Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
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Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Policy S/NST: Northstowe New Town
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
Please see the attached representation document.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind
Change suggested by respondent:
Please see the attached representation document.
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Policy S/NST: Northstowe New Town
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
As Northstowe New Town already benefits from outline planning permission and approved parameter plans, it
is particularly important that Policy S/NST is framed positively and flexibly. This is so that it supports and
enables the implementation of those consents rather than introducing unnecessary prescription, complexity
or uncertainty. Any policy wording that could be interpreted as adding new requirements, constraining
approved development parameters, or re-opening matters already resolved through the outline permissions
would risk undermining the effectiveness of the policy and slowing delivery. As a result, this would be
inconsistent with national policy and guidance on positive plan-making and deliverability.
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Policy S/NST: Northstowe New Town
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
The relevant Development Management policies have also been considered alongside Policy S/NST. Homes
England supports the role of Development Management policies in providing appropriate criteria and
guidance for future planning applications. However, where matters are already addressed through the extant
Northstowe permissions, conditions, legal agreements and approved strategies, the Development
Management policies should not operate to duplicate or introduce additional site-specific requirements
through Policy S/NST. In particular, the requirements of Policies H/SS and H/SH in relation to accessible and
adaptable homes and specialist housing should be considered alongside, rather than in addition to, the
requirements already secured through the Northstowe permissions.
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Policy S/NST: Northstowe New Town
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
Policy S/NST part 6a includes the requirement for 24 permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches and
approximately 850 units of specialist accommodation (Use Class C2 and C3). These requirements for
Northstowe are not committed to or consistent with the outline development descriptions and are therefore
adding additional layers of policy, which introduces unnecessary prescription, complexity and uncertainty and
constrains the delivery of the approved development, rather than enabling it. This risks undermining the
effectiveness of the Local Plan, as the policy is not sufficiently flexible to support the implementation of the
extant permissions, and would be inconsistent with national policy and guidance on positive plan-making and
deliverability.
Change suggested by respondent:
Amend policy to read 'ii. Permanent Gypsy and Traveller
pitches located outside but in close proximity to the site, meeting requirements of Policy H/GT;
iv. Specialist accommodation (Use Class C2 and C3), particularly for older people or those with disabilities;'
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Policy S/DS: Development strategy
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
Policy S/NST part 6a includes the requirement for 24 permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches and
approximately 850 units of specialist accommodation (Use Class C2 and C3). These requirements for
Northstowe are not committed to or consistent with the outline development descriptions and are therefore
adding additional layers of policy, which introduces unnecessary prescription, complexity and uncertainty and
constrains the delivery of the approved development, rather than enabling it. This risks undermining the
effectiveness of the Local Plan, as the policy is not sufficiently flexible to support the implementation of the
extant permissions, and would be inconsistent with national policy and guidance on positive plan-making and
deliverability. This requirement should also be removed from Policy S/DS
Change suggested by respondent:
Remove the following text
2.95. …Gyspy and Traveller pitches are therefore required within the following strategic sites (as set out in the allocation policies): Northstowe: 24 pitches
2.102. …Specialist housing is therefore required within the
following strategic sites (as set out in the allocation policies): Northstowe: 850 units for specialist housing (within the up to 8,500 dwellings on phases 2, 3A and 3B)
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
The Sustainability Appraisal does not appear to
demonstrate that the G&T and specialist accommodation requirements can be accommodated within the existing consented development at Northstowe. The SA expressly recognises that Northstowe benefits from existing planning permissions, is currently under construction and has already been subject to detailed scrutiny through the planning application process. Consequently, no equivalent site option was assessed through the HELAA and the SA
assessment of Policy S/NST focuses on the specific development requirements set out in the policy. The SA
therefore does not constitute evidence that the additional requirements for 24 Gypsy and Traveller pitches
and approximately 850 units of specialist accommodation can be delivered within the existing approved
development.
Change suggested by respondent:
The requirement for 24 permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches should be removed from the policy, or
alternatively amended to provide greater flexibility regarding their location, given that this requirement has not
been demonstrated to be deliverable within the extant outline permissions.
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Policy S/NST: Northstowe New Town
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
The policy requirement for specialist accommodation should be removed and the 5% requirement secured by the planning permission conditions could be included in policy. Furthermore, the SA identifies the provision of specialist accommodation as contributing to its significant positive housing effect for Northstowe, but does not explain whether the existing requirements for accessible and adaptable homes secured through the outline
permissions have been taken into account in determining the additional quantum of specialist accommodation required, meaning the policy may be mandating a far larger number of units of specialist accommodation across Northstowe. This should also be considered alongside the proposed Development Management policies, including Policy H/SS, which already provides for accessible and adaptable homes through the M4(2) requirements.
Change suggested by respondent:
The policy requirement for 850 specialist homes should be removed
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
The Council's Sustainability Appraisal Addendum identifies the alternative to Policy S/NST as a “No Policy”
option, which was rejected on the basis that area-specific detail is required for existing new settlements.
However, the reasonable alternatives assessment does not appear to consider an alternative which retains a
strategic policy framework for Northstowe whilst reflecting the existing planning permissions and avoiding the
imposition of additional quantitative requirements where their deliverability within the consented development
has not been demonstrated. Homes England considers that this approach would provide an appropriate
strategic policy framework for Northstowe whilst recognising its particular circumstances as an existing,
consented and substantially committed new settlement. It is therefore considered that this represents a
reasonable alternative approach which should be considered through the plan-making process.
Change suggested by respondent:
Consider an alternative which retains a strategic policy framework for Northstowe whilst reflecting the existing planning permissions and avoiding the imposition of additional quantitative requirements where their deliverability within the consented development has not been demonstrated.
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Policy BG/PO: Protecting open spaces
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
Policy in the Local Plan and Policy S/NST should clarify how strategic sports hubs are intended to function
within areas that are designated as protected open space. Whilst policy that protects open space is
supported, Sports hubs are essential in delivering the necessary sports facilities in Northstowe and require
ancillary development such as car parks and sports pavilions. The current proposed policy complicates the
development of this crucial infrastructure and could slow the delivery of Sports provision across Northstowe
Change suggested by respondent:
The policy should be amended to state: “Development proposals, other than for buildings and infrastructure
associated with or ancillary to sports and leisure uses, will not be permitted where…”. This explicitly allows
sports hubs to deliver the necessary supporting infrastructure and ancillary development.
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission
Policy S/NST: Northstowe New Town
Respondent: Homes England
Agent: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design Ltd
Representation Summary:
Figure 70 (Indicative Spatial Framework for Northstowe New Town) incorrectly designates the location of
Parcel C2 as ‘Open Space and Green Infrastructure’. Please see the attached Spatial Framework diagram
which provides a corrected spatial framework for Northstowe (Appendix 1). This must be updated in the next
iteration of the plan.
Change suggested by respondent:
Amend the spatial framework as set out in Appendix 1 of this representation.
Full text:
Please see the attached representation document for the comments in full.
Homes England are fully supportive of the continued allocation of Northstowe as a sustainable new town and are committed to its ongoing delivery alongside Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and other key stakeholders. However, given its existing planning permissions and advanced stage of delivery, policy should support and facilitate this acceleration rather than introduce complexity, constraints or uncertainty which could delay delivery. This representation therefore comments on draft Policy S/NST and its specific requirements with this in mind.
Given Homes England's role as the majority landowner and master developer of Northstowe, which is one of the Local Plan's key strategic allocations and a key contributor to South Cambridgeshire’s housing trajectory, Homes England would wish to participate in any examination hearing relating to the Northstowe policy.
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