Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 209214

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

We support the plan’s overarching objective to protect, enhance and provide new sport opportunities, insisting that any loss of playing field be replaced with equivalent or better quantity, quality, accessibility and management.

Comment

Representation ID: 209215

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England supports, in principle, the ambition for North Cambridge Academy to develop as a mixed-use sporting hub, providing enhanced sports facilities and adequate replacement playing field is provided alongside residential development. As the allocation involves the loss of playing field land, it must clearly demonstrate compliance with paragraph 104 of the NPPF. Sport England supports the policy requirements for:
• Expansion of the existing sports hall;
• Provision of a new 3G pitch, four tennis courts and a MUGA; and
• A Community Use Agreement securing public access outside school hours.
For examination soundness, the policy should explicitly require that any loss of playing field is replaced by provision that is equivalent or better in quantity, quality, accessibility and management arrangements. Recommend that replacement facilities are delivered in a timely manner and secured through appropriate planning conditions or obligations.

Comment

Representation ID: 209216

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England notes that planning permission (23/04687/FUL) has been granted for the redevelopment of this site. The Local Plan should outline that sport facilities (bowls green and tennis court) as part of the planning permission will be replaced, in accordance with condition 59, as required by planning permission 23/04849/FUL. Outlining this demonstrates that the loss of these sports facilities have been assessed against paragraph 104 of the NPPF and that replacement mitigation provision has been secured.

Comment

Representation ID: 209217

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England objects to the part loss of playing field at this site. The Orchard Park SPD (2011) identified the playing field to remain as public open space. With this said, the planning permission referenced 22/01632/FUL resulted in the loss of the playing field. Sport England cannot find a record of being consulted on that planning application despite being a statutory consultee for development affecting playing fields. Furthermore, having reviewed the Officer’s Report, there is no consideration afforded to paragraph 104 of the NPPF. If a future planning application were submitted, the Local Planning Authority should accord with the statutory requirement to consult Sport England.

Comment

Representation ID: 209218

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England supports the principle of this policy. To ensure that the redevelopment of the stadium and the improvement of the sporting facilities are fit for purpose, we request that the supporting information includes a requirement for the design of the proposals to meet the standards of the Football Foundation and Cambridgeshire Football Association.

Comment

Representation ID: 209219

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

The East Barnwell area includes the site allocation S/C/BRN. For clarity, we advise you refer to the planning permission 23/04687/FUL and explain that the permission included the replacement of the sports provision to be lost as part of the planning permission 23/04849/FUL. This would demonstrate that the loss of these sports facilities has been assessed against paragraph 104 of the NPPF and that replacement mitigation provision has been secured.

Comment

Representation ID: 209220

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England encourages the integration of Active Design principles, or alternatively reference to our Active Desing Guidance, to maximise opportunities for physical activity.

Comment

Representation ID: 209221

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England supports the inclusion of sports provision, including criterion 25(h) which requires the delivery of a sports pavilion (Use Class F2). The scale and type of provision should be informed by an up-to-date Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS), Built Facilities Strategy (BFS) and Facilities Planning Model (FPM) for swimming pools.

Comment

Representation ID: 209222

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Outline planning permission was approved under planning reference 16/1134/OUT. Sport England commented on the planning application on November 2nd 2017 raising no objection to the proposal. The provision of on-site sports facilities should be informed by an up to date evidence base, and any subsequent updates. Sport England are aware that the Council are in the process of undertaking a PPS and BFS, and that a FPM for swimming pools has been completed.

Comment

Representation ID: 209223

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England supports the ambition for significant sports and leisure provision, including a regionally significant facility. However, the type and quantity of provision must be informed by a robust, up-to-date PPS, BFS, FPM. Sport England recommend that the policy also includes a requirement for management and maintenance plans for indoor and outdoor sports facilities.