Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 207643

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Natural England

The Non-Toxic Contamination (which can contribute to nutrient enrichment) (4.41 onwards), and Direct pollution / run-off section of the HRA (4.123) both use ‘500m from a Habitats site’ as the screening distance. We do not agree with this methodology, and strongly recommend that the screening is reviewed with the criteria ‘500m from any waterway that is hydrologically connected to a Habitats site’. This may bring some sites into consideration, particularly in relation to Portholme SAC and the Ouse Washes which are already suffering from pollution and nutrient issues.

Also, regarding Functionally Linked Habitat (FLL) (4.18 onwards and 4.29 onwards) for the Ouse Washes SPA/Ramsar, this site is designated for swans which have a 10km IRZ so a 2km buffer screening limit is insufficient.

Comment

Representation ID: 207644

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Natural England

We agree that Eversden and Wimpole Woods SAC should be included in the AA, particularly in relation to ‘Physical Damage and Loss of Habitat – Functionally Linked Habitat’ and ‘Non-Physical Disturbance – Functionally Linked Habitat’. We note however that a 10km screening distance has currently been used (pages 32, 36). As mentioned in our recent discussions, Natural England’s Impact Risk Zone (IRZ) for this SAC is about to be updated to a 6km core sustenance zone (CSZ) and a 10.2km landscape connectivity zone (LCZ) for barbastelle bats. We will share the final IRZ wording with you, once it has been confirmed for the next IRZ update, and will arrange further discussions about this with the Natural Environment team shortly. The HRA should be updated to reflect this change, and we advise that additional larger sites within this distance would be West Cambridge (S/WC) and Eddington (S/ED). The small site Cambridge Professional Development Centre, Foster Road (S/C/PDC ; S/LAC: Other site allocations in Cambridge) would also be within the 10.2km zone, but we expect this will not meet the IRZ criteria as it is within an existing urban area and should not impact barbastelle commuting and foraging habitat.

Comment

Representation ID: 207645

Received: 30/01/2026

Respondent: Natural England

We are aware that the National Trust have recently commissioned a recreational impact assessment to update the Zone of Influence for Wicken Fen Ramsar and Fenland SAC and encourage your authority to engage as soon as possible with the National Trust about this. This may mean that the Local Plan HRA will need to be amended should there be an alteration from the 10.3km zone currently used, and the findings should inform the LPA’s Appropriate Assessment.

Please also see Natural England’s new Standard Advice for Air Quality Impacts for Local Plans in Appendix 2 of this letter.