Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Proposed Submission

The policy should ensure opportunities for green and blue infrastructure and connections along the river Cam and into the Wicken Vision Area should be provided. Active travel links onwards to the north and east should be included in the Spatial Framework for the site.

North East Cambridge new site allocation (S/NEC) has been amended to the North East Cambridge Area of Major Change (S/AMC/NEC), to reflect the current position in regards the Cambridge Wastewater Treatment Plant (CWWTP).
The previous Spatial Framework for the site (Figure 17 Draft Local Plan, 2025) shows active travel connections from the site towards the north and east. Notwithstanding the lower potential for residential development if CWWTP remains onsite and the greater emphasis on employment provision, the area continues to be a key gateway opportunity to the countryside.
The wording of the policy and Figure 38 (Indicative Spatial Framework for S/AMC/NEC) do not include any Active Travel Links to the north and east. The A14 and the Cambridge North Railway continue to be barriers between the urban areas of north Cambridge and the countryside. The redevelopment of this site could provide a key opportunity to deliver active travel connections and access to the countryside to the north of Cambridge, particularly towards the urban area of Milton, Milton Country Park and into the Wicken Vision area, including to the National Trust’s popular sites at Wicken Fen and Anglesey Abbey. It could provide better public access to nature in an area with limited greenspace and significant growth, benefitting local people’s health and wellbeing. The policy and accompanying map should be amended to seek to secure these connections.

Site S/AMC/NEC (North East Cambridge Area of Major Change) needs to be added to the map.

Figure 52 Map of proposed allocations and areas of major change on the edge of Cambridge does not identify site S/AMC/NEC (North East Cambridge Area of Major Change).

For clarity include a plan showing the location of the Wicken Fen Southern Gateway.
Add “in accordance with the Wicken Fen and Vision Masterplan to section 16.c.iii

The National Trust supports the requirements of policy 16c to enable strategic green connections into the Wicken Vision Area and provision of strategic green infrastructure in the Wicken Vision area and around Anglesey Abbey to limit additional recreational pressure on nearby SSSIs (para 3.2.15). The Biodiversity and Green Spaces Topic Paper (Appendix 3: Green Infrastructure Strategy) identified that Greater Cambridge has a particular deficit in strategic scale green space. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan July 2026 identifies Wicken Fen Southern Gateway as a Strategic GI project that contributes to the objectives of Strategic Initiative 4 (Eastern Fens). Mitigation is required for recreational pressure on vulnerable habitats (SSSIs) through increased visitor numbers. It refers to the emerging Spatial Framework for the project, with further project details and indicative costing due to report in summer 2026. The National Trust can confirm that the Wicken Fen and Vision Masterplan has now been completed and includes a site which could provide strategic scale greenspace to the north of the A14. A copy of the Masterplan has been shared with the LPA.

Criteria 37 (Movement) should include reference to villages, facilities and open spaces to the south of Cambourne North

The National Trust's Wimpole Estate, including Eversden and Wimpole Woods SAC/SSSI is located approximately 6km to the south of Cambourne. Even if significant green infrastructure is delivered, the Wimpole Estate is an important heritage asset and tourist destination within Greater Cambridge and an established green space on the western side of Cambridge. It will inevitably draw visitors from the new developments at Cambourne and Bourne Airfield. However, it is currently poorly connected to these locations by sustainable transport. Policy S/CBN, Criteria 37 (Movement) requires improved local bus connections and high quality and safe active travel connections between Cambourne North and other villages. This should include villages, facilities and open spaces to the south of Cambourne North which are key assets to Greater Cambridge.

The National Trust supports the requirements of 22c which seeks financial contributions/ to enable improvement options for the cycle crossing at and connection to Bottisham Lock in order to improve connectivity to Wicken Fen and surrounding villages.

Wording added requiring the developer to undertake an assessment of cumulative and cross-boundary impacts. Also, any proposed renewable energy/infrastructure that is within the Greater Cambridge area and is functionally linked to designated sites should be avoided.

The National Trust is supportive of renewable energy in principle. However, the landscape character, tranquillity, sensitive views, and future Wicken Vision ambition are being adversely affected by the amount of solar and associated infrastructure being developed in the Vision area. The policy states that these developments should not cause unacceptable impacts, including cumulative and cross-boundary impacts, but this policy could be strengthened to put the onus on the developer to undertake an assessment of cumulative and cross-boundary impacts. Furthermore, any proposed renewable energy/infrastructure that is within the Greater Cambridge area and is functionally linked to designated sites should be avoided.

An additional bullet point in this policy should set out a cross reference to Policy BG/EO to explain how the Green Infrastructure Initiatives will be delivered.

The identified green strategic initiatives should be shown on the Digital Local Plan Map.

The National Trust strongly supports the Strategic Priority to increase and improve the network of habitats for wildlife, and green spaces for people, ensuring that development leaves the natural environment better than it was before. The policy identifies 14 Green Infrastructure Initiatives as priorities for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge.
This Greater Cambridge Green Infrastructure Strategy 2026 (GI Strategy 2026) sets out the vision for green infrastructure in Greater Cambridge and the actions being taken by Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council (the Councils) to deliver that vision, including through the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, and through wider activities.
However, the proposed method of delivering these GI Initiatives is set out in Policy BG/EO and appears to rely on financial contributions for off-site provision where developments cannot provide sufficient accessible green and/or open space on-site. There needs to be a cross-reference to Policy BG/EO in this policy.

The policy needs to set out the requirements for off-site contributions, including how the quantity (off-site provision or financial contribution) will be determined, mechanisms for collection, delivery and monitoring in order to deliver the identified green infrastructure initiatives and ensure that they are effective in securing the green infrastructure requirements for the Local Plan.

The National Trust supports bullet point 6 which indicates how residual accessible green and/or open space will be secured. The supporting text at Paragraph 5.94 states that financial contributions for off-site provision will be calculated using the Greater Cambridge Green Infrastructure Strategy, and Greater Cambridge Play Strategy. The National Trust supports this. However, neither the policy nor the Green Infrastructure Strategy set out clearly enough the funding mechanisms to ensure the delivery of these GI Initiatives. The quantity of contribution required is not set out. Off-site delivery will require partnership working with third parties. It Is not clear who will deliver the initiatives, how the funding will potentially be passed to third parties or how their effectiveness will be monitored. The National Trust fully supports the vision to deliver green infrastructure to address the deficit in strategic scale green space and meet greenspace needs of new development, but without clear delivery mechanisms it is difficult to see how these initiatives would be delivered in practice and be effective.