Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 211007

Received: 29/01/2026

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

There is strong support for embedding flood‑alleviation principles into micro rain gardens and small parcels of land within new developments, such as spare or under‑used corners. Their role in managing surface water and reducing flood risk should be made more explicit. There is also an opportunity to design small green spaces in ways that help residents understand and value their function in preventing flooding. A key question remains whether growth funding for this type of intervention will be
distributed across Greater Cambridge as a whole, or primarily targeted at areas experiencing new development.

Comment

Representation ID: 211008

Received: 29/01/2026

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

Rain gardens and in street rain gardens – Embedding principle of flood alleviation in micro rain gardens and bits of new properties e.g. spare corners is supported. Also being more explicit about their role in flood alleviation. Is there a way to design small green spaces which makes people think about preventing flooding. Again, will funding from growth for this be distributed across Greater Cambridge, or reserved for the areas seeing new development?

Comment

Representation ID: 211009

Received: 29/01/2026

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

The plan currently makes explicit reference to student accommodation, a need for one‑bed properties, and to HMOs. In practice, HMOs are doing a significant amount of “heavy lifting” in housing people aged 20–30, yet they are often a highly sub‑optimal form of housing. This cohort is critical to achieving our global city ambitions, but it is unclear whether the proposed housing genuinely caters for them. While many may aspire to one‑bedroom flats, the reality is that if HMOs are the only affordable option, this may not be sufficiently attractive to encourage them to locate here. This raises questions about global
competitiveness. Young professionals often want to live in or close to Cambridge, and value high‑quality, well‑located housing. Alternative models, such as co‑housing could be well suited to this group. It feels as though they should be recognised as a distinct housing category.

Comment

Representation ID: 211010

Received: 29/01/2026

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

There should be strong support for strict limits on the density of HMOs within any given area. In places such as Orchard Park, HMO concentrations may already be too high, and urgent action is needed to introduce and enforce density limits across the wider area. High concentrations of HMOs can undermine placemaking, contribute to a more transient population, and are often associated with poorer property maintenance, all of which have a
negative impact on neighbourhood quality.

Comment

Representation ID: 211011

Received: 29/01/2026

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

Designing streets, towns, and cities with properly secure parking facilities is essential if we are serious about supporting alternative modes of transport. For example, motorbike parking in Cambridge city centre does not allow riders to secure their vehicles to a fixed anchor, such as a
rail or ground-embedded locking ring. As people are increasingly encouraged to travel longer distances by electric bike, greater attention must be given to improving the safety and security of bike storage—particularly in workplaces and residential developments.