Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Somewhat flexible

As noted in our response to Question 26, the Trumpington Residents’ Association believes it is important to maintain the existing spaces for businesses and shops within our local community. For example, we value the crescent of shops on Anstey Way, which provide an important local facility, complemented by the handful of shop units in Trumpington Meadows and Clay Farm (Hobson Square). It would also be desirable to have an additional local supermarket, although we recognise that there is no suitable location.

The Trumpington Residents’ Association supports the need for a tourism strategy for the City. We are concerned about the impact of coach traffic coming into the city and potentially using the facilities at the existing Trumpington Park & Ride site and the new Travel Hub and the need to manage coach parking.

As noted in our response to Question 24, the Trumpington Residents’ Association believes that there should be a full assessment as part of the Plan of the impact of different levels of economic growth and the consequences for the number of homes that will be needed. The number of homes to be provided for in the Plan should not be determined wholly by the level of economic growth and jobs, which is how “The First Conversation” reads. It should be determined by a judgement on the overall level of growth which gives weight to all of the themes, not just economic growth. We believe it would be against Greater Cambridge’s best interests to contemplate a 55% increase in the present number of homes to provide the “flexibility” in response to the market determined number of jobs, which is countenanced in “The First Conversation” [referred to in the last paragraphs on pages 4 and 62]. Based on our experience with the developments in the Southern Fringe, we recommend that more attention is given in further new developments to local demographics and the pattern of homes matching the needs of people over 50 and the elderly, including more provision of land for care homes. Also, we think there is a strong case for the provision of more council housing at social rents and key worker housing, to bring rents within the reach of a wider cross-section of local people. We are very concerned at the way new housing has been marketed to non-local people and encourage the Councils to seek ways to control that practice.

Yes, somewhat agree

As noted in our response to Question 24, the Trumpington Residents’ Association believes that there should be a fuller assessment of the impact and consequences of different levels of economic growth and the evidence that gives for the number of homes. Given that the new plan is rolling forward 10 years after the current plan, we accept that there will be a need for more homes than currently planned for the period up to 2031 and that there may be a need for more than those given under the standard method. However, we feel very strongly that the Councils and residents cannot agree to the highest projection given in the analysis by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Commission. Anything approaching an additional 66,700 homes in the plan period would be immensely detrimental to Greater Cambridge. See also our response to Question 31.

The Trumpington Residents’ Association supports the approach that has been taken in the developments in the Southern Fringe of having communities with a mixture of market and affordable housing. More attention should be given in further new developments to local demographics and the pattern of homes matching the needs of people over 50 and the elderly, including more provision of land for care homes. Also, we think there is a strong case for the provision of more council housing at social rents and key worker housing, to bring rents within the reach of a wider cross-section of local people.

The Trumpington Residents’ Association agrees that it is important to support travellers and welcome them into the community. We note that a need has been identified to provide sites for those who wish to live in a caravan and do not wish to travel, and for pitches to accommodate Travelling Showpeople. However, no commitment is then made to act on this, other than to review evidence. We think that it is important that this need is met in a constructive way.

As noted in our response to Question 24, based on our experience with local developments, the Trumpington Residents’ Association stresses the importance of Design Codes and an investment by the Councils in the planning and development process. There is a need for the Councils to give more attention to monitoring the quality of new buildings and responding to poor quality. In the case of new developments (including recently completed areas), it is important to maintain their design ethos by restricting changes to individual properties, including approved car parking space standards, through continued implementation of planning controls, action against HMOs, etc.

The Trumpington Residents’ Association notes the importance of the Councils and developers working together to provide infrastructure at the right time in a development cycle: it is essential that roads, bus services, etc., are available when the population reaches an appropriate level, not at the end of a project. Also, residents are concerned not just about infrastructure but also services: in a nutshell, it is great to have bus stops, we need to have bus shelters and bus services as well! There is a need for more long-term investment in maintaining facilities such as roads, footpaths and cycle paths and much more cycle parking provision than has been the case in the past. These are all important in helping to meet the Great Places and Wellbeing & Social Inclusion themes. One development that will have major impact on Trumpington is Cambridge South station. We strongly support the need for a station, subject to fuller information about its impact, including on Hobson's Park.

The Trumpington Residents’ Association supports the development of new public transport infrastructure such as Cambridge South station and the Cambridge South East Transport Scheme and the aims of the City Access Better Public Transport Programme, which should help reduce car use, congestion and pollution. Without effective traffic demand management measures, the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s target of reducing current traffic levels by one quarter will not be achieved. Nor will it be possible to make the associated much needed improvements in public transport. We are very concerned that there must be effective public transport services, the current bus services are inadequate.

As noted in our response to Question 37, the Trumpington Residents’ Association supports the development of new public transport infrastructure such as Cambridge South station, the Cambridge South East Transport Scheme and the aims of the City Access Better Public Transport Programme, all of which should help reduce car use, congestion and pollution. We also agree with the need for the Travel Hub at M11/A10 junction. We stress the importance of good public transport services.