Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

1 Introduction 1.1 These representations have been prepared by Deloitte on behalf of Grosvenor Britain & Ireland (Grosvenor) and Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). They have been prepared in response to the Greater Cambridge Local Plan “The First Conversation” Issues and Options Document 2020 consultation. These representations are made pursuant to our Call for Sites submission in March 2019. 1.2 These representations focus on those elements of the Local Plan and associated evidence base which relate primarily to housing and are written in the context of Grosvenor and USS’s land holding at Trumpington South, as indicated in the supporting Vision Document. The site has the potential to deliver up to 750 new dwellings, primary education, health and wellbeing, community space, work hubs and a mobility hub. The emphasis would be on zero-carbon living to help deliver sustainable growth in southern Cambridge. 1.3 Deloittes’ representations below are structured to address the individual questions as set out in the Local Plan Review Issues and Options consultation document. Separate submissions have also been made in respect of the questions on the Opus Consult 2 system. Policy Context and Framework 1.4 Grosvenor and USS welcome the publication of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan “The First Conversation” Issues and Options Consultation. The Plan will shape how the area changes to 2040 and potentially beyond. 1.5 The Issues and Options consultation is the first stage towards preparing a new joint Local Plan for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, together to be referred to as the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. It provides an important opportunity to undertake an early review as requested by the Inspectors in reviewing the previous plans. The new Plan allows for an update to the assessment of housing needs as well as reviewing the progress made on the delivery of strategic sites across Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire (the Councils) areas. 1.6 Section 3 of the NPPF (2019) provides advice on plan making and advises that Plans should provide a ‘positive vision of the future’. It advises that plans should be updated if their “applicable local housing need figure has changed significantly” and must meet the areas objectively assessed need (OAN), be evidenced and deliverable if to be found sound. Land at Trumpington South 1.7 The site is owned by Grosvenor and USS, with a track record in successful delivery of housing development. It is free from environmental and physical constraints and as it benefits from a single ownership, Trumpington South could begin delivering immediately following Local Plan adoption. It is exceptionally well connected and its connectivity will be enhanced with the planned extension of busway through the site to the Cambridge South West Travel Hub and new railway station at Cambridge South. 1.8 The site offers the opportunity to provide a sustainable solution to address Cambridge’s economic needs. In particular, it can meet the specific needs of southern Cambridge, providing housing in close proximity and within sustainable travel distances of major employers. As a result, the site merits serious consideration in the Councils review of future Local Plan allocations. 1.9 Whilst this submission is promoting Trumpington South as a standalone proposal, we are conscious of wider growth opportunities that are possible in south Cambridge, in particular the Cambridge South proposals. We confirm that Grosvenor and USS would be willing to work collaboratively with the Councils and other landowners to develop a wider vision for growth in southern Cambridge. There are a number of key benefits arising from the comprehensive growth of this area, which include mobility benefits with less impact on the transport network, of having more homes near jobs and a wider array of supporting facilities. 1.10 These representations are accompanied by a set of documents including: • Vision Document for Trumpington South - Delivering Sustainable Growth in Southern Cambridge prepared by Terence O’Rourke; • Green Belt and Landscape Appraisal prepared by Terence O’Rourke; • Sustainability Workshop Summary Report prepared by Buro Happold; • Mobility Strategy prepared by Vectos; • Air Quality Desk Study prepared by Buro Happold; and • Noise Assessment Feasibility Study prepared by Buro Happold. 2 Background 2.1 In order to continue to be successful and attract talent and manage growth, significant decisions on the future of the area need to be made. The new Plan period coincides with an exciting time that will see major new infrastructure proposals realised, providing significant transport capacity to support the delivery of development. These opportunities must be considered alongside ways to address the four big themes that the new Plan is exploring which include; responding to climate change, increasing biodiversity and green spaces, promoting well-being and equality and delivering quality places. Climate change agenda 2.2 The Local Plan will play a key part in helping the Councils to achieve the challenging commitment of net zero carbon (as defined by the UK Green Building Council) by 2050. In February 2019, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils declared a climate emergency. In May 2019, the Greater Cambridge Councils also declared a biodiversity emergency, pledging to develop plans to secure biodiversity net gain. Building Regulations Part L 2020 will also soon be released and The Future Homes Standard comes into force in 2025. As a result, the average home will be expected to have 75-80% fewer emissions than Part L 2013, which would be ‘near Passivhaus’ performance. 2.3 To address these commitments, the approach to planning of the area will need to focus on where development is located and its relationship to employment and travel choices, the construction methods used and energy generation and storage, amongst other things. Housing and employment need 2.4 The Greater Cambridge Planning Team is committed to an early review of its Plans to respond to its housing need in the context of significant economic growth. The group committed to a goal of doubling the total economic output of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area over 25 years. This has implications for future jobs and homes growth in the area which need to be addressed in the Plan. The Cambridge & Peterborough Independent Economic Review (CPIER) research demonstrated that recent jobs growth in the Greater Cambridge economy has been faster than anticipated, and that this growth is likely to continue. Demand for new housing in this area remains exceptionally high but development has not kept up. 2.5 The adopted Local Plans identified land to meet the target of 33,500 homes between 2011 and 2031 (1,675dpa). The current forecasts estimate that 36,400 homes can be built between 2017 and 2040 on sites that already have permission or are allocated in the adopted Local Plans. A further 9,660 homes on these sites may be built after 2040 or earlier. However, using the Government’s ‘standard method’ requires a minimum need for 1,779 dpa. This equates to 40,917 homes for the 23-year period of 2017-2040 for Greater Cambridge or an additional 104 dpa. If the CPIER forecast is employment led, this jumps to 2,900 dpa or a need for a total of 66,700 homes. 2.6 It is important, therefore, that a decision on the employment growth to be planned for is taken sooner rather than later so that the spatial strategy which will inform the Plan can identify the necessary sites for additional homes to support major employment hubs. Whilst there are areas of significant growth planned in Cambridge, many of these sites are large and complex and somewhat disconnected to major areas of employment. It is important that sites of differing scales are allocated in order to provide a pipeline of homes over the plan period and so it does not impact further on affordability of homes in the area. Implications for the spatial strategy 2.7 Linked to the points above, previous plans for the Greater Cambridge area prioritised development firstly within Cambridge, then on the edge of Cambridge, at new settlements close to Cambridge, and at better served villages. Sites in the adopted 2018 Local Plans focused on new settlements, in particular, which will be built out over a much longer period. In order to address sustainable growth, a blended spatial strategy is required with a significant focus on the early delivery of smaller sites on the edge of Cambridge. 2.8 The Green Belt restricts growth on the edge of Cambridge, increasing in-commuting and travel distances, and creating unsustainable patterns of movement. Development locations, such as Trumpington South, on the edge of Cambridge, have attractive sustainability advantages. The site benefits from excellent access to major employment hubs in southern Cambridge (including the Biomedical Campus and the southern cluster of science parks) and nearby community services and facilities. These connections are set to improve with planned infrastructure improvements, including the South West Travel Hub and extension to the guided busway. Trumpington South will encourage active and shared travel choices and support a modal shift away from the private car, to help mitigate climate impacts.

No uploaded files for public display

Nothing chosen

3.6 It is clear from the Sustainability Workshop Summary Report that the themes arise from local needs, the Councils’ priorities set out in the Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District corporate plans, and by taking into account national and local planning priorities and requirements. Grosvenor is committed to making a lasting contribution to the places in which they are active and have developed ambitious sustainability commitments to help tackle the climate crisis. Grosvenor and USS strongly agree that the four themes identified by Greater Cambridge are important matters to consider when planning for future growth. 3.7 Grosvenor and USS wish to support the Councils as they plan for sustainable growth across Greater Cambridge, by promoting development at Trumpington South which can address all four of the Local Plan themes, whilst contributing to housing need and supporting the major employment hubs in southern Cambridge by providing local homes for employees. Theme 1 – Trumpington South is committed to addressing climate change through delivering zero carbon homes in operation and promoting active and shared low carbon travel, alongside resilient spaces which integrate sustainable design strategies. Theme 2 – Trumpington South delivers growth in a location which is exceptionally well catered for in terms of access to multifunctional and connected green infrastructure, with the ability for the site to provide 23 Ha of publicly accessible new parkland and a 25%+ net biodiversity gain. It provides opportunities to further strengthen the existing network and enhance the setting and approach to Cambridge City. Theme 3 – Trumpington South will develop an inclusive sense of identity, promote healthy lifestyles and active public spaces, share existing facilities already established in the Trumpington Meadows community and provide access to new community facilities (including a new primary school and mobility hub) which would support a diverse demographic. Theme 4 – Trumpington South will draw on its location as a gateway to Cambridge City and the surrounding natural and historic landscape. It will draw on the positive change taking place in South Cambridge as a highly accessible location to build on this identity and purpose, and be guided by high quality design principle to secure sustainable living.

3.10 As part of its sustainability framework, Grosvenor is committed to helping reduce the impacts of climate change by understanding and reducing its carbon footprint across their portfolio. By 2030, Grosvenor will achieve net zero carbon operational emissions from all its directly managed buildings. Grosvenor and USS are committed to working with the Councils to help them achieve net zero carbon by 2050. 3.11 The Local Plan provides the opportunity to plan in a way which focuses on achieving this target. This requires bold decision making and innovative methods to produce a coherent spatial strategy that performs well in sustainability terms. Developments which help meet these targets should be supported. 3.12 The Sustainability Workshop Summary Report prepared by BuroHappold in support of these representations demonstrates Grosvenor’s commitment to this agenda and explains ways in which Trumpington South will address it.

3.13 Securing zero carbon homes in operation is the key way in which we can reduce our impact on the planet and slow the effects of climate change. The Vision document prepared by xx explains how the homes at Trumpington South can achieve zero carbon through a range of methods, including fabric first construction, water management, low energy environmental strategies and passive design features. It can also be achieved by encouraging the use of sustainable transport and planning around these important links as the masterplan in the Vision document explains. 3.14 Should the site be allocated, Trumpington South is committed to delivering zero carbon homes in operation and creating a place that contributes positively to climate change, as demonstrated by the Sustainability Workshop Summary Report prepared by BuroHappold. Trumpington South is located in an established travel culture and is exceptionally well connected to nearby jobs and land uses. Its location can enable car free and/or housing with limited in-curtilage parking to promote sustainable mobility and travel.

Nothing chosen

3.15 New developments can respond and adapt to climate change through a range of indicators. These include but are not limited to a centralised parking strategy within new developments to enable a pedestrian scale environment and a shift away from car usage, sustainable water management such as grey water recycling and permeable external surfaces and low energy environmental strategies including ground source heat bumps and solar thermal panels. 3.16 Trumpington South would incorporate extra climate adaptation features and would carefully recognise and adhere to the recommendations provided by Cambridge Country Council in the Sustainable Design and Construction SPD.

3.17 Biodiversity monitoring can help identify challenges, set targets and measure progress towards climate change related targets. Embodied carbon offset can be achieved through rich and multifunctional green/blue infrastructure and increased tree cover. 3.18 Adaptation measures can be implemented at a variety of scales and should consider architectural approaches to design out issues such as overheating, the use of SuDS, the role of green infrastructure such as increasing tree coverage and implementing resilient architecture to promote zero carbon homes.

3.19 The Local Plan should explore how it can go beyond existing targets and measures to improve the existing green infrastructure network and build on strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change through setting short and longer term targets to improve the natural environment. This includes but is not limited to, biodiversity monitoring, increased tree cover, the promotion of multi-functional public open spaces that are highly accessible to existing and new developments and encouraging the community in getting involved with caring for the natural environment. 3.20 To improve its surrounding natural environment, Trumpington South can deliver high performance, multi-functional open space, delivering significant natural capital gains, such as 25%+ net biodiversity gain while promoting active lifestyles, social inclusion and cohesive communities.

3.21 Green spaces should have a rich biodiversity and wildlife offering. All residents should live close to green spaces both for health and wellbeing purposes. 3.22 With the River Cam and Country Park to the west and the open countryside of Cambridgeshire to the south, Trumpington South sits within a strong and established green infrastructure, with direct connections to a network of footpaths and cycle ways. Therefore, the site can commit to offering a landscape-led scheme and provide an extension to the Country Park, therefore improving the surrounding green space network. Green corridors and fingers can define the site and run through it, creating a strong east-west network of connected green spaces. 3.23 Grosvenor and USS’s commitment to car free areas within the development releases space to provide opportunities for increased wildlife and biodiversity within the pedestrian focused streets and network of routes. This is explained in the Vision document prepared by Terence O’Rourke. 3.24 Trumpington Meadows Country Park is now established, and through on site management provided by the Wildlife Trust, has delivered significant biodiversity gains. Trumpington South has the potential to create a further expansion to the country park. This could enhance the function of the remaining Green Belt, improving the setting and unique character of Cambridge while delivering significant compensatory improvements to the Green Belt.

3.25 Biodiversity net gain can be achieved through a combination of off-site and on-site measures. Open space provision should include habitat diversification and creation measures, ensuring that the landscape strategy is responsive to the specific ecological assets on site and in the locality to maximise connectivity and species dispersal potential. Initiatives like SuDS, resource efficiency, biodiversity monitoring and reporting should sit alongside any net biodiversity approach and long term management. 3.26 Should the site be allocated and come forward, Trumpington South can exceed DEFRA’s targets by providing a 25%+ net biodiversity gain through offering a landscaping under Grosvenor’s control that fosters a vibrant community alongside thriving natural environments. Trumpington South provides the opportunity to extend the Trumpington Meadows Country Park providing further valuable contiguous and connected habitats. This would build on the significant biodiversity net gain achieved in the Country Park. There are also opportunities to extend the existing green infrastructure network through the site’s proposed network of green links and interconnected green spaces. Car free zones will also help encourage increased natural habitats.