Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Developments on key sites should be prepared in accordance with a development brief or design code. The recent changes to the national planning policy guidance and the introduction of a national design guide envisage that development will be led by local ‘design codes’ which are informed by the traditions of an area, assisting in creating identity and distinctiveness. MGH endorse this approach to design as well as the involvement of local residents and other stakeholders via an open and transparent consultation process.

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The Issues and Options report identifies that the Greater Cambridge economy is of national importance. MGH agrees with this assessment. Continuing economic growth is vital for the nation, the region, and for Greater Cambridgeshire. The importance of the Cambridge economy extends across the region, but there are also multiple benefits that arise locally. The international reputation of Cambridge powers a local economy that is much more than global high tech businesses. This international reputation has been a spring-board for diverse local business across a wide range of types, including start-ups, studios, workshops, manufacturing, leisure, retail and logistics businesses. This process needs to be encouraged and facilitated to ensure a diverse local economy is created that ensures that the benefits of growth are spread across the population rather than being focussed solely in one sector or location. This ongoing economic diversification will help to balance social and economic differences and social inequalities across the Greater Cambridge area. The ongoing ability of Greater Cambridge to provide economic growth, and therefore improvements in standards of living for the area as a whole, are highlighted in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Review (CPIER), September 2018*. The CPIER indicates that employment growth to date has been faster than envisaged. The Councils should look to draw on this opportunity to deliver better lifestyles for all those living and working in the wider region, and in particular to deliver benefits across the communities of Greater Cambridge. *Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Review, September 2018

MGH will await the further evidence base and technical studies that are to be provided as part of the Local Plan consultation process. Research to date in the CPIER and elsewhere* shows that there is a very large demand for employment in the area and a great opportunity for Greater Cambridge to diversify the range of employment offered in order to deliver a robust economy that is beneficial to all elements of society not just those in a particular location or employed in a specific sector. *Cambridge, A city state of mind, Savills, 2018 and The Oxford-Cambridge Innovation Arc, Savills, 2019

MGH will await the further evidence base and technical studies that are to be provided as part of the Local Plan consultation process. Research to date in the CPIER and elsewhere* shows that there is a very large demand for employment in the area and a great opportunity for Greater Cambridge to diversify the range of employment offered in order to deliver a robust economy that is beneficial to all elements of society not just those in a particular location or employed in a specific sector. *Cambridge, A city state of mind, Savills, 2018 and The Oxford-Cambridge Innovation Arc, Savills, 2019

MGH will await the further evidence base and technical studies that are to be provided as part of the Local Plan consultation process. Research to date in the CPIER and elsewhere* shows that there is a very large demand for employment in the area and a great opportunity for Greater Cambridge to diversify the range of employment offered in order to deliver a robust economy that is beneficial to all elements of society not just those in a particular location or employed in a specific sector. *Cambridge, A city state of mind, Savills, 2018 and The Oxford-Cambridge Innovation Arc, Savills, 2019

Economic growth in the area is currently focussed on Cambridge, but the ‘Cambridge Effect’ extends beyond the city boundaries and increasingly has the potential to extend across the Oxford Cambridge Arc. There is limited potential for development in the city of Cambridge, which should be explored as a priority. Subsequently, the best locations are those that can areas accommodate clusters of economic activity, with self-sustaining residential communities linked to them in the areas surrounding the city and well linked to it by public transport options. A good example is to the north of Cambridge where the Cambridge Research Park is supported by a new community at Waterbeach. New infrastructure is now proposed to be delivered at Cambourne to the west of Cambridge, to include East West Rail and the Cambridge Autonomous Metro (CAM), This confluence of infrastructure support and opportunity can support further employment development at Cambourne in a way that is linked to the city in a highly sustainable way.

Delivering significant numbers of new homes in the Local Plan is vital for the continuing prosperity of the area. The CPIER economic report identifies that without sufficient homes to accompany new employment, employers will look elsewhere, including potentially outside of the UK. The steadily increasing house prices in Cambridge and the surrounding region make it one of the most unaffordable locations to live in the country (ibid). A continuation of the trajectory of increasing house prices will see inequality increase as those on lower earnings are priced out of the area. MGH agrees with the issues raised by the Issues and Options report, that if insufficient housing is built to meet local need this will result in: - - worsening affordability; - damage to the local economy; - damage to equality and social inclusion; - adverse implications arising from climate change; and - adverse impacts on the ability of people to live healthy lives. The government has been clear that the Oxford Cambridge Arc should support economic growth. To do so will require housing to support the growing local work force. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Growth Deal* is predicated on the delivery of increased employment growth. The CPIER indicates that in order to realise the growth that could be delivered, a total of some 2,900 homes per year will be needed. If such levels cannot be reached, the Local Plan will fail in its ambitions to deliver other key objectives in terms of social and environmental improvements. MGH strongly agrees that the Local Plan should provide for higher levels of housing growth to support a strong economy, in accordance with government policy. * Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Devolution Deal

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Delivering significant numbers of new homes in the Local Plan is vital for the continuing prosperity of the area. The CPIER economic report identifies that without sufficient homes to accompany new employment, employers will look elsewhere, including potentially outside of the UK. The steadily increasing house prices in Cambridge and the surrounding region make it one of the most unaffordable locations to live in the country (ibid). A continuation of the trajectory of increasing house prices will see inequality increase as those on lower earnings are priced out of the area. MGH agrees with the issues raised by the Issues and Options report, that if insufficient housing is built to meet local need this will result in: - - worsening affordability; - damage to the local economy; - damage to equality and social inclusion; - adverse implications arising from climate change; and - adverse impacts on the ability of people to live healthy lives. The government has been clear that the Oxford Cambridge Arc should support economic growth. To do so will require housing to support the growing local work force. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Growth Deal* is predicated on the delivery of increased employment growth. The CPIER indicates that in order to realise the growth that could be delivered, a total of some 2,900 homes per year will be needed. If such levels cannot be reached, the Local Plan will fail in its ambitions to deliver other key objectives in terms of social and environmental improvements. MGH strongly agrees that the Local Plan should provide for higher levels of housing growth to support a strong economy, in accordance with government policy. * Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Devolution Deal

There is a need to provide for a wide range of housing in the Local Plan, including a diverse range of tenures, with rented accommodation, retirement living, market housing, and affordable housing together with some custom and self-build homes. A diversity of typologies will improve the ability of the market to deliver enhanced levels of delivery through provide a range of options to access housing whether rent or buy or a combination of these types. Such diversity is best achieved on larger sites which can adapt to market trends as demand changes in order to create robust communities with a range of socio-economic groups.

High standards of housing can be achieved through use of the preparation of development briefs or design codes. The recent changes to the national planning policy guidance and the introduction of a national design guide prescribe that local ‘design codes’ be produced which are informed by the traditions of an area, assisting in creating identity and distinctiveness. MGH endorses this approach to design.