Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

We support this policy but believe it could be made stronger in the following areas. Firstly we suggest that the policy should explicitly state that 10% BNG is a minimum expectation, not the desired outcome, and require higher BNG in defined circumstances (large sites, strategic allocations, sensitive locations). Secondly we suggest a requirement for BNG to contribute toward ecological connectivity i.e. creation and enhancement of ecological networks including river corridors and habitat stepping stones as set out in the Cambridgeshire Nature Recovery Strategy. And finally we suggest that biodiversity enhancement should also contribute to climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions, flood resilience, and improved health and wellbeing.

In addition to the requirements included we think children’s play should be considered more broadly than just ‘play area’ there is a lack of integrated play and playable landscapes in Cambridge and we would like to see policies similar The London Plan S4 including:
“incorporate accessible routes for children and young people to existing play provision, schools and youth centres, within the local area, that enable them to play and move around their local neighbourhood safely and independently.
for large-scale public realm developments, incorporate incidental play space to make the space more playable”
We would like to see public realm incorporate more elements for engaging children. Evidenced through the success Dinky Doors https://www.dinkydoors.co.uk/ has had on engaging children while walking and making space for them in the public realm.

In addition to the requirements included we think children’s play should be considered more broadly than just ‘play area’ there is a lack of integrated play and playable landscapes in Cambridge and we would like to see policies similar The London Plan S4 including:
“incorporate accessible routes for children and young people to existing play provision, schools and youth centres, within the local area, that enable them to play and move around their local neighbourhood safely and independently.
for large-scale public realm developments, incorporate incidental play space to make the space more playable”
We would like to see public realm incorporate more elements for engaging children. Evidenced through the success Dinky Doors https://www.dinkydoors.co.uk/ has had on engaging children while walking and making space for them in the public realm.