Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Response to Question 2 The site was submitted as part of the Call for Sites consultation in 2019 and Pembroke College is continuing to promote the site for allocation in the emerging Local Plan. Description of Proposals The site is put forward for the allocation for residential development for around 130 dwellings, open space, associated infrastructure including offsite improvements to the footpaths and cycleways into and out of Linton, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems and enhanced opportunities for the development of biodiversity. A Development Site Report has been prepared to present an understanding of the site and how a residential development can be formed that is respectful of its edge of village location and heritage context. The eastern edge of the site is formed by an established tree belt that forms a distinct separation between the village and the countryside beyond. The proposal site will remain to the village side of the tree belt and be more closely related to the village than the open countryside. The site would be seen as a natural extension to the village lying on the flatter ground before the land slopes up to the north east. The logic to placing new residential development to the east side of Linton is further supported by reference to the permitted residential schemes to the south of the site, such that the development of the site would represent a logical progression across the eastern edge of the village to deliver a planned entrance, with a greater amount of planting. Summary of Technical Work Ecology An ecological report following a site survey has been prepared, which finds that there is no overriding ecological constraint to the development of the site. With good design, the proposals would incorporate opportunities to achieve biodiversity net gains to meet the targets of emerging local policy. Highways The highways assessment undertaken in support of these representations, summarises that a resident of the site would be able to access everyday needs living, working and education requirements, by either walking, cycling or by utilising public transport and would not need to use a private car to access these facilities. The visibility splays provided assess the indicative proposed access at a scale of 2.4m x 43m to the west and 2.4m x 215m to the east. These visibility splays assume that the existing 30mph speed limit will be extended to incorporate the site frontage. The proposed access comprises a 5.5m width carriageway with a 2m wide footpath leading into the site. The assessment concludes that the peak hour AM and PM vehicle trips generated by the residential development of the site for approximately 130 dwellings, would not have a detrimental impact on the local road network. Finally, the assessment has identified a potential to improve and promote sustainable modes of transport in the village including pedestrian connectivity and bus viability. The site therefore presents a sustainable development opportunity and would be compliant with all transport and highways policy. Drainage The drainage assessment concludes that the site falls entirely within Flood Zone 1 of the Environment Agency (EA) Flood Zone maps and is at very low risk of flooding. There are no sources of flooding identified which would impact on the development site nor historic flooding incident associated with the site. The only ‘Main River’ in the vicinity of the site is the River Granta, which is approximately 1km south west of the site. There are no sewers in the immediate vicinity of the site and sewer flooding is not considered to be a significant flood risk to the development site. The assessment concludes that the overall risk of flooding to the site is low with likely practical and sustainable solutions for both surface and foul water drainage. Heritage An Initial Heritage Appraisal accompanies this representation. It explains the heritage context of the site; most notably the Conservation Area, Listed Buildings and the listed Water Tower to Rivey Hill. The assessment finds no reason why the site cannot be successfully developed for residential development. Benefits It is considered that the development proposals could deliver numerous tangible social, economic and environmental benefits to the local area, including: ● The opportunity to deliver a substantial amount of affordable housing to help meet the needs of Linton and the wider district; ● Locating residential development within one of the District’s largest and most sustainable villages. The site is located approximately 1km from the village centre and is well placed for future residents to be able to walk and cycle, rather than travel by private car, to these facilities and the neighbouring settlements; ● A landowner who wishes to work with the community in order to shape a proposal which meets the needs of and can provide wider benefits to the village; ● Increasing the amount of public open space and play space; ● Increasing the provision of footpaths with the proposal controlling land to be able to provide an additional route between Horseheath Road and Balsham Road; ● Supporting Linton’s economy, including local shops and services; and ● Enhancing biodiversity levels across the site and delivering green infrastructure for the benefit of the ecology and existing and future residents.

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Agree

Agree - The proposed Local Plan period up to 2040 is considered appropriate and to accord with the requirements set out within the NPPF for local authorities to identify a sufficient supply and mix of sites between years 1-15 of the plan (Para 67).

Agree

Agree - The four big themes for the Local Plan are considered suitable and all are considered to be important in the consideration of the spatial distribution of growth in the district, and for the determination of planning applications. The four big themes will generate a new way of planning, this may require a different way to make decisions; to allow other impacts to happen in order to achieve these four priorities. The Local Plan policy framework will need to allow for a clear planning balance to take place to assess and prioritise impacts.

The increased focus on climate change is welcomed. Climate change policy and good practice is changing quickly, and the plan will need to build in suitable flexibility to accommodate these changes within the lifetime of the plan. Climate change scenarios predict extensive changes by 2050, much of which is dependent on government and human action so there is substantial uncertainty over outcomes. A needlessly stringent policy may inadvertently impede progress towards later years in the plan or undermine results by not allowing for site-specific refinement. For example, policy for electric vehicle charging points should be sufficiently flexible to accommodate that quickly changing technology, as well the current grid challenges in implemented EV charging places. Energy policies should include flexibility for changing legislation, and technology, as well as the opportunity to refine a plan-wide policy for site specifics. As the Zero Carbon Futures Symposium Report (2019) submitted within the evidence base notes on page 10: where targets are too limited, and without consideration of project contexts, policy can drive dysfunctional behaviour such as photovoltaic solar panels being installed on North facing roofs merely to achieve policy compliance not to produce effective carbon reductions. Allowing for changing technologies and approaches should also help with viability as technology and approaches improve and are more widely adopted, thereby reducing costs. Escalating targets and policies may be able to accommodate these changes, while providing clarity to developers on the costs of development over time. The local plan Sustainability Appraisal (SA) should address variable climate change scenarios, as we would expect that different climate change scenarios will be of interest at examination. Lack of rigorous assessment of these scenarios in the SA could lead to the plan being found unsound.

Greater Cambridge is a leading local authority on climate change policy, such as through the early declaration of a climate change emergency and also through the newly adopted Sustainable Development SPD. This leadership should continue, as it is central to the sustainable development of Cambridge, leading to better development for humans, the environment, and for economic development. It should be borne in mind that Cambridge's knowledge economy increasingly demands high sustainability standards: sustainability, health and wellbeing, with climate change at the heart, is a key part of continuing Cambridge's economic development. This should remain a priority as part of a policy framework that recognises climate change as a key part of sustainable development across social, environmental and economic objectives.

Nothing chosen

A policy approach with multiple options for delivering net zero carbon is likely to be most effective in delivering development, as well as carbon neutrality. A multi-pronged approach should allow different solutions for different developments, reflecting context. For example, for some developments, Passivhaus energy standards may be achievable (going well above and beyond minimums set out in the Building Regulations), but for others, Building Regulations may need to be followed but an offset solution, such as a green bond or offset fund, could be used to achieve a net carbon reduction. Possible options need to be worked up in more detail as the Plan progresses and must build in flexibility.

To form a flexible policy framework, so as not to stifle the benefits of new technology or modern methods of construction.

This Local Plan must deliver effective policy which protects and enhances natural capital. We support delivery of net gain for new development. Such policy must be flexible enough to enable creative and cost-effective solutions for the delivery of net gain and support the Vision for the Natural Future of Cambridgeshire in 2050 as outlined by Natural Cambridgeshire and affiliated organisations. An off-site net gain solution should be clearly allowed for by policy. While it is a Local Plan priority as a part of one of the four big themes, the Local Plan policy must allow for a planning judgement and balanced decision to allow for site and development specific issues to be taken into account.

This should come through from an up-to-date base assessment of Greater Cambridge assets, which leads to a Local Plan wide (and beyond) strategy. Development proposals can then be shaped around the identified priorities. As part of a policy framework that allows for off-site mitigation and off-site net gain enhancements can be used to improve the wider green space network.

The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible.