Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 208393

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Ceres Property on behalf of land owner at Freisland Farm, Swavesey

Agent: Ceres Property

The housing land supply position does not exceed 5.5 years within the plan period and upon adoption it is estimated to be 5.15 years. This does not align with the NPPF’s objectives to significantly boost housing land supply and is not considered to align with the growth aspirations for Greater Cambridge.
Given the reliance on new settlements and urban extensions, there is a good prospect that the 5 year housing land supply could easily slip below 5 years. It is imperative that additional small and medium sized sites are allocated that can be delivered within the first 5 to 10 years of the plan period. This would significantly boost housing land supply, provide choice and competition for land, and will also ensure that a continuous 5 year housing land supply can be maintained.

Comment

Representation ID: 208394

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Ceres Property on behalf of land owner at Freisland Farm, Swavesey

Agent: Ceres Property

There is a clear need to increase the number of new allocated sites both to increase housing delivery and to ensure a suitable supply of sites. The current housing buffer of 6.5% is considered inadequate, particularly given that the vast majority of new allocated growth is limited to 3 new sites, all of which have substantial and complicated infrastructure requirements in order to be delivered.

Comment

Representation ID: 208395

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Ceres Property on behalf of land owner at Freisland Farm, Swavesey

Agent: Ceres Property

The vision for Greater Cambridge set in the draft Plan to be a place where a big decrease in climate and
environmental impacts comes with the continued flourishing of the internationally significant innovation
economy, and a big increase in the quality of everyday life for all communities, is supported.
However, to achieving this vision it is necessary for the adoption of a sound Local Plan to be based on
ambitious targets for growth and to be positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with
national policy (in accordance with the NPPF tests). As acknowledged in the Draft Local Plan (DLP), it is
still very much a draft.
In its current form the DLP requires amendments to ensure that the level of growth and housing
allocations reflect the Vision for Greater Cambridge as set out in the DLP and are aligned with the Local
Growth Plan and National ambitions for the area

Comment

Representation ID: 208396

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Ceres Property on behalf of land owner at Freisland Farm, Swavesey

Agent: Ceres Property

As part of the reforms to the current planning system, the Greater Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Combined Authority will have to produce a Spatial Development Strategy for their area which will be
built on the Local Growth Plan and will include geographical and land-use designations. The mayor has
committed to producing a spatial development strategy as a priority and it is anticipated this will be in
place in 2028 when this DLP is due to be adopted.
There will be a requirement for the new Local Plan to align with the mayor’s spatial strategy, particularly
given they are both due for adoption in 2028, if it is not amended now it will be immediately out of date.
It is also relevant to note that, as a result of local government reorganisation, it is a distinct possibility
that this will be the last Local Plan prepared to guide the growth and development of the Greater
Cambridge area. It would seem sensible that the Councils take this opportunity to deliver a development
strategy which reflects and supports the approach being taken at both the national the regional level
and ensures that the area can maximise the benefits and opportunities available at the local level.
Therefore, to align with the Cambridgeshire Local Plan and emerging Spatial Development Strategy, and
accounting for the number of large strategic allocations in the plan, it is considered that the plan period
should be extended to at least 2050. A longer plan period is considered to clearly be the most
reasonable strategy, when considered against the alternatives. This amendment is required in order for
the plan to accord with national policy and for it to be justified

Comment

Representation ID: 208397

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Ceres Property on behalf of land owner at Freisland Farm, Swavesey

Agent: Ceres Property

It is argued that as the Standard Method figures broadly correlate with the Central (suggested most
likely) job and housing projections, that adoption of these figures is appropriate. However, this level of
growth does not align with either the Government’s, or the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Combined Authorities aspirations for growth within Greater Cambridge. In accordance with the requirements of paragraphs 25 and 26 of the NPPF, it is critical that the emerging
Local Plan is aligned to the Local Growth Plan and emerging Spatial Development Plan for
Cambridgeshire. As a starting point, this will require that housing and employment growth is
substantially increased to align with the national and regional objectives.

Comment

Representation ID: 208398

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Ceres Property on behalf of land owner at Freisland Farm, Swavesey

Agent: Ceres Property

Policy S/DS sets out the proposed strategy for the pattern, scale, and design quality of places created
in Greater Cambridge, for the plan period to 2045 and beyond. This is one of the key strategic policies
within the DLP.
However, as draft it places a very high level reliance on the delivery of growth across only four sites, all
of which are 6,000 dwellings or larger in size, and all of which are predicated on significant infrastructure
improvements. This approach results in substantial concerns regarding the likelihood of housing
delivery being delayed, which is not unreasonable give past experience, as well as a lack of certainty
around infrastructure funding and associated timing of delivery.

Comment

Representation ID: 208399

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Ceres Property on behalf of land owner at Freisland Farm, Swavesey

Agent: Ceres Property

In respect of our client’s sites in Swavesey these are located adjacent to a sustainable settlement
situated on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway within the A14 corridor. They are suitable, available and
could be developed relatively quickly without the need for any major infrastructure improvements.
There are not any site-specific constraints for which mitigation cannot be delivered. Therefore in our
opinion these sites, and similar sites in the other sustainable rural villages, should be allocated in the
plan to help deliver the growth ambitions for Greater Cambridge in a timely and effective way.
We wish to stress the site owners desire to work collaboratively with the Council in respect of their
proposed site allocations, and to emphasise the flexibility that exists in respect of this land, to respond
to potential local development needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 211094

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Ceres Property on behalf of land owner at Freisland Farm, Swavesey

Agent: Ceres Property

The following sites should be considered for allocation for residential development in the Local Plan:

Swavesey – Land on the south side of Fen Drayton Road (HELAA Reference 208846).

Swavesey – Land North of Home Close and West of Moat Way, Swavesey (HELAA Reference 40415).

Swavesey – Land North of Home Close and west of Moat Way (smaller site) (HELAA Ref 208849).