Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Huntingdonshire District Council support the aspirations of GCSP for the housing figures to align with the government’s standard method housing calculation rather than trying to significantly exceed this and placing additional strain on local infrastructure, water supplies and wastewater disposal and potentially needing to seek assistance from neighbouring local authorities to meet a portion of the enhanced housing figure.

The anticipated requirement for Gypsy and Traveller pitches and Travelling Showpeople plots is noted. No request has been received under the duty to cooperate to assist in meeting this need which is appreciated given the challenges faced in identifying sufficient supply to meet locally generated needs within Huntingdonshire.

Huntingdonshire District Council support the emphasis of the development strategy on locating new homes and jobs in and on the edge of Cambridge as this will provide opportunities to reduce the need to travel and maximise potential benefits from co-locating homes and jobs.
Whilst HDC support the aspirations to substantially expand Cambourne concern is noted about the potential impacts on accessibility along the A428 from southern Huntingdonshire, particularly St Neots, into Cambridge and its immediate surroundings. Appropriate transport and travel modelling should be completed and mitigation put in place to ensure that this scheme will not detrimentally impact those travelling towards Cambridge from Huntingdonshire. Mitigation proposals should include a range of modes of travel and maximise opportunities for Huntingdonshire residents and businesses to access public transport and active travel infrastructure from any travel hubs that are created to reduce the need for onward journeys into Cambridge by car.

Two large employment proposals (Land north of A1307, Bar Hill and Land south of Cambridge Services, A14) are located in close proximity both to each other and to the boundary with Huntingdonshire. Huntingdonshire’s Economic and Employment Needs Assessment identifies needs and supply by sector within Huntingdonshire to support local business and employment growth. Huntingdonshire District Council would like to work collaboratively with GCSP on the promotion of these sites through the masterplanning process to ensure that they provide complementary opportunities to those in Huntingdonshire rather than create additional competition due to our wish to promote and diversify our local economy and support local employment opportunities for residents with limited needs to travel.

HDC acknowledge the intense water stress arising in the Cambridge Water area which extends into the eastern part of Huntingdonshire. We appreciate the collaborative approach that GCSP have taken to this issue given its potential impacts on part of Huntingdonshire too. The thorough investigations made by GCSP into the extent of this issue are supported, as is the exploration of potential ways of resolving its impact on new development.
HDC strongly support the aspirations of this policy. Given the overall enhanced viability of development within GCSP area compared to Huntingdonshire the target for water usage of no more than 80 litres/person/day in residential schemes of more than 100 homes is supported although it is recognised that it is not viable to replicate that level within this district. HDC would urge GCSP to seek a maximum level of 90 litres/person/day on schemes of less than 100 dwellings. A target of 100 l/p/d would be equivalent to the currently proposed future national optional standard. Evidence from the
Shared Standards in Water Efficiency for Local Plans (June 2025) recommends that where viability may impact reaching 85 l/p/d there could still be a case for a design standard
that is more stringent than building regulations e.g. 90 or 95 l/p/d. This would assist in mitigation of environmental risks which are more significant in areas of water scarcity/water stressed locations.

Two large employment proposals (Land north of A1307, Bar Hill and Land south of Cambridge Services, A14) are located in close proximity both to each other and to the boundary with Huntingdonshire. Huntingdonshire’s Economic and Employment Needs Assessment identifies needs and supply by sector within Huntingdonshire to support local business and employment growth. Huntingdonshire District Council would like to work collaboratively with GCSP on the promotion of these sites through the masterplanning process to ensure that they provide complementary opportunities to those in Huntingdonshire rather than create additional competition due to our wish to promote and diversify our local economy and support local employment opportunities for residents with limited needs to travel.