, increasing the number of vehicles and level of congestion or/and residents driving their cars to the Retail Park and adding to traffic levels on Mill/East/Newmarket roads. The ‘doughnut effect’, observed by reseachers 20 years ago as the hollowing out of cities to periphery supermarkets and facilities, increases motor traffic and reduces walking/wheeling. It has a disproportionate negative effect on older people who rely on local shops and on walking/wheeling.


Homes: Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Representation Summary:

We support plans for 40% affordable homes and Cambridge City Council’ commitment to council house building, which enables poorer households to live in the city and to work near their homes – especially important for those working unsocial hours. Adequate street lighting, good pavement quality and pedestrian-focused crossings at desire lines help night workers to make short journeys safely on foot.

Policy GP/QP: Establishing high quality landscape and public realm : Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Representation Summary:

It is good to make Health Impact Assessment a formal requirement when new developments are proposed.
The plan makes important points about social isolation and poorer health outcomes but add community severance issue. This is where high traffic levels/layout impede neighbourliness.

Is Active Travel still a useful framing to use? - walkers/wheelers don't always feel safe near cyclists and growing numbers of micromobility vehicles. Speed, footway abuse, lack of lights are all reported as issues by our members – the plan needs to build in remedies
Add building continuous footways at junctions to foster pedestrian priority, wheeling accessibility and to slow vehicle speeds.

Tree management issue - fine to plant but leaf fall/lack of maintenance brings trip hazards/impassable footways
New but also 'enhancing existing' routes - excellent but so much to do! Where are priorities/plans for the enhancements? These need developing.

Planning has usually been focused on new developments and we have commented in the past on these eg. Beehive, Grafton Centre, Mill Yard, etc. However this document includes enhancing active travel feature so sending you a copy of the work our group has done on good/bad/middling footways round the old and new parts of the city should be helpful. We hope your changed stance signals your understanding of the importance of connectivity between new and existing developments.

Jobs: Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Representation Summary:

We support plans to provide varied and relevant jobs and emphasise the need for residents as well as commuters to benefit. One key is accessibility not just by cycle or public transport but by walking/wheeling. Not enough consideration is being given to this in new retail and office developments. The Beehive redevelopment is one example, where cheap local shopping on the Beehve site – accessible by walking/wheeling from the densely populated Romsey, Abbey and Petersfield districts will be replace by lab space/offices. Residents will have to travel to the Cambridge Retail Park across busy Coldhams Lane – a significantly longer journey for walkers/wheelers to shops that are less likely to be cheap/bargain retail. The conversion of the Grafton Centre to lab space with the removal of almost all the retail laves walkers/wheeers with greatly reduced choice. Their response is likely to be either more home deliveries, increasing the number of vehicles and level of congestion or/and residents driving their cars to the Retail Park and adding to traffic levels on Mill/East/Newmarket roads. The ‘doughnut effect’, observed by reseachers 20 years ago as the hollowing out of cities to periphery supermarkets and facilities, increases motor traffic and reduces walking/wheeling. It has a disproportionate negative effect on older people who rely on local shops and on walking/wheeling.


Homes: Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Representation Summary:

We support plans for 40% affordable homes and Cambridge City Council’ commitment to council house building, which enables poorer households to live in the city and to work near their homes – especially important for those working unsocial hours. Adequate street lighting, good pavement quality and pedestrian-focused crossings at desire lines help night workers to make short journeys safely on foot.

Policy GP/QP: Establishing high quality landscape and public realm : Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Representation Summary:

It is good to make Health Impact Assessment a formal requirement when new developments are proposed.
The plan makes important points about social isolation and poorer health outcomes but add community severance issue. This is where high traffic levels/layout impede neighbourliness.

Is Active Travel still a useful framing to use? - walkers/wheelers don't always feel safe near cyclists and growing numbers of micromobility vehicles. Speed, footway abuse, lack of lights are all reported as issues by our members – the plan needs to build in remedies
Add building continuous footways at junctions to foster pedestrian priority, wheeling accessibility and to slow vehicle speeds.

Tree management issue - fine to plant but leaf fall/lack of maintenance brings trip hazards/impassable footways
New but also 'enhancing existing' routes - excellent but so much to do! Where are priorities/plans for the enhancements? These need developing.

Planning has usually been focused on new developments and we have commented in the past on these eg. Beehive, Grafton Centre, Mill Yard, etc. However this document includes enhancing active travel feature so sending you a copy of the work our group has done on good/bad/middling footways round the old and new parts of the city should be helpful. We hope your changed stance signals your understanding of the importance of connectivity between new and existing developments.