Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Support

Representation ID: 211230

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

LSH supports the requirement of providing a minimum of 48,195 homes over the Greater Cambridgeshire area. The Housing Needs of Specific Groups in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Report (August 2025) concluded that there was an annual need in Greater Cambridge for 2,309 dwellings, with paragraph 7.159 stating that there is an acute need for affordable housing in both local authorities (Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire) and that it is clear that the provision of new affordable housing is an important and pressing issue in the area (para. 7.169).

Comment

Representation ID: 211231

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

The allocation of small sites should be recognised as a priority and supports small house builders to ensure that they benefit from having their sites identified for development. Small and medium sized sites can make an important contribution to meeting the housing requirement of an area, are essential for Small and Medium Enterprise housebuilders to deliver new homes and are often built out relatively quickly.

Object

Representation ID: 211232

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

LSH do not agree with the allocation of Cottenham as a ‘Minor Rural Centre’.

The Settlement Hierarchy Study states that the reason for this downgrading is due to the frequency of bus service changing to every 40 minutes, and as Cottenham does not have a segregated public transport route. However, Cottenham is still identified within paragraph 3.7 of this study as offering a good range of shops and services, with later acknowledgement that the settlement provides 28 shops and services, as well as a primary school and GP surgery.

In relation to villages services and facilities provided, appendix 11 finds that Cottenham scored 15 points, significantly higher than Gamlingay which scored 7 and Willingham which scored 9. Both of these settlements are also identified as minor rural centres. The implication here is that settlements with significantly varied scores are identified as the same category village that can take the same level of growth and have a maximum size of 30 dwellings per development, which should not be the case.

Comment

Representation ID: 211233

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

LSH agrees with this Policies alignment with National Policy within the NPPF relating to Green Belt release on sites that accord with the Golden Rules.

As previously stated above, the Greater Cambridge Green Belt Assessment Final Report August 2021 reviewed this site for Green Belt release and it was concluded that Land At 56 Histon Road Cottenham, Cambridgeshire (HELAA Reference 40218) makes limited contributions to the overall Green Belt and could be potentially released with minimal impact.

Object

Representation ID: 211234

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The proposed restriction on water use to 80 litres per person per day in developments of 100+ dwellings, and 90-100 litres per person per day in developments of less than 100 dwellings is unduly onerous and is not consistent with national requirements. By Building Regulation standards, the current restriction is 125 litres per person per day (LPPPD) with an optional uplift / reduction to 110 litres per person per day. The 'Water Ready’ report published earlier this year by the Future Homes Hub outlines a framework for new homes to achieve 90 LPPPD by 2035.

These restrictions to the LPPPD is considered unreasonable. The Policy should instead be written to reflect national regulations. LSH consider the Policy is reworded to reflect National Building Regulations Standards of 125 LPPPD.

Comment

Representation ID: 211235

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

LSH agrees with the integration of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) into developments as a way of managing surface water runoff.

Comment

Representation ID: 211236

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

LSH are concerned that this Policy does not reflect the updated Planning Practice Guidance (“PPG”) (updated 17 09 2025) relating to sequential testing. Policy CC/FM states that development proposals will be supported where the sequential test has been passed. However, this is not in compliance with the updated PPG, which states that a proportionate approach should be taken, applying NPPF Paragraph 175.

The PPG makes clear that where a site-specific flood risk assessment demonstrates clearly that the proposal would
ensure that occupiers and users would remain safe from surface water flood risk for the lifetime of the development
(without increasing flood risk elsewhere) a sequential test is not required. LSH therefore request that this Policy be
amended to reflect the updated PPG.

Object

Representation ID: 211237

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

LSH do not agree with Policy BG/BG as it is not a consistent approach in relation to the National Requirements for BNG. We accept that on-site net gain delivery should followed however, the Policy requirement of 20% BNG on major sites should not be followed. The uplift of the minimum BNG requirement unfairly penalises SME developers who deliver smaller residential developments that cannot often feasibly deliver the mandatory 10% net gain in biodiversity, in full, on-site. LSH suggest that Policy BG/BG needs to be amended to be consistent with the national requirements for delivering a net gain in biodiversity, to be justified.

Support

Representation ID: 211238

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

LSH supports the inclusion of public open spaces within future developments, as part of creating high quality functional spaces for residents to enjoy.

Support

Representation ID: 211239

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

LSH agrees that future development should be of quality design and should contribute and respond to the local character of the surrounding settlement.