Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 209224

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England raises concern regarding the use of the term “leisure” and not explicitly referring to indoor and outdoor sport provision. To ensure clarity Sport England recommends criteria a(f) refers to indoor and outdoor sport provision explicitly. The policy should also set out that the indoor and outdoor sports provision should be informed by an up-to-date PPS. Sport England recommend a Sports and Open Space Strategy is also sought as part of the policy.

Comment

Representation ID: 209225

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England supports the principle of indoor and outdoor sport provision at the new town centre. The policy should be modified to ensure that the quantity and type of indoor and outdoor sport provision onsite are informed by an up-to-date PPS, BFS, FPM. Sport England recommend that a management and maintenance plan is required for the indoor and outdoor sport facilities and a Sports and Open Space Strategy is submitted if these were not secured as part of the outline planning permission.

Comment

Representation ID: 209226

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England supports criterion (d) requiring indoor and outdoor sports facilities and strongly supports paragraph 34 requiring maintenance plans for such facilities.

Comment

Representation ID: 209227

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England supports the policy and recommends explicit reference to Active Design.

Object

Representation ID: 209228

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Sport England objects to this policy as currently drafted as it does not align with paragraph 104 of the NPPF. The wording of the policy does not currently take into account development that prejudices playing fields nor does it prevent playing field being built on unless an assessment has been undertaken which clearly shows the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements. We implore you to list management arrangements also within the criteria of replacement facilities. Reason being is equivalent or better accessibility and management arrangements are required to minimise any detrimental impact on the users of an existing area of playing field from relocation to a new area of playing field.

Comment

Representation ID: 209229

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Within the supporting information you may wish to clarify what a suitable location is. Within Sport England’s Playing Pitch Policy and Guidance it sets out that a suitable location is a place to which current or former regular users of a playing field, or those who may want to use the playing field now or in the future, can conveniently gain access by a variety of transport modes. The location of playing fields relative to those who use them, or who may wish to do so, is an important consideration in determining whether there is sufficient supply.

Comment

Representation ID: 209230

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

In terms of point 3, under Policy BG/PO, Sport England recommend removing the wording ‘adversely affecting’ to ‘result in the loss, or prejudicing the use of playing field’. Reason being is considering whether a playing field is adversely affected, is a matter of judgement. In contrast paragraph 104 of the NPPF applies to any development resulting in the loss, or prejudicing, the use of playing field unless it meets one of three criteria. The wording of para 104 of the NPPF does not consider if the harm is adverse, but whether the criteria has been met.

Comment

Representation ID: 209231

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

We support the Great Places policies GP/PP and GP/QD and recommend each include an explicit reference to Active Design.

Comment

Representation ID: 209232

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

We are concerned the Council’s 2016 Playing Pitch and Indoor Sport Strategies are a decade old and do not meet NPPF 103; assessments should be refreshed at least every five years and PPS updated every three years, and we request an up‑to‑date indoor and outdoor sports facility strategy before publication. A clear understanding of current and future community sports facility needs, including playing fields, is essential for informing and justifying a local plan policy such as Policies BG/EO and BG/PO which covers the protection, enhancement and provision of sports facilities. To address these concerns, it is requested that the Council issue an up-to-date indoor and outdoor sports facility strategy.

Comment

Representation ID: 210845

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England supports the policy but notes that the PPS is currently only at Stage C. Completion of the PPS is required before Sport England can support the Local Plan, and it should be listed as a key supporting evidence document.