Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Reference is made in Section 4.7.3 to the adopted Minerals and Waste Plan, but not the emerging Local Plan which can be found on www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/MWLP. This should be included, as it will be adopted prior to the completion of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. See attached

Land east of Cherry Hinton Road and south of Worts’ Causeway, CB22 3BF

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Climate Change, Biodiversity and Green Spaces, Wellbeing and Social Inclusion, Great Places

Agree

Are there any other issues we should be considering? • Flood risk planning and waste reduction. These themes were found to be some of the most important issues from our CC&ES public consultation. • Climate resilient infrastructure - although this could fit under climate change or great places, a standalone point might be stronger. • Creating a local ecological network to contribute to the Nature Recovery Network and deliver connected habitats for wildlife across Greater Cambridge and wider landscape.

• Supply chain transparency • Working with nature to create, restore and better manage native habitats that provide carbon storage (e.g. tree / hedgerow planting, coppicing woodland and restoring peatland) for the sake of reduction of carbon emissions. The current wording around carbon offsetting is not ideal (as this implies that other harmful activities can take place as long as the outputs of those are offset when in fact we need to be working to reduce current emissions). • Tree and hedgerow planting has so many other benefits too for biodiversity and adaptation (e.g. to the effects of heat/shade on communities and nature and the effects of winds on soil erosion) that tree planting is a key measure in its own right. However, trees must not be planted at the expense of other important habitats, with the right tree being planted in the right location. A tree strategy should be developed to explore this further. WITH REFERENCE TO 4.1.3 In May 2019, Cambridgeshire County Council declared a Climate and Environment Emergency and has prepared a draft strategy outlining how the Council plans to reduce its carbon footprint and how it can collaborate with others. Climate change is therefore a high priority with both local and central government and will impact the delivery of our services, including Education. A change to the Building Regulations on 1 January 2019 requires all new buildings owned and occupied by public authorities must be ‘Nearly Zero Energy Buildings’. The County Council will demonstrate compliance with the Regulations and will amend its policies and specification to require all new buildings to be Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB).

Yes, strongly agree

REFERENCE TO PARA 4.1.3. There is no reference to the Circular Economy, (the principle of designing out waste and pollution, and keeping materials in use), in the First Conservation report or in the Sustainability Appraisal Framework. It is suggested that this should be included.

• Flood risk measures could include: - Promotion of SuDS, which can improve green space and promote biodiversity while also reducing flood risk and helping communities to adapt to climate change. - Promotion of Natural Flood Management schemes - long term solutions to adapt to flooding. - Retrofitting existing buildings with Property Level Resilience (PLR) measures, to ensure existing buildings are adapted to flood risk as well as new buildings. - Strategic tree planting and use of wetlands and other techniques in areas with key groundwater aquifers to enhance ground interception of water • Adapting to strong winds through measures such as resilient infrastructure and trees WITH REFERENCE TO 4.1.3 In May 2019, Cambridgeshire County Council declared a Climate and Environment Emergency and has prepared a draft strategy outlining how the Council plans to reduce its carbon footprint and how it can collaborate with others. Climate change is therefore a high priority with both local and central government and will impact the delivery of our services, including Education. A change to the Building Regulations on 1 January 2019 requires all new buildings owned and occupied by public authorities must be ‘Nearly Zero Energy Buildings’. The County Council will demonstrate compliance with the Regulations and will amend its policies and specification to require all new buildings to be Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB).

• Existing biodiversity habitats should be protected, enhanced and better managed. It should look to extend / buffer existing biodiversity resources. • Create a local ecological network to contribute to the Nature Recovery Network and deliver connected habitats for wildlife across Greater Cambridge and wider landscape. This should link with county-wide Habitat Opportunities Mapping • Secure measurable Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) as part of planning permissions (based upon an approved BNG calculator metric). Locally, given the significant decline and loss of biodiversity habitat across Cambridgeshire, the Local Plan should looks to secure a target of 20% BNG as part of development. • Undertake a strategic biodiversity audit, including up-to-date condition surveys of all City and County Wildlife Sites, to identify the current biodiversity resources across the Local Plan area. Use this evidence base to develop a local ecological network, identify key opportunities for habitat delivery (e.g. landscape-scale biodiversity creation) and key habitats that are priorities for the local authorities. These will help to inform BNG schemes, which are weighted in favour of strategic obnjectives; as well as providing opportunities to seek developers to contributions to habitat projects.

• Requirements for green-space to provide multi-functional benefits including flood storage, SuDS, biodiversity net gain and health and wellbeing benefits. • Requirements to plan for multi-functional green space earlier on, rather than planning greenspace around proposed site layouts. Green space and SuDS proposals should be considered earlier on in the planning process to maximise multi-functional benefits. • Requirements to incorporate water into green space. • Green space standards (e.g. taking into consideration the outputs coming out of the Natural England GI Standards project and from Future Parks Accelerator) • Undertake an assessment of the current usage of green space network within the Local Plan area and identify potential issues resulting from the Local Plan, including additional recreational pressure on sensitive wildlife sites, to identify where and how much green space is required to avoid these pressures. • Strategic tree and hedgerow planting requirements based on location/ provision of habitat corridors rather than just number of trees. Consideration must also be given to the long-term management of both existing and new tree stock, for both their biodiversity interest and maximising carbon storage opportunities. WITH REFERENCE TO 4.2.3 A healthy and biodiverse environment is important for the wellbeing of all people who live, work and study within Cambridge. The provision of green spaces allows for a diverse range of learning opportunities, to enhance the curriculum offer and enable the school to offer a wider range of extra-curricular activities. It is also important for informal use and to promote the social and emotional development of pupils.

• Require developers to use Natural Cambridgeshire LNP ‘Developing with Nature’ toolkit. And support the development of the toolkit for small scale development. • Favour development that secure “LNP Developing with Nature charter mark” • Develop a local Biodiversity Net Gain calculator in partnership with the Natural Cambridgeshire Local Nature Partnership and other local authorities in Cambridgeshire to reflect local priorities. And set local target for measurable Biodiversity Net Gain (using BNG calculators) to 20%. • Biodiversity Net Gain schemes that deliver local and county-wide objectives for habitat enhancement, creation and management should be favoured. WITH REFERENCE TO 4.2.3 A healthy and biodiverse environment is important for the wellbeing of all people who live, work and study within Cambridge. The provision of green spaces allows for a diverse range of learning opportunities, to enhance the curriculum offer and enable the school to offer a wider range of extra-curricular activities. It is also important for informal use and to promote the social and emotional development of pupils. • Require all Biodiversity Net Gain schemes to include 30 years (or more) management of biodiversity habitat associated with planning application, to provide sufficient time for habitats to established. • Create robust planning policies requiring developers that are unable to meet on-site BNG to contribute to off-site BNG schemes. To achieve this, a Local Plan wide strategy for biodiversity and green infrastructure to identify local priorities for habitat delivery / biodiversity projects, as part of BNG, that contribute to the local ecological network. This should be based on up-to-date evidence, including a biodiversity audit for the Local Plan area and update condition assessment surveys of all City and County Wildlife Sites. • Develop an in-house Biodiversity Net Gain scheme, whereby developers unable to meet BNG targets, are able to pay SCDC / City Council to create habitat and manage (for a minimum of 30 years). • Adequate resourced Planning Enforcement team to monitor the success of Biodiversity Net Gain schemes and ensure effective remedial action is taken