Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 209000

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

National Highways are engaged in ongoing discussions with East West Rail (EWR) regarding the delivery of a new railway station at Cambourne, north of the A428. Highway improvements needed to facilitate the station and associated track are currently being considered, and implications for future-proofing are being reviewed with the need for further meetings to discuss cumulative impacts.

Comment

Representation ID: 209001

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

As currently drafted, Cambourne appears likely to bring significant and potentially unacceptable adverse impacts on the safe and efficient operation of Cambourne Junction on the A428. The Transport Evidence Report identifies that there is still significant congestion on the highway network (with DS2 proposed improvements) around the site meaning that the model suggests high levels of trips will still remain within the sector.

Comment

Representation ID: 209002

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

National Highways are unable to agree to the proposed approach (managing SRN impacts through an indicative trip budget prior to an outline application) at this stage without the benefit of further modelling work for the proposed development. If a trip budget is to be proposed this needs testing within an operational model, with detailed timings/parameters identified and a monitoring approach agreed to enable NH to confirm whether proposals are deliverable in SRN terms. As identified in Circular 01/22, SRN capacity enhancements need to be identified as part of the plan making process, because this provides the best opportunity to consider the cumulative impacts of development and identify appropriate mechanisms for delivery.

Comment

Representation ID: 209003

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

National Highways endorse the Local Plan work on ‘Transport Vision and Principles’ for Cambourne. We support the report’s identified next steps, highlighting that additional work is required to consider achievability of vision assumptions and to ensure a robust evidence base is established to support a site allocation of this significance; we note that even with an ambitious shift to alternative modes demand still exceeded the trip budget.

Comment

Representation ID: 209004

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

The emerging Local Plan text and Figure 78 identify a number of additional active travel crossings over the A428, with mention of potential bus provision in associated documents. We recommend further discussion with National Highways regarding emerging crossing locations / existing bridge improvements to consider feasibility and to ensure suitable commitments and costings are included in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan. It may be practical, demonstrated through further modelling work, to consider the need for additional A428 bridge crossing options for private cars, to remove local trips from Cambourne Junction.

Comment

Representation ID: 209005

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

National Highways will object to any structures placed within the highway boundary and recommend this is reflected within the policy moving forward. In principle, National Highways are supportive of upgrades or new crossings for the A14, such as Jane Coston Bridge and underpasses, to assist with the wider connectivity requirements, subject to the correct structural and safety assessments completed and appropriate agreements ensuring ongoing maintenance and required funding are met. For the overall trip budget to be met, it is crucial individual sites do not exceed their trip budget, and breaches are controlled appropriately to reduce trips back in accordance with the agreed budgets. National Highways would need to understand the impact of this development and the cumulative impact on the A14 junction 33 should the trip budget not be met and ensure appropriate mitigation measures are secured as part of the plan making process.

Comment

Representation ID: 209006

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

It is understood that the Local Plan growth at Grange Farm appears likely to bring significant and potentially unacceptable adverse impacts on the safe and efficient operation of the A11 and the SRN junction, based on the transport evidence currently available. It is acknowledged that the testing of the Draft Plan in the transport evidence currently available, demonstrated that the development of this site is reliant on the introduction of an extension to the Cambridge South East Transport Scheme over the A11. National Highways require this crossing to be grade separated and not rely on the A11 junction as this would likely interfere with the operation of the junction.

Comment

Representation ID: 209007

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

This policy identifies site allocations within the city centre. Whilst National Highways do not offer specific comments on these sites due to the distance from the SRN, National Highways suggest these sites are included in a cumulative impact assessment to ensure the impact on the SRN is appropriately managed and mitigated. In particular, the impact on the SRN including junctions on the M11, A11 and A14.

Comment

Representation ID: 209008

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

The current capacity of the trip budget has been identified at approximately 1,500 trips in the AM peak and 1,800 trips in the PM peak. This level of trips is understood to have been tested with the regional model and is considered to be able to be accommodated within the local road network, including the local SRN junctions. National Highways would require as part of the local plan process to understand the impact of this development and the cumulative impact on the A14 junction 34 prior to agreeing the trip budget and agreement of appropriate mitigation measures should the trip budget not be met.

Comment

Representation ID: 209009

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

North West Cambridge has an allocation within the current local plan but has been recognised that there is the ability to increase the capacity for new homes. National Highways are currently consulted on the planning application for the increased quantum of development on site. National Highways offered no objection subject to the inclusion of suggested conditions, including the requirement for a Travel Plan with a sufficient monitoring regime to ensure the development does not result in additional trips on the SRN, namely M11 junction 10.