Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 209172

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Turnstone Real Estate Limited

Agent: Quod

The explanatory text explains that Greater Cambridge’s fast-growing economy is driven by successful partnerships between academics, business, investors and local government, and outlines a commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth, which competes at a global level.

To achieve this strategic priority, an ambitious approach is required to the delivery of jobs and economic floorspace. However, this is not reflected in the additional jobs figures identified in Policy S/JH – 73,330 jobs to 2045.

Whilst economic turbulence is inevitable, the establishment of planning policy should be configured to reflect the intended ambition and aspiration regarding growth. The proposed additional job number is based on an average jobs per annum that is less than what has been achieved between 2010 and 2020, and even
less 2010-2023 when reflecting the implications of the Pandemic.

This approach does not align with the scale of economic ambition sought across Greater Cambridge. As a minimum the policy should be based on the growth rate achieved in the decade up to 2020. This would assume that the economy sustains the previous absolute level
of growth over the plan period, with the larger economic base created year-on-year making it an achievable objective.

Comment

Representation ID: 209173

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Turnstone Real Estate Limited

Agent: Quod

It should also be noted that para 2.10 of the Draft GCLP refers to the central case as the 4,000 additional jobs per annum, however, this is not consistent with the EHNU 2025.

The increase in additional jobs per annum will clearly have an associated implication on the scale of employment floorspace to be accommodated, which would need to be revised accordingly.

The current evidence base converts the proposed additional job number into a floorspace requirement having considered a series of factors, including an allowance made for displaced existing employment space.

Many of these estates comprise smaller units containing ‘population serving uses’ such as trade counters, wholesalers, vehicle repairs. Furthermore, the evidence base also recognises that a significant proportion of the existing industrial stock is aging.

As a result, the proposed industrial need requirement of 317,000sqm set out in paragraph 2.12 is considered to be an under-estimate of the overall requirement if market signals are appropriately applied, particularly in respect of existing floorspace that will be displaced by mixed use allocations, the significant scale of aging industrial stock that may be lost/redeveloped, and the scale of suppressed demand.

Object

Representation ID: 209174

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Turnstone Real Estate Limited

Agent: Quod

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Turnstone Real Estate Limited object as the policy fails to reflect the outcomes of the published evidence base in terms of the locational requirements of general industrial uses.

Overall, the the Greater Cambridge Warehouse and Industrial Space Needs Report (2025) concludes that c.30% of the residual industrial land need is for sites on the urban fringe (for general industrial and MidTech uses, as well as last mile local distribution), with the remainder (ie manufacturing and distribution) being in commutable locations or close to the strategic road network (ie A14 and M11).

However, the strategic employment allocations identified in Policy S/DS fail to identify sites that meet the identified locational requirements for general industrial operators, and are capable of being delivered in the short term to meet identified needs. The strategic sites identified in Policy S/DS to meet industrial needs generally fall into 2 categories a) delivery as part of a large mixed use allocations; or b) sites on the A14.

In terms of the proposed sites on the A14, these are remote from the urban boundary of Cambridge and therefore fail to meet identified locational requirements (as defined by the NPPF). This has two primary consequences, firstly it results in additional vehicular movements by car which is inconsistent with the key themes and strategic objectives of the Draft GCLP ie managing climate change, promoting active travel and reducing private car use. Secondly, it divorces operators from the local population and established customer base that they serve. The WISN explains the importance of this locational requirement for the general industrial and
MidTech sectors, specifically those wholesale and trader counter operators, whose business model is based on being in close proximity to its customer base.

Object

Representation ID: 209175

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Turnstone Real Estate Limited

Agent: Quod

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Turnstone Real Estate Limited object as the policy fails to reflect the outcomes of the published evidence in supporting the displacement of existing industrial land due to the emphasis on allocating large, complex sites.

The Development Strategy delivers the majority of the employment requirements, in particular general industrial space, on sites off the A14 or as part of larger mixed-use site redevelopments, such as North East Cambridge or Cambridge East.

In respect of the latter, it is accepted that such sites have the opportunity to deliver general industrial floorspace as part of a mixed use offer. However, sites like North East Cambridge are typically highly complex, and will require extensive masterplanning and pre-application engagement, before a planning application is advanced and development can be delivered.

The need for general industrial space to support the local economy is immediate and urgent, and the over reliance on large complex sites will cause further unacceptable and unnecessary adverse impacts to this sector.

Furthermore, allocated sites such as North East Cambridge already contain existing general industrial floorspace. Whilst the policy aspires to deliver replacement space as part of any redevelopment scheme, there will inevitably be a period of time when the existing use is displaced pending its reprovision. During this time, it is important that opportunities exist in the right location to rehouse these employment uses to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the local resident population, but that they do so in an efficient and sustainable manner that does not result in increased vehicular trips by the private car.

Object

Representation ID: 211589

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Turnstone Real Estate Limited

Agent: Quod

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Turnstone Real Estate Limited object as the policy fails to recognise role of that Grey Belt land could play in assisting to meet employment needs.

The approach adopted within the Draft GCLP is explained in the Development Strategy Topic Paper (December 2025), in particular Appendix 4. The Topic Paper explains why the GCSP does not consider the exceptional circumstances exist in this instance.

However, the evidence base and Sustainability Appraisal process nonetheless consider a series of alternative development strategy approaches to meet identified needs, including the use of Green Belt land on the edge of Cambridge.

Overall, the Topic Paper concludes that Green Belt sites on the edge of the urban area could perform well. However, the Topic Paper explains that the main disadvantage of such an approach would likely be the significant harm to the Green Belt. However, this conclusion pre-supposes that such sites are Green Belt, rather than Grey Belt land.

Object

Representation ID: 211590

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Turnstone Real Estate Limited

Agent: Quod

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Turnstone Real Estate Limited are promoting Land to the South of Butt Lane, Milton (HELAA Reference 40365) as part of this consultation alongside the Diocese of Ely.

Turnstone Real Estate Limited object to the site not being allocated as part of the Local Plan.

Please refer to the accompanying attachments for further details.