Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Yes, strongly agree

However, tree / woodland creation should be undertaken as part of a Tree Strategy. This should include protection of existing biodiversity rich habitats, natural regeneration of woodland, planting of species suitable for the local area / resilient to climate change, and management of existing and new tree stock. 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.

Cambridge City Local Plan Policy 31: • This is a good, strong policy that clearly outlines SuDS requirements for new developments. • Whilst the LLFA fully support part G, it is quite difficult for developers to demonstrate compliance with this. • Further detail may be required on part K, and what is considered to be 'reasonably practicable' Cambridge City Local Plan Policy 32: • Could this be stronger in line with the non-statutory technical standards and require previously developed sites to come down to greenfield surface water runoff rates and volumes unless it is not practicable? The non-statutory technical standards are going to be reviewed and updated in the near future • Part c) should perhaps say ‘up to and including a 1 in 100 year event’ Cambridge City Local Plan Policy 69 & 70: • We welcome this policy but it could be stronger by combining with SCDC policies NH/4, NH/5, NH/6 & NH7 – see our comments in relation to these policies below. South Cambridgeshire Policy CC/8: • It is good this policy refers to the non-statutory standards as this requires some reduction in surface water runoff for previously developed sites • It would be good to strengthen points on green roofs and permeable paving in line with Cambridge City Policy 31. • Section C could include further detail on what is considered to be 'practicable to do so'. South Cambridgeshire Policy NH/4: • This should be strengthened to include a requirement for all development to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and commit to 30 years management (in line with the emerging Environment Bill). • The policy should set a local target of 20% Biodiversity Net Gain (demonstrated using an appropriate BNG calculator) to deliver measurable Biodiversity Net Gain • The policy should include requirements for development not achieving measurable BNG as part of the development to deliver off-site BNG / contribute to habitat deliver projects • The policy should incorporate the SCDC Biodiversity SPD to give greater weight to biodiversity South Cambridgeshire Policy NH/5 & NH/7: • Supported South Cambridgeshire Policy NH/6: • Local requirements for green spaces should be identifies, such as against ANGST standards to ensure that sufficient green space is produce to avoid any impact on wildlife sites due to additional recreational pressure.

• It would be good to merge the existing Cambridge City policies (Policy 31 and 32) with other authority policies such as The Greater London Authority policies. The Greater London Authority gives a 7-stage drainage hierarchy, which could be incorporated into the Greater Cambridge Local Policy. • It would be good to incorporate particular parts of the Cambridge City Policy 31 and 32 into the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, including the strict requirements that all hard surfacing should be constructed as permeable paving and all flat roofs should be green/blue/brown. As it would be good to see such drainage polices applied across South Cambridgeshire, rather than just confined to the City. • Possibility for further specification on what is considered to be 'reasonably practicable' for the incorporation of SuDS such as permeable paving (i.e. guidelines for industrial sites and hardstanding area subject to heavy goods vehicles. • It would be useful to create a Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity strategy across the Local Plan area, based upon the up-to-date evidence base.

There is relatively little general industrial and employment land in the Plan area, especially in the urban area of Cambridge. Some of the areas which do exist perform an important function in hosting employment uses which are essential to support existing and planned development e.g. waste management, concrete and coated roadstone sites, rail heads. Such areas have come under increasing pressure for redevelopment; but the type of employment uses they host cannot be readily replaced or relocated, and must not be lost. Such employment areas should be identified and safeguarded. Consideration should also be given to the need to identify additional land for general industrial uses, which could likewise host employment uses which could support planned development and diversify the wider local economy. WITH REFERENCE TO 4.5.3 The provision of high quality education supports economic development by providing the individual with the necessary skills to take advantage of the employment opportunities available. Equally, providing the right opportunities in terms of employment can also help to meet local needs, as well as provide opportunities for valuable and varied employment from further people travelling/relocating from further afield.A balance of the two key elements above is essential in achieving great places to live, work and learn.

The issues and options report has not adequatley addressed the findings of the Health New Town Programme "Putting Health into Place" and consideration should be given to explore where the Ten Healthy New Town Principles can be incorporated into Local Plan policy. The evidence section 3.4.1 has not used local health and or social care data including the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, in addition the local plan should take account of the draft Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health and Wellbeing Strategy as per the National Planning Policy Framework and Guidance.

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS: Provision of adequate health/social care capacity as population grows/ages. Continued need to develop active/sustainable travel infrastructure MAIN COMMENTS: The pressures new developments can put on health and social care services is mentioned in the issue and options report and additional infrastructure may be needed to mitigate the impacts of these new housing developments. This is particularly important to ensure that residents, particularly those in new developments, have sufficient access to health and social care services as the population grows and ages. The physical infrastructure needs to be delivered at the right time that the community needs it, and a balance needs to be struck between early delivery of community buildings and the associated financial implications of providing buildings and services early. The term health facility should be seen in the widest terms and new health facilities needs to accommodate a range of services including NHS, Local Authority and third sector and be flexible to reflect changing models of care. The local plan should therefore contain policies which support the delivery of multi-function community buildings from which services (including, but not limited to, health and social care) can be delivered. Formal and informal accessible meeting places, quality cultural and sports provision are recognised as integral to the creation of sustainable communities as they contribute much of the glue that holds communities together, providing services and facilities that meet the needs of residents, promote social interaction and enhance the overall quality of life within a community (British Property Foundation, 2010). Within the National Planning Policy Framework the importance of early community buildings is emphasised and is now generally planned into every new community. However, community buildings need to be more than meeting spaces and traditional unmanned village halls, they should provide a flexible, safe, neutral and trusted place in the community and an opportunity for the community to connect with support and services. Research into new communities shows the importance of having community facilities early in the build, even if it is initially just temporary provision, as this is the point when the residents are at their most vulnerable. Early Intervention and prevention work supported and provided by a range of sources public sector (Libraries, Schools, Public Health, Primary Care and Child & Family Centres) and third sector (Community Groups, Peer to Peer support) will require access to activity rooms, interview rooms and informal meeting spaces within the new community. Whilst community development programmes will be able to adapt to operate with little or no access to community facilities, they will be more effective and beter support the independent building of social networks by residents with access to informal meeting spaces. The local plan should promote opportunities to co-locate and integrate services and share facilities, for example the community hub principles which include co-locating and integrating community space with touch down facilities, child & family centre, library, health centre and a community type café. New developments need to be supported by the provision of utilities, the local plan should include polices requiring telecommunication infrastructure. Increasingly health and social care is being delivered electronically and residents and staff need access to reliable telecommications, including broadband and WiFi. The local plan should include policies requiring the provision of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The Greater Cambridge area ranks very well for cycling prevalence, the local plan should include policies which continue to provide infrastructure that makes active or sustianable travel the most convenient method for both business and leisure activities, the policy should consider opportunities to provide a range of cycling and walking infrastructure including segregated routes where appropriate. Proximity to good walking/cycling infrastructure and green spaces increases the likelihood of use (A Goodman 2013; A Kaczynski 2008). The evidence suggests that benefits are greatest for older people and young children deprived communities.

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS: Links between housing availability/quality/design and health. Needs of Gypsies & Travellers. MAIN COMMENTS: We support the drive to build an appropriate number of homes, with appropriate housing mix, in order to support people to live settled, healthy lives. Affordable housing is particularly important in the GCP area given the stark socioeconomic inequalities in our area. We recognise there are stigmas attached to tenure types in the larger developments, consideration should be given to micro clustering affordable housing, rather than pepper potting. The experience suggests that this avoids an alienation of a different tenure type in an area that is predominately market housing. Consideration should be given to how affordable housing is allocated, whilst it is appreciated that this may be out of the scope of the local plan, how the housing is allocated could impact on the wellbeing of of the community. for example by allocating homes away from a persons social network may lead to isolation and poorer health outcomes. Specialist Housing is required to meet the needs of people with disabilities, vulnerable groups and our growing aging population. Priority should be given to providing sustainable older peoples accommodation that is based on the wider needs of the area. Consideration should be given to housing for priority groups such as care leavers, the ex-service personnel (under the Armed Forces Covenant) and key worker housing for Social Workers, Teachers and Healthcare staff. The local plan should reflect the impact of climate change on the type and design of housing being built, and therefore should include policies which require housing to be able to cope with colder winters and hotter summers - our most vulnerable people can suffer from both increased morbidity and mortality from houses that cannot cope well in either circumstance. The local plan should also contain policies on minimum room sizes, indoor light levels and outdoor space. The local plan should include policies which reflect the responsibility to ensure against household overcrowding. Whilst the role of HMO's is important in terms of providing lower cost accommodation, there should be measures to ensure the quality of housing is appropriate We also support the continued consideration of the needs of Gypsies and Travellers, carrying on from the adopted 2018 Local Plans. The Cambridgeshire Strategic Traveller Needs Assessment (2010) confirmed a pressing need for more sites of all kinds and that the preference was for small, self owned long stay sites for family groups, preferably on the edge of a village, near established Gypsy Traveller communities. Within South Cambs there are a range of sites including 2 local authority sites, 2 very large privately owned sites, several smaller privately owned sites and people living in housing both social and private. Being a Gypsy or Traveller is not about accommodation but about ethnicity. There is a lack of availability of good quality pitches be that private or local authority. As a result of this some pitches are overcrowded with several generations of families living on one ill-equipped pitch. The local plan should should reflect the fact that Gypsies & Travellers are Cambridgeshire’s largest ethnic minority and include polices requireing adequate provision of sites for Gypsies & Travellers and group housing schemes that enable Gypsies & Travellers to maintain the familial ties that sustain this community.

Nothing chosen

Recent high-profile anaylsis reported Cambridge as the most unequal city in the UK (on a background of growing inequality between the richest and poorest in the country as a whole). Socioeconomic inequalities have a profound effect on public health - the poorest 10% of people in the UK have a life expectancy of 79 years (spending 52 years in good health), compared to the richest 10% who have a life expectancy of 86 years (spending 70 years in good health) - with those those in poverty tending to have shorter lives, spending more of it in poorer health compared to more affluent people (The Health Foundation, 2019). We recognise the value in aspiring to grow the local economy. However, for economic growth to be fair and sustainable, steps must also be taken to try and concurrently reduce inequalities in our area. The local plan needs to include policies to address economic inequalities by offering employment at all levels of skills, however there are some employment use classes which may be inappropriate in certain locations, we would strongly encourage the local plan to include a policy restricting A5 uses. in order for employment to be sustainable it needs to be located near housing and accessible by active travel

We support the inclusion of the Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth, the continued focus on tackling climate change, which poses a serious threat to public health, whilst safeguarding the historic places/lanscapes - which provide cultural & environmental opportunities that can support mental wellbeing. The Local Plan should include a policy which incorporates the ten Healthy New Town Principles.

Place and space have an impact on wellbeing and social inclusion; and individual actions to improve wellbeing are influenced by the environmental, social and socioeconomic context in which they take place. Planning and Wellbeing need to be considered together in two ways: • Creating environments that support and encourage wellbeing and social inclusion, • Identifying and securing the facilities, services and activities which not only meets the needs of the population but takes action to prevent trends of poor health and wellbeing evidenced in larger development. (taking into account the changing needs of the population). The National Planning Policy Framework states that planning policies should: "promote social interaction, including opportunities for meetings between people who might not otherwise come into contact with each other – for example through mixed-use developments, strong neighbourhood centres, street layouts that allow for easy pedestrian and cycle connections within and between neighbourhoods, and active street frontages." (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government 2019). In addition, the NHS Healthy New Towns Framework recommends ten principles for creating healthy new towns which include: "connect, involve and empower people and communities" (NHS England 2019). The Cambridgeshire Supporting New Communities Strategy talks of the need to kick-start social action and foster the sense of place in order for communities to form and thrive. Promoting Wellbeing - Loneliness and social isolation are public health problems that are getting progressively higher on the public and political agendas. In addition to profound effects on mental wellbeing, loneliness has also been found to be associated with an increased risk of mortality by over a quarter - making it at least as bad as risk factors like obesity, smoking and alcohol (J Holt-Lunstad 2015). As society moves increasingly towards digital technologies and social media, efforts to foster social connectedness are progressively more important. When talking about loneliness, many people think immediately about older people, particularly in rural locations. Whilst they do represent a high-risk group, recent data from the Office for National Statistics show that the prevalence of loneliness amongst children and young people is also high: around 10%. This rises to 20% in cities, and almost 30% of deprived children (Office for National Statistics 2018). Moving to a new community isolates people from their normal support networks. Much of the research into new towns or new communities has established clear links between loneliness, poor mental health and antisocial behaviours with a lack of community cohesion and social networks which are greatly influenced by lack of access to community facilities and supportive services. In small isolated social groups, as you would see in a new community, social behaviours can become entrenched (Durkheim, 1972). If negative social behaviours become engrained early on, they are likely to be passed on to newcomers and will be difficult to change. The transient nature of new communities, due to high levels of private renting, local stigmas attached to tenure type and different population characteristics to the surrounding area add to the difficulty in residents making connections and identifying with the wider community. Investing in supporting the formation of social networks in the larger developments will have considerable benefits to the community and the wider Greater Cambridge area as a whole. People who have strong social capital tend to overall have greater wellbeing, are happier, contribute to the local economy and are able to manage and improve their own health, situation and have a greater sense of belonging (CCC/NHS, 2010). Social networks help form a cohesive community that is resilient and more likely to intervene if they see problem behaviour taking place (known as ‘collective efficacy’), such as intervening if they see a child being harmed in the street; there is also a link to lower crime and anti-social behaviour, and lower perceptions of crime and disorder (Young Foundation, 2012). The local plan should recognised the need for early and adequate provision of formal and informal community spaces (e.g. community hubs, pubs, sports provision (includign walking routes), play areas and youth provision such as (well-lit) skate parks), provision for health/social care services (e.g Primary Care and Community health service, Libraries and Child & Family Centres) understanding and supporting interim or meanwhile provision may be appropriate during the early stages of development. The Local plan should include policies to require additional community development and specialist early intervention health and social care support to resident, as this is particularly important to bridge the gap before the community has developed the capacity to be more self-supporting. Age-Friendly Developments - The official population forecasts for the Greater Cambridge area predict that the number of people aged 85 and over will increase by 130.9% by 2036 (based on 2016 as the baseline), whilst the number of people aged 65 and over will increase by 60.9%, and the proportion of people of all ages will increase by only 23.7%. This means that an increasing proportion of our local population will be made up of older people - and in particular, the oldest old. This is reflected in the draft Health and Wellbeing strategy - priority area 3: staying well throughout life, including supporting older people to live independently for as long as possible. Therefore the local plan should include policies to require the inclusion of age-friendly design. Examples of age friendly principles include: building age-friendly homes, incorporating seating into the street furniture , dementia friendly street design to aid navigation, making local shops and facilities accessible by public transport within a development, traffic calming, and ensuring sufficient provision of age appropriate housing including mix of tenure and type from market housing to extra care units and everything inbetween. The World Health Organisation has developed a Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, including several in the UK. Through this initiative, several resources have been developed to share good practice, and support cities wanting to pursue age-friendly development - and are freely available online https://www.who.int/ageing/projects/age-friendly-cities-communities/en/ Positive Food Environment - Diet is a key determinant of general health and obesity levels. Obesity is an increasingly prevalent public health challenge that is linked with numerous conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Dietary behaviours are influenced by exposure to one’s food environment (‘foodscape’), such as the density of fast food outlets and their proximity to homes and workplaces, and the relative availability and visibility of healthier food choices. Researchers characterised foodscape exposure in adults in three different settings: home, work and commuting journeys. Exposure to hot food takeaway outlets in all three settings was associated with greater consumption of takeaway food, and higher likelihood of obesity (T Burgoine 2014). in addition research which looked at over a million children in England and found that children living in areas surrounded by fast food outlets are more likely to be overweight or obese (A Jones 2014). The researchers compared the availability of unhealthy food from outlets including fish and chip shops, burger bars, pizza places, and sweet shops. The results showed that children living in more deprived areas with a higher density of unhealthy food outlets are more likely to be obese. This finding is made even more credible by the fact that the closer the proximity to a high density of unhealthy eating outlets, the greater the child's weight. Therefore the local plan should contain policies that restricts A5 uses, and promote a healthier food environments such as supporting community orchards and allotments