Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

As custodian of an historic settlement which can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, the Parish Council feels an obligation to protect the unique identity of Elsworth. The Policy must have effective measures to mitigate adverse impacts of the proposals on our village and its residents.

Travel and traffic
There can be little is objection to the encouragement of ‘active’ travel, improvements in bus services and walking and cycling links. However, these can never serve all residents’ travel needs. Nor can a railway because it is inherently inflexible in terms of its route and the destinations it serves; many local residents, whether in Cambourne or in the villages will not regularly use it to commute for work to Cambridge or London.

A travel strategy has to take account of:
- People’s need to travel to destinations which are either too far away to make active travel a feasible option; are not readily served by public transport; or because they have to carry goods/equipment.
- Traffic flows in and out of the area by private and commercial vehicles: to access the station/new town centre, for work , to make deliveries, for recreation (‘Cambourne Forest’ being seen as a visitor attraction).
- New housing/logistics developments beyond the immediate area of Cambourne and most particularly to the north.
- That thousands of additional houses will - behavioural changes from the promotion of active travel notwithstanding - will mean thousands of extra vehicles in the area which will not always sit on driveways but will be using our inadequately maintained local roads.

In the absence of the Combined Authority’s Travel Strategy, at present the Policy focuses very much on travel between Cambourne and Cambourne North and makes little mention of traffic coming/going north for which the only routes are through Elsworth along Brockley Road or through Boxworth and Knapwell. Nor is mention made that of the resiting of the rail station westwards. This is likely to affect the route along which traffic will flow with traffic coming via Boxworth continuing along Boxworth Road into Elsworth and then going down Brockley Road, rather than going through Knapwell thereby increasing traffic volumes in Elsworth.

The Policy is also deficient in proposing measures to mitigate the impact of traffic flows through the villages. It talks about “Appropriate traffic calming measures in surrounding villages to prevent ‘rat running’ and encourage sustainable travel, with exact measures to be identified through a Traffic Calming Study developed in conjunction with local communities”. If traffic calming is all that is to be offered, it is a serious failing. Although the trip budget seems predicated in part on traffic calming deterring vehicles coming through the villages, in practice calming measures do nothing to stop rat running now and much more effective mitigation is required (e.g. a short bypass). We await with interest further discussions on travel and traffic.

Landscape buffer
The Policy is said to provide for “a well-considered landscape buffer….which responds sensitively to the neighbouring villages and their Conservation Areas and delivers wider landscape and ecological mitigation and enhancement measures”. Our concerns about the buffer are set out in the ‘Comments on the Landscape Buffer and Coalescence between Elsworth, Knapwell and Cambourne North’ and the other documents which are appended to this response.

Flooding
The development provides an opportunity to put in effective measures to end the flooding experienced from time to time in Elsworth and we would be pleased to have discussions about this.

The vision for Greater Cambridge presented in the Plan is laudable in many respects (great places to live, a mix of job opportunities, affordable housing, etc), however, a consequence of the Plan is the slow but inexorable urbanisation of much of South Cambridgeshire, nowhere more so than in the Cambourne area. The proposed location of EWR’s station for Cambourne together with the proposals in the Local Plan for extending Cambourne north of the A428 are the most significant events to affect Elsworth since the establishment of a Parish Council in 1894.

Consequently, the Parish Council has been keen to engage with the District Council, neighbouring parishes and Elsworth residents about the proposals. This is evidenced by:
- the Joint Submission made on behalf of Elsworth, Boxworth and Knapwell to SCDC 'Input to the Draft Local Plan: A Joint Submission by Boxworth, Elsworth and Knapwell Parishes' (2025), which is appended;
- the submission to SCDC ‘Comments on the Landscape Buffer and Coalescence between Elsworth, Knapwell and Cambourne North’ (2025) also appended;
- an association with the group of parishes in the A14 Logistics Forum;
- the leaflet distributed to Elsworth residents 'The Expansion of Cambourne and what it means for our Village' (January 2026) and notes of the subsequent public meeting both of which are appended.

The documents mentioned above acknowledge that proposals in the Plan have potential benefits for Elsworth, for example in the proposed improvements to bus services, the proximity of a rail station, etc. However, they recognise that the extension of Cambourne north of the A428 would also have profound impacts on the village; at worst they could give rise to an existential threat by the geographical coalescence of the village and Cambourne North and by being taken over administratively by Cambourne Town Council. At present the Plan does little to allay concerns about the loss of identity or provide effective mitigation for the adverse impacts. The Plan is also silent on a number of critical issues; see remarks in the section ‘About the Plan’.

PLEASE NOTE that the neighbouring parish of Knapwell, which is similarly affected, also wishes to be associated with the comments which Elsworth is making.

The vision for Greater Cambridge presented in the Plan is laudable in many respects (great places to live, a mix of job opportunities, affordable housing, etc), however, a consequence of the Plan is the slow but inexorable urbanisation of much of South Cambridgeshire, nowhere more so than in the Cambourne area. The proposed location of EWR’s station for Cambourne together with the proposals in the Local Plan for extending Cambourne north of the A428 are the most significant events to affect Elsworth since the establishment of a Parish Council in 1894.

Consequently, the Parish Council has been keen to engage with the District Council, neighbouring parishes and Elsworth residents about the proposals. This is evidenced by:
- the Joint Submission made on behalf of Elsworth, Boxworth and Knapwell to SCDC 'Input to the Draft Local Plan: A Joint Submission by Boxworth, Elsworth and Knapwell Parishes' (2025), which is appended;
- the submission to SCDC ‘Comments on the Landscape Buffer and Coalescence between Elsworth, Knapwell and Cambourne North’ (2025) also appended;
- an association with the group of parishes in the A14 Logistics Forum;
- the leaflet distributed to Elsworth residents 'The Expansion of Cambourne and what it means for our Village' (January 2026) and notes of the subsequent public meeting both of which are appended.

The documents mentioned above acknowledge that proposals in the Plan have potential benefits for Elsworth, for example in the proposed improvements to bus services, the proximity of a rail station, etc. However, they recognise that the extension of Cambourne north of the A428 would also have profound impacts on the village; at worst they could give rise to an existential threat by the geographical coalescence of the village and Cambourne North and by being taken over administratively by Cambourne Town Council. At present the Plan does little to allay concerns about the loss of identity or provide effective mitigation for the adverse impacts. The Plan is also silent on a number of critical issues; see remarks in the section ‘About the Plan’.

PLEASE NOTE that the neighbouring parish of Knapwell, which is similarly affected, also wishes to be associated with the comments which Elsworth is making.

The vision for Greater Cambridge presented in the Plan is laudable in many respects (great places to live, a mix of job opportunities, affordable housing, etc), however, a consequence of the Plan is the slow but inexorable urbanisation of much of South Cambridgeshire, nowhere more so than in the Cambourne area. The proposed location of EWR’s station for Cambourne together with the proposals in the Local Plan for extending Cambourne north of the A428 are the most significant events to affect Elsworth since the establishment of a Parish Council in 1894.

Consequently, the Parish Council has been keen to engage with the District Council, neighbouring parishes and Elsworth residents about the proposals. This is evidenced by:
- the Joint Submission made on behalf of Elsworth, Boxworth and Knapwell to SCDC 'Input to the Draft Local Plan: A Joint Submission by Boxworth, Elsworth and Knapwell Parishes' (2025), which is appended;
- the submission to SCDC ‘Comments on the Landscape Buffer and Coalescence between Elsworth, Knapwell and Cambourne North’ (2025) also appended;
- an association with the group of parishes in the A14 Logistics Forum;
- the leaflet distributed to Elsworth residents 'The Expansion of Cambourne and what it means for our Village' (January 2026) and notes of the subsequent public meeting both of which are appended.

The documents mentioned above acknowledge that proposals in the Plan have potential benefits for Elsworth, for example in the proposed improvements to bus services, the proximity of a rail station, etc. However, they recognise that the extension of Cambourne north of the A428 would also have profound impacts on the village; at worst they could give rise to an existential threat by the geographical coalescence of the village and Cambourne North and by being taken over administratively by Cambourne Town Council. At present the Plan does little to allay concerns about the loss of identity or provide effective mitigation for the adverse impacts. The Plan is also silent on a number of critical issues; see remarks in the section ‘About the Plan’.

PLEASE NOTE that the neighbouring parish of Knapwell, which is similarly affected, also wishes to be associated with the comments which Elsworth is making.

The vision for Greater Cambridge presented in the Plan is laudable in many respects (great places to live, a mix of job opportunities, affordable housing, etc), however, a consequence of the Plan is the slow but inexorable urbanisation of much of South Cambridgeshire, nowhere more so than in the Cambourne area. The proposed location of EWR’s station for Cambourne together with the proposals in the Local Plan for extending Cambourne north of the A428 are the most significant events to affect Elsworth since the establishment of a Parish Council in 1894.

Consequently, the Parish Council has been keen to engage with the District Council, neighbouring parishes and Elsworth residents about the proposals. This is evidenced by:
- the Joint Submission made on behalf of Elsworth, Boxworth and Knapwell to SCDC 'Input to the Draft Local Plan: A Joint Submission by Boxworth, Elsworth and Knapwell Parishes' (2025), which is appended;
- the submission to SCDC ‘Comments on the Landscape Buffer and Coalescence between Elsworth, Knapwell and Cambourne North’ (2025) also appended;
- an association with the group of parishes in the A14 Logistics Forum;
- the leaflet distributed to Elsworth residents 'The Expansion of Cambourne and what it means for our Village' (January 2026) and notes of the subsequent public meeting both of which are appended.

The documents mentioned above acknowledge that proposals in the Plan have potential benefits for Elsworth, for example in the proposed improvements to bus services, the proximity of a rail station, etc. However, they recognise that the extension of Cambourne north of the A428 would also have profound impacts on the village; at worst they could give rise to an existential threat by the geographical coalescence of the village and Cambourne North and by being taken over administratively by Cambourne Town Council. At present the Plan does little to allay concerns about the loss of identity or provide effective mitigation for the adverse impacts. The Plan is also silent on a number of critical issues; see remarks in the section ‘About the Plan’.

PLEASE NOTE that the neighbouring parish of Knapwell, which is similarly affected, also wishes to be associated with the comments which Elsworth is making.

The vision for Greater Cambridge presented in the Plan is laudable in many respects (great places to live, a mix of job opportunities, affordable housing, etc), however, a consequence of the Plan is the slow but inexorable urbanisation of much of South Cambridgeshire, nowhere more so than in the Cambourne area. The proposed location of EWR’s station for Cambourne together with the proposals in the Local Plan for extending Cambourne north of the A428 are the most significant events to affect Elsworth since the establishment of a Parish Council in 1894.

Consequently, the Parish Council has been keen to engage with the District Council, neighbouring parishes and Elsworth residents about the proposals. This is evidenced by:
- the Joint Submission made on behalf of Elsworth, Boxworth and Knapwell to SCDC 'Input to the Draft Local Plan: A Joint Submission by Boxworth, Elsworth and Knapwell Parishes' (2025), which is appended;
- the submission to SCDC ‘Comments on the Landscape Buffer and Coalescence between Elsworth, Knapwell and Cambourne North’ (2025) also appended;
- an association with the group of parishes in the A14 Logistics Forum;
- the leaflet distributed to Elsworth residents 'The Expansion of Cambourne and what it means for our Village' (January 2026) and notes of the subsequent public meeting both of which are appended.

The documents mentioned above acknowledge that proposals in the Plan have potential benefits for Elsworth, for example in the proposed improvements to bus services, the proximity of a rail station, etc. However, they recognise that the extension of Cambourne north of the A428 would also have profound impacts on the village; at worst they could give rise to an existential threat by the geographical coalescence of the village and Cambourne North and by being taken over administratively by Cambourne Town Council. At present the Plan does little to allay concerns about the loss of identity or provide effective mitigation for the adverse impacts. The Plan is also silent on a number of critical issues; see remarks in the section ‘About the Plan’.

PLEASE NOTE that the neighbouring parish of Knapwell, which is similarly affected, also wishes to be associated with the comments which Elsworth is making.

The vision for Greater Cambridge presented in the Plan is laudable in many respects (great places to live, a mix of job opportunities, affordable housing, etc), however, a consequence of the Plan is the slow but inexorable urbanisation of much of South Cambridgeshire, nowhere more so than in the Cambourne area. The proposed location of EWR’s station for Cambourne together with the proposals in the Local Plan for extending Cambourne north of the A428 are the most significant events to affect Elsworth since the establishment of a Parish Council in 1894.

Consequently, the Parish Council has been keen to engage with the District Council, neighbouring parishes and Elsworth residents about the proposals. This is evidenced by:
- the Joint Submission made on behalf of Elsworth, Boxworth and Knapwell to SCDC 'Input to the Draft Local Plan: A Joint Submission by Boxworth, Elsworth and Knapwell Parishes' (2025), which is appended;
- the submission to SCDC ‘Comments on the Landscape Buffer and Coalescence between Elsworth, Knapwell and Cambourne North’ (2025) also appended;
- an association with the group of parishes in the A14 Logistics Forum;
- the leaflet distributed to Elsworth residents 'The Expansion of Cambourne and what it means for our Village' (January 2026) and notes of the subsequent public meeting both of which are appended.

The documents mentioned above acknowledge that proposals in the Plan have potential benefits for Elsworth, for example in the proposed improvements to bus services, the proximity of a rail station, etc. However, they recognise that the extension of Cambourne north of the A428 would also have profound impacts on the village; at worst they could give rise to an existential threat by the geographical coalescence of the village and Cambourne North and by being taken over administratively by Cambourne Town Council. At present the Plan does little to allay concerns about the loss of identity or provide effective mitigation for the adverse impacts. The Plan is also silent on a number of critical issues; see remarks in the section ‘About the Plan’.

PLEASE NOTE that the neighbouring parish of Knapwell, which is similarly affected, also wishes to be associated with the comments which Elsworth is making.

The vision for Greater Cambridge presented in the Plan is laudable in many respects (great places to live, a mix of job opportunities, affordable housing, etc), however, a consequence of the Plan is the slow but inexorable urbanisation of much of South Cambridgeshire, nowhere more so than in the Cambourne area. The proposed location of EWR’s station for Cambourne together with the proposals in the Local Plan for extending Cambourne north of the A428 are the most significant events to affect Elsworth since the establishment of a Parish Council in 1894.

Consequently, the Parish Council has been keen to engage with the District Council, neighbouring parishes and Elsworth residents about the proposals. This is evidenced by:
- the Joint Submission made on behalf of Elsworth, Boxworth and Knapwell to SCDC 'Input to the Draft Local Plan: A Joint Submission by Boxworth, Elsworth and Knapwell Parishes' (2025), which is appended;
- the submission to SCDC ‘Comments on the Landscape Buffer and Coalescence between Elsworth, Knapwell and Cambourne North’ (2025) also appended;
- an association with the group of parishes in the A14 Logistics Forum;
- the leaflet distributed to Elsworth residents 'The Expansion of Cambourne and what it means for our Village' (January 2026) and notes of the subsequent public meeting both of which are appended.

The documents mentioned above acknowledge that proposals in the Plan have potential benefits for Elsworth, for example in the proposed improvements to bus services, the proximity of a rail station, etc. However, they recognise that the extension of Cambourne north of the A428 would also have profound impacts on the village; at worst they could give rise to an existential threat by the geographical coalescence of the village and Cambourne North and by being taken over administratively by Cambourne Town Council. At present the Plan does little to allay concerns about the loss of identity or provide effective mitigation for the adverse impacts. The Plan is also silent on a number of critical issues; see remarks in the section ‘About the Plan’.

PLEASE NOTE that the neighbouring parish of Knapwell, which is similarly affected, also wishes to be associated with the comments which Elsworth is making.

Regarding the themes -
Climate change: To help meet meet net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Plan gives a lot of encouragement to active travel modes. While the health benefits of more active travel are not to be denied, this seems to take no account that by that date most vehicles will be EVs. Also it might have been expected that, albeit primarily the responsibility of EWR, some reference would have been made to the carbon footprint of the construction of the railway and electrification of the line.
Biodiversity/Green Spaces: We welcome this being taken so seriously; however more cynical residents question whether it is reasonable to sustain the claim that “development leaves the natural environment better than it was before” when concreting over a substantial area of green fields north of the A428.
Great Places: The Plan talks about the unique character of South Cambridgeshire, but, as has already been alluded to already, the very vision for Greater Cambridge would seem to lead to the slow but continued urbanisation of much of the area.
Well Being/Social Inclusion: Residents have diverse needs and it is welcome that this is recognised in the Plan.
Jobs: No doubt within the commercial development some jobs will be found for Cambourne North residents, but whether these include some higher skilled jobs as the Plan hopes will depend on attracting to the area businesses that can offer them. Again, experience in existing Cambourne suggests this may not prove easy.
Infrastructure:
- A statement of intent is all very well, but travel is such an integral part of the Plan that it is risible that the Combined Authority’s Travel Strategy will not be available before the Local Plan has to be submitted and, without that, it is hardly reasonable to expect residents to comment on this crucial aspect; see further related comments on Policy S/CBN.
- There is an expectation that developers will have to deliver not only houses and commercial premises but also community facilities; regretably their track record is not always so good in this respect and the local authority will have to be rigorous in holding them to account lest the experience of other developments such as Northstowe and Cambourne itself is repeated.
- Also the speed of build out of development at Cambourne North will be crucial in the delivery of such facilities. At the anticipated build rate of 350 p.a. it will take a considerable time to achieve a critical mass to warrant the construction of shops, surgeries, schools, etc. which, in turn, suggests that their delivery will be very slow; so there is the prospect of having all the social and behavioural problems to which this may give rise and few of the benefits as has happened elsewhere.
- There are also the known problems (staffing, etc.) in providing health and social care support to the new community.
- Mention is made of CIL/s106 monies. Obviously these will be used in the delivery of facilities/services in North Cambourne, but the Plan is silent on how such monies might also benefit the actual parishes in which development is taking place. More needs to besaid about this.

The Infrastructure Delivery Plan notwithstanding, there must be doubt that new infrastructure will be delivered in a timely manner given the speed of build out and to the extent that is required. While some new jobs will be created by the development at Cambourne North, it remains to be seen how many go to local residents and whether they will include the mix that the Plan hopes for; see previous remarks.