Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 209014

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Hobson's Conduit Trust

Nine Wells remains the principal source of spring water feeding into our chalk stream system, and so it is axiomatic that the Trust is directly concerned with the health of the springs and the curation of Nine Wells LNR. The Trust have legal agreements with developers at CBC to cover surface water arriving into the Brook. Parameters have been established for flow rates of run off and many interventions have been successfully including at Clay Farm and CBC. We believe that these legal agreements should be recognised in S/CBC. It should be explicit the importance of water quality and natural habitats.

Comment

Representation ID: 209015

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Hobson's Conduit Trust

The Trust is keenly interested in the protection and enhancement of what may be called the green corridor through which the Brook and Conduit run. This is a community asset and amenity, much loved and valued by residents and visitors, which faces increasing pressure from the growing working and residential population around the Biomedical Campus, Clay Farm and the south-eastern axis. We therefore believe that the ambitions set out for the area on the northern slopes of White Hill need far greater definition and greater ambition. This would also be entirely consistent with the Trust’s Vision for Nine Wells.

Comment

Representation ID: 209016

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Hobson's Conduit Trust

Regarding the wider groundwater crisis, and the impact of that on our chalk streams. The need to find effective ways to mitigate and reduce the additional burdens created by any new development is a matter that concerns the Trustees directly. There is NO MARGIN for further growth to allow for chalk stream and rivers to be restored to normal from around 2036. The Trustees therefore warmly welcome the way Policy CC/IW focuses on these issues. However, a number of the measures require progress including legislation and regulation to make targets achievable.

Comment

Representation ID: 209017

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Hobson's Conduit Trust

The proposed settlement at Grange Farm already exhibits laudable elements and characteristics (being up-slope) so that it could, if all the proposed mitigations and water handling systems are included, be neutral to positive in overall impact on the River Granta. Sadly, not by any means all of the new developments, especially those which expand on existing recent growth, can be seen in the same positive light. The Trustees have for years been very concerned about the impact of the CSET proposals, particularly on Nine Wells and the Brook. The Trust supports the on-road alternative being put forward by the Better Ways for Busways group.

Comment

Representation ID: 209022

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Hobson's Conduit Trust

Policy S/DS (para 2.90): Improvements to key corridors should be pivotal to the transport strategy. CSET is not proposed to sit within a public transport corridor, rather it will create a new route across Green Belt land. Better Ways for Busways has a proposed alternative route that is supported by the Trustees.

Comment

Representation ID: 209023

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Hobson's Conduit Trust

The plan proposed a new vehicle access into the CBC from Granham's Road. We question whether this multi-modal access road is needed at all if the Better Ways for Busways’ alternative for a busway spur off the A1307 Hinton Way roundabout was adopted. This route would connect all parts of the CBC with Cambridge South Station, which CSET completely fails to do. The alternative would significantly reduce traffic volumes, relieve congestion and offers proximity to Babraham P&R. It would offer direct access to the hospitals as a blue light route. To facilitate the alternative CSET route, we support upgrades to Francis Crick Avenue and Dame Mary Archer Way, as per clause 20b.

Comment

Representation ID: 209026

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Hobson's Conduit Trust

We note the rightful inclusion of the Gog Magog Hills and chalkland fringe in the list of identified priorities for enhancing strategic green infrastructure. However, the Gog Magog Hills will be negatively impacted by CSET. the lengthy section of the busway from where it crosses the track to the east of Stapleford Granary and continues in a north-westerly direction to where it passes Nine Wells Local Nature Reserve near Cambridge South Station will use the lower slopes of the Gog Magog Hills. This inconsistency could be at least partly mitigated if an alternative, on-road route along the A1307 corridor from the A11 to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus was pursued instead.

Comment

Representation ID: 211724

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Hobson's Conduit Trust

For four centuries the Trust and its precursors (known as the Feoffees) have been responsible for the protection and maintenance of Hobson’s Brook and Conduit, with rights and obligations deriving initially from the 1610 Tripartite Indenture. We take our responsibilities for safeguarding the Brook and Conduit and the natural habit it represents and sustains with the utmost seriousness. Representations are submitted to each element of the Plan that the Trust wish to comment on.