Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

4.20 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. 4.21 At Papworth, the promotion of land at ‘Site A’ will incorporate the designated Local Green Space known as the ‘Meadow at western end of Church Lane’ (ref: NH/12-063). There are two public footpaths that cross through the site (references: 180/1 and 180/2). These routes could be enhanced to become green routes, and in the long term potentially link with the County’s Greenways initiative.

Yes, somewhat agree

4.22 Yes. With the right trees, in the right areas. A policy framework to seek tree cover increase, but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. 4.23 This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. Ecological outcomes rather than an unconditional focus on native species should be considered in new planting. 4.24 For reference as to how land at Papworth could improve the natural environment please refer to Section 2 of these representations, the Vision Document prepared by Bidwells UDS and the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal prepared by Ecology Solutions. Additional planting and reinforcing existing tree belts is proposed as part of the site allocations.

4.25 The Local plan should include a spatial strategy that connects homes with jobs; good quality public transport; facilities/services and high-quality open spaces. Policies should also highlight wellbeing and social inclusion as a key priority for new developments. 4.26 The extension of Papworth Village and Papworth Business Park by VJF would help to promote measures to improve welling by including of anti-poverty measures including: ● Energy efficient homes that deliver low energy and water bills; ● Access and walkability to local services for residents and workers; ● Enhanced local facilities; ● Access to key cycle routes to enable health means of travel to employment areas; and ● Promotion of low-cost housing proportionate to income in the area. 4.27 Extending Papworth to the west to include residential development and expanding the existing business park to the east has the potential to achieve ‘good growth’ that promotes wellbeing and social inclusion, as outlined below. These benefits also serve to reinforce the potential of the site for employment densification: ● Securing improvements in air quality through promotion of development that is not overly reliant on car use to ease congestion by locating development in a location which can fully utilise the existing and proposed transport connections in and around Papworth; ● Encouraging healthy lifestyles through provision of employment opportunities in an accessible location by low-carbon modes to encourage active travel; ● Proximity to local services and amenities bringing opportunities for social interaction and community development; ● Opportunities for new build design to provide all-electric heating and hot water systems to avoid the on-site combustion of fossil fuels; ● Creation of a safe and inclusive community through provision of a wide range of jobs; and ● Creation of high quality buildings and public realm which offers natural sociability, interaction and access to nature. 4.28 For further reference as to how land at Papworth could help achieve ‘good growth’ please refer to the Vision Document prepared by Bidwells UDS, the Transport Appraisal prepared by EAS, and the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal prepared by Ecology Solutions.

4.29 The Local Plan could help enable communities to shape new development proposals through creating policies and procedures that encourage meaningful consultation and require developers to demonstrate how schemes have been influenced by local communities. 4.30 Community engagement should be sought during the design process, during construction and through opportunities to influence the scheme and /or be engaged in its management and maintenance after completion (where relevant), particularly in circumstances where unforeseen consequences emerge. 4.31 VJF is committed to providing a positive legacy from the development that it promotes, and this can be achieved from meaningful engagement with the local community to gain their input into the design of the proposed development, including the site layout, house types and provision of specific local infrastructure or contributions towards it. VJF is a landowner that takes a long-term view of delivering development that provides benefits for the local community.

4.32 First and foremost, to form a spatial strategy that ensures that new development is accessible or can be made accessible. Providing everyone with the opportunity to walk, bus and cycle to jobs, schools, shops, services and social activities. 4.33 For Papworth, social inclusion can also be delivered by enhancing the public realm that encourages informal meetings and better routes for access by all pedestrians and cyclists. 4.34 As outlined in the accompanying Papworth Village Assessment prepared by Bidwells. Although the recommendations within the Village Assessment are based on an indicative development of up to 655 dwellings, the emerging proposals are for 450 dwellings arising through a more detailed site specific assessment to support the emerging Local Plan, the recommendations; however, remain broadly relevant. Through the recommendations in the Assessment, the proposed development could have a net beneficial effect on the wellbeing of residents if the recommendations of the report are implemented, including various benefits that could be secured through the proposals such as an additional nursery or a GP surgery extension. The Village Assessment sets out a number of solutions to help best improve the village for the community through the proposed development, based on a detailed assessment of the current infrastructure provision. Potential solutions are outlined below: ● Dedicated older persons development (due to ageing population and lack of current provision in the village); ● Focus on alternative affordable housing tenures including shared ownership options and provide a mix of housing up to three bedrooms (due to the lower net incomes in the village due to an existing higher proportion of social rented housing which has been largely delivered through VJF and Papworth Trust. Residents struggle to afford to purchase their own homes and shared ownership or intermediate tenures could offer an alternative for residents); ● Extend the existing GP surgery as additional housing is likely to generate the need for a further full-time equivalent GP or comparable nurse specialists. (The existing GP surgery is located in the centre of the village and there is room for an expansion if needed to meet the future needs which would be a more practical solution than providing a new GP surgery); ● Expansion of the existing pre-school and the inclusion of a further nursery, either as a standalone facility or co-located with a one form entry primary school; ● Expansion of Pendragon Primary School with an additional single form of entry (210 spaces). Land is available to the north of the school in the ownership of VJF that could be used to facilitate this; ● Improving transport connections to Cambourne Village College and Swavesey Village College through a dedicated cycle; ● Improving pedestrian and cycle routes through the village, on land largely owned by VJF; ● There is currently an under provision of children’s play areas and allotments, youth provision in Papworth and sports pitches are under-utilised. Open space is proposed as part of the proposed development.

4.35 New developments should support healthy lifestyles by creating a spatial strategy that can support connected spaces where people do not have to rely on the private car for their daily routine of school, work, shopping and leisure. Enabling active lifestyles and opportunities for social interaction is a priority. 4.36 The Local Plan should provide open space within developments where possible, alongside a policy framework to allow for off-site enhancements where appropriate, particularly when they can improve provision for existing communities. Standards within policies that determine the quantity and quality of provision should reflect an evidence-based assessment of need and benefits delivered. 4.37 A further measure to ensure new developments should support healthy lifestyles is for them to consider the needs of all age ranges and abilities in the detailed design of open spaces and public realm. New developments should also encourage healthy eating choices through the provision of healthy options and minimising/preventing fast food outlets. 4.38 As part of a residential development of ‘Site A’ at Papworth by VJF, a significant amount of open space will be provided which would be accessible to new residents as well as the existing community. Access to open space on site provides opportunities for exercise and recreation to help promote healthy lifestyles. Not only are there physical benefits to having a large proportion of open space within close proximity of homes, there are also benefits in terms of mental wellbeing by providing areas for residents to relax and enjoy outdoor activities.

4.39 Improvements in air quality should be achieved principally through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development, particularly schools, places of work and other facilities that have a high footfall, where there is good access to active travel and affordable, frequent, reliable and public transport options; Page 16 ● Better cycle lanes, parking and cycle security – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme; ● Encouraging the use of less polluting vehicles, particularly during peak hours when emissions from stationary traffic makes conditions for pedestrians and cyclists and other vulnerable groups particularly bad; and ● Tree planting along road frontages: species selected for their pollution absorbing properties. 4.40 Papworth is an increasingly sustainable location to accommodate further residential development and meet the above air pollution reduction measures. The land promotion sites are located within walking distance of the services and facilities in the village thereby reducing the need to travel by car. 4.41 The village features a number of services and facilities that contribute towards the site as a sustainable location including a doctor’s surgery, post office, a Nisa local, various retail units, and a primary school. The village is just 4km north of Cambourne which provides a range of services and facilities, a range of employment opportunities, and is also proposed to feature along the East-West Rail alignment route. 4.42 Development on the sites can promote sustainable travel and Papworth also offers the following transport connections and opportunities for sustainable travel: ● Bus Services – There are bus stops along the length of Ermine Street serving Papworth Everard. The X3 and 8 bus services serve Papworth Everard, stopping along Ermine Street and providing services to Cambridge, Cambourne and Huntingdon. There are eight X3 bus services and two 8 bus services per day on weekdays and a total of seven Saturday services. There are morning and evening school bus services along Ermine Street. It is also proposed to extend bus services into Site A to allow for easier access for residents. ● Footway and Cycle Connections – various pedestrian and cycle connections are proposed within and around Site A to improve connectivity within Papworth. The Highways England A428 improvement proposals includes new footpath and cycleway connections at the Caxton Gibbet junction and the re-alignment of the junction to reduce congestion in the area and improve journey times along this key transport route. ● Strategic Road Network - The completion of the A14 re-alignment and improvement works, for which the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon is now set to open earlier than expected in spring 2020, will enable better connections to Papworth. The Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Cambourne to Cambridge Transport project includes proposals for Scotland Farm Park and Ride which is currently the preferred option. ● Rail and Metro Connections – The East-West rail preferred route has been announced which will link with Cambourne which is just 4km south of Papworth. The Cambridge Autonomous Metro which has recently been given approval for a consultation for the main routes that would connect Cambridge with St Neots, Alconbury, Mildenhall and Haverhill. The route to St Neots is proposed to stop at Cambourne which would link with other proposed cycleway and footway improvements and enable residents to have even more choice for sustainable transport modes

4.43 The Local Plan should include for a policy framework that sets out a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment. New development within or in proximity to heritage assets can be appropriate and make a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness. This is supported by the NPPF (paragraph 185). 4.44 An Initial Heritage Assessment has been prepared in respect of Sites A, B and C and accompanies these representations. This has informed the emerging proposals for the site to ensure the significance of the Papworth Conservation Areas and nearby Listed Buildings is duly taken into account and inform the proposals. Further detail on this assessment and how it has informed the site design is included in Section 2 of these representations. 4.45 The enclosed illustrative masterplan has taken into account the context of the sites in order to suggest a layout that would sensitively respond to the context of the site. Parts of sites A and B are within flood zones 2 and 3, however, these areas are not needed for built development and would be retained as landscape buffer areas. A Conservation Area overlaps with Parcel A and development within this area would be designed to sensitively respond to the features and character of the area. Views have been identified for preservation to respond to the context of the Conservation Area.

4.46 New development can provide opportunities for improvements in the quality of the historic environment. For example, the setting of heritage assets often has elements that detract from the significance of the asset. However, it will be important for the Local Plan to balance heritage protection with the demands of growth and proposals affecting heritage assets should continue to be required to include for an assessment of significance of any heritage assets affected.

4.47 ‘Place-making’ – creating and sustaining a positive and distinctive character in an area – is important to the economic success of the Greater Cambridge area, as identified by the CPIER. This is also supported by the NPPF (paragraph 124) which confirms that good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, creates better places in which to live and work and helps make development acceptable to communities. 4.48 The NPPF continues by advising that plans should set out a clear design vision and expectations and design policies should be developed with local communities so they reflect local aspirations. To provide maximum clarity about design expectations at an early stage, plans or SPDs should use visual tools such as design guides and codes. The Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth sets out core principles of the level of quality to be expected in new developments in Cambridgeshire and the four ‘C’s’ of Community, Connectivity, Climate and Character align well with the four big themes of the emerging Local Plan. This forms a good basis to set out a design vision for the new Local Plan.