Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 209028

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

Caius suggest amending Part 2 of the policy to read as follows:

2. Development proposals within the site will be masterplan-led that will enable development and associated infrastructure provision to be planned for and delivered in a comprehensive manner. The masterplan will need to carefully consider the historic nature of the airfield and its associated heritage assets, the management of visitors on both event and non-event days, the visitor experience at site and the provision of necessary associated facilities as well as impacts on neighbouring communities and the transport network.

Please refer to the attached letter for further clarification.

Comment

Representation ID: 209029

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

Caius suggest that a new "Part 5" to the policy be added to recognise further aviation development opportunities in line with NPPF paragraph 111(f).

Suggested wording has been provided below:
"5. Development proposals focused on aviation and other uses, will be supported where they are complementary and support the future of the museum site."

Please refer to the attached letter for further clarification.

Comment

Representation ID: 209030

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

Caius suggest amending Part 1 of the policy to read as follows:

"1. The Imperial War Museum site at Duxford Airfield as set out at Figure 122 will be treated as a special case as a museum which is a major tourist / visitor attraction, educational, commercial and aviation facility."

Please refer to the attached letter for further clarification.

Comment

Representation ID: 211421

Received: 30/06/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

Caius welcomes and supports the inclusion of Policy S/AMC/IWM. Draft Policy S/AMC/IWM recognises IWM Duxford as an… “Area of Major Change (AMC)” …and notably expands the “red line” policy area to include Caius land immediately to the west to support the delivery of wider enhancements to IWM Duxford, including the opportunity for AvTech Phase1.

In this context it is vital to understand that AvTech Phase 1 and Phase 2 proposals are essential linked ingredients of an overall concept. They are linked in that they collectively form a new economic cluster of advanced aviation technology which will draw on the local skills base, supply chains, creating critical mass, drawing new talent, in effect developing a new economic ecosystem, which as well as benefitting from, will contribute greatly to Greater Cambridge and Cambridge University global reputations.

Comment

Representation ID: 211422

Received: 30/06/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

Caius does not comment on the evidence base. However, it does note that other forecasts appear to take a very different view of the growth potential for Greater Cambridge.

For example, the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) commissioned and published Oxford Economics research on 4 November 2025 which sets out three very different scenarios for Greater Cambridge for the 2031 – 2050 period with much higher employment and housing needs.

Scenarios are of course dependent on data and assumptions used. However, it is possible that as the GCLP progresses and arrives at Examination there maybe
representations that the draft GCLP significantly underestimates needs, that additional sites are required to be allocated, and questions raised as to whether the
Plan is …”prepared positively, in a way that is aspirational but deliverable” (NPPF Para 16).

Comment

Representation ID: 211423

Received: 30/06/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

Caius does not comment on the Development Strategy order of preference. However, it is apparent that some flexibility will be needed to meet unexpected events, outcomes or dependencies on infrastructure projects which may or may not be delivered.

Most notably, in August 2025 the Government announced that it will not be funding the relocation of the Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant (CWWTP) creating uncertainty as to whether Councils’ vision for North East Cambridge can be taken forward. The consequence would appear to be that the 8,350 new homes (5,500 on the WWTP), 320,000 sqm business space, 27,300 sqm of industrial floorspace for mid-tech, light industrial, and creative industries and a new district centre around Cowley Road allocated at Policy S/NEC, are now in doubt with needs to be met elsewhere.

We appreciate the purpose of plan making is to have a “plan-led” system, building in as much certainty as possible as to where development and infrastructure should take place over the plan period. However, as the GCLP has already witnessed unforeseen events along the way can impact on the development strategy, and some
key sites are dependent on major infrastructure being funded and implemented.

Comment

Representation ID: 211424

Received: 30/06/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

The draft Plan now recognises IWM Duxford as being in an “area of major change”, but it raises a question why it is not also included as part of the Rural Southern Cluster, which recognises the associated need for housing, and which could be delivered around Duxford Village to support the sustainable growth of AvTech and the village. In this regard, we note at Policy S/AMC/WHD: Whittlesford Parkway Station Policy Area is both within the AMC and RSC.

Continued investment in AvTech will also play an important role in diversifying the Rural Southern Cluster in South Cambridgeshire, providing some resilience if investment in biotech and life sciences slows.

Support

Representation ID: 211425

Received: 30/06/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

Policy S/AMC/WHD ….”supports a masterplan led approach to the comprehensive development of the policy area. This is to create a multimodal travel hub, employment and housing in a highly accessible location….and…. Complementary uses including
residential and commercial development and appropriate associated infrastructure, services and facilities where they do not prejudice the delivery of the above policy requirements and placemaking outcomes.”

Caius would be keen to work in partnership with all relevant bodies and local communities in preparing and adopting a masterplan led approach to the comprehensive development of the policy area.

We consider such a policy lead approach would give the GCLP additional flexibility up to an including Examination in Public to demonstrate the Plan has the capacity to meet all objectively assessed needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 211426

Received: 30/06/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

We note that allocations in the Rural Southern Cluster are providing for housing alongside employment. However, housing envisaged for Policy S/WGC: Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton and Policy S/BRC: Babraham Research campus are expected to predominately cater for their respective campus workers.

The GCLP notes that the Grange Farm allocation is “located at the heart of the Rural Southern Cluster a globally important cluster of science innovation, Grange Farm will play a vital role in locating high quality new homes close to existing employment areas, connected through a holistic active travel and public transport network”.

It would therefore seem Grange Farm’s primary role is to meet existing local employment needs in the designated Rural Southern Cluster, as well as contributing to Greater Cambridge overall housing needs after the “loss” of North East Cambridge.

It would not be the most sustainable solution for AvTech workers to have to travel by car to Grange Farm. Given, the draft Plan now recognises IWM Duxford as an area of major change (AMC), the Plan should also recognise and make provision for housing for the new AvTech workers.

Comment

Representation ID: 211427

Received: 30/06/2026

Respondent: Gonville & Caius College

Excluding Caius’s land, Maarnford Farm represents the last development parcel identified in Duxford for village growth. This has been allocated at Policy S/RSC/MF: Land at Maarnford Farm, Hunts Road, Duxford with a capacity for approximately 60 homes.

Maarnford Farm might meet some immediate local needs but will not address the medium to longer terms needs including those of the new AvTech workforce, which should be expected to grow as AvTech1 has been recognised as part of the area of major change. Therefore a new masterplan led plan is required to facilitate sustainable growth in Duxford.