Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission

Subdivide large parcel GS9 along a roughly SW-NE axis to create GS9a and GS9b; alter grey belt classification of GS9b to reinstate green belt status; reassess classification of GS9a.

We wish to challenge the following provisional grey belt classification in the ‘Greater Cambridge Green Belt Assessment - Review following changes to National Policy and Guidance’, using the parcel numbers given in that document:

GS9 – this parcel is too large and not homogeneous in character. It should be subdivided and then reassessed for a more accurate result. While part of it may be grey belt, we do not believe that the entirety of it is since it covers a substantial 43.91ha.

The land at/near the intersect of the settled areas of Mingle Lane and Hinton Way in the southwest of the parcel is different in character from that on the northeastern edge of the parcel where it is far more open, less settled and marks the transition to the foothills of the Gog Magog Hills and the new Chalk Hill Down country park. Here, it borders GS8, which is classified as green belt. In reality, there is a gradual transition between GS9 and GS8. Urbanisation of GS9, particularly its north/southeastern half, would result in a significant loss of green belt openness and undermine the Important Countryside Frontage on Gog Magog Way on the southeast side of GS9 (designated by the Stapleford & Gt Shelford Neighbourhood Plan, adopted Oct 2025).

Our proposal to subdivide GS9 is supported by the ‘Stapleford and Great Shelford Landscape Character Assessment’ (Oct 2019), which underpins the Stapleford and Great Shelford Neighbourhood Plan. Parcel GS9 spans landscape character areas B3 and A1 of the Landscape Character Assessment, with the northeastern/southeastern part of GS9 lying predominantly within character area A1. Together, character areas A1 (‘Great Shelford and Stapleford arable chalkland hills’) and the contiguous A2 (‘Stapleford arable chalkland hills’) present a significant swathe of ‘arable chalkland hills’ which dominates around 50% of the landscape character of the Stapleford and Great Shelford neighbourhood area.

Further undermining the determination of GS9 as possible grey belt are the inaccurate P2 and P3 contributions assigned to GS9. The parcel, particularly the northeastern/southeastern side of it, helps to create the landscape, views, rural setting and topographical framework that give Cambridge its distinctive character and links directly to the Gog Magog Hills. Hence, its PS2 rating should be higher. P3 contributions explicitly cover the gaps between Cambridge and the inner necklace of villages; urbanisation of the southwestern side of parcel GS9 would fundamentally compromise the distinct identities of Stapleford and Great Shelford as individual settlements and hence a far higher P3 contribution is merited.

In conclusion, the assessment of GS9 appears unduly desk-based and should instead be guided by its landscape character. A more appropriate subdivision would be GS9a (the southwest side of the parcel) and GS9b (the northeast/southeast side of the parcel), with GS9b meriting a ‘high’ harm rating using the Greater Cambridge Green Belt Assessment methodology and hence its retention as green belt land.

We consider the Greater Cambridge Local Plan to be legally compliant and sound. However, data are missing from the Proposed Submission Policies Map. The Map needs to be amended to include all relevant land designations in the adopted Stapleford and Great Shelford Neighbourhood Plan, and various designations in Policies NH/11 and NH/13 of the 2018 Local Plan. Without these changes, the inset map relating to Great Shelford is inaccurate.

We believe that the following land designations in the adopted Stapleford and Great Shelford Neighbourhood Plan, and brought forward from the 2018 Local Plan, are missing and should be added to the Proposed Submission Policies Map:

New Important Countryside Frontage between 41 Gog Magog Way and homes at Chalk Hill, Stapleford – see map 7 supporting Policy S&GS 13

Existing Important Countryside Frontages at the following locations, as shown on map 7 supporting Policy S&GS 13, and as per Policy NH/13 of the 2018 Local Plan
• Land fronting De Freville Farm, Cambridge Rd, Great Shelford
• Land fronting Trinity Farm, Cambridge Rd, Great Shelford

New Local Green Spaces at the following locations, as shown on map 8 supporting Policy S&GS 14:
• The Hermitage and Kings Mill meadows (Church St), Great Shelford)
• Great Shelford Recreation Ground
• Clerk’s Piece, Stapleford
• Collier Field, Stapleford
• Horse pasture surround Greenhedge Farm, Stapleford
• Stapleford allotments
• Stapleford Recreation Ground

New Protected Village Amenity Area at land behind Slaughterhouse House, Church St, Stapleford – see map 9 supporting Policy S&GS 14

Existing Protected Village Amenity Areas at the following locations, as shown on map 9 supporting Policy S&GS 14, and as per Policy NH/11 of the 2018 Local Plan:
• Land surrounding the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Great Shelford
• Land fronting the south of Church Street, Great Shelford
• Land on the north of Church Street, including Rectory Farm, Great Shelford
• Playing fields at Stapleford Community Primary School
• Pond at Haverhill Road, Stapleford
• Grove House, Bury Road, Stapleford

Stapleford and Great Shelford Improved Landscape Area – see map 13 supporting Policy S&GS 20