Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Savills (UK) Ltd are instructed by St John’s College, Cambridge to make the necessary submissions to the Council’s consultation “The First Conversation” as part of the Issues and Options consultation process for a new Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The College is a significant landowner in and around Cambridge and accordingly needs to make the necessary representations to the Councils in respect of its assets and on other relevant planning policy issues that will arise in the context of any new development plan for the two administrative areas of South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City. As a College on the Backs, St John’s College would seek to ensure that the Local Plan makes adequate provision for transport to and from the City centre of the growing numbers of visitors, including regulation of coach movements and parking. Furthermore, active management of the tourist population is likely to be required in years to come to retain the attractive nature of the City Centre as a place to live, work and visit. This could include mandatory licensing and regulation of tour guides, clear and co-ordinated signposting of key sites, support to city centre locations in effective tourist management and provision of basic facilities that reflect the needs of the numbers arriving. Balancing maintaining the safety and attractiveness of the city centre with the needs of businesses and Colleges operating there will need to be a continued policy theme within the Local Plan. Issues such as the location, nature and management of street barriers (rising or otherwise) are likely to be an on-going source of debate.

Yes, strongly agree

Savills (UK) Ltd are instructed by St John’s College, Cambridge to make the necessary submissions to the Council’s consultation “The First Conversation” as part of the Issues and Options consultation process for a new Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The College is a significant landowner in and around Cambridge and accordingly needs to make the necessary representations to the Councils in respect of its assets and on other relevant planning policy issues that will arise in the context of any new development plan for the two administrative areas of South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City. A key function of any new Local Plan must be to identify the number of new homes required in the area and identify the locations for such growth. With changes to national planning policy which include a new way of calculating the number of homes needed to meet the needs in the area (the “standard method”) this serves to identify a minimum figure within the Local Plan. At present the calculations indicate a need for 40,900 homes for the suggested plan period of 2017-2040 but such data would necessarily need to be updated as time progresses and the date for Submission in 2022 provides a focus for such analysis. One of the weaknesses of the “standard method” is that it does not attempt to predict changing economic circumstances or other external factors and thus it can only really be a starting point for Local Plan projections. National Planning Policy Guidance advises that Local Planning Authorities can consider making provision for more homes than the standard method minimum and we certainly advocate this for the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan. In the circumstances where Cambridge continues to be a growth area nationally and where new growth has been successfully assimilated into the local environment whilst retaining the very qualities that Cambridge seeks to protect then there is no justification for artificially dampening down the potential that the Cambridge area has to accommodate such new growth. In such a context the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Review (CPIER)and other similar reports have identified a vision of doubling the total economic output of the combined authority area over a 25 year period. When all of the relevant Councils signed up to the devolution deal to create the Combined Authority then they have also committed themselves to promoting policies which support this level of economic growth. It follows that significant economic growth puts pressure on the housing market and consequently the CPIER now looks at an indicative total of 66,700 homes in the plan period from 2017-2040. The implication of looking at the higher figure which has envisaged housing growth for the plan period effectively means the identification of a further 30,000 homes coming forward in the Greater Cambridge area. The College supports higher growth figures on the basis of the need for a range of new housing to cope with the perceived economic growth that is anticipated up to 2040 and the commitments that the Local Authorities have made to play an important part in both the local and national economies in the circumstances where Cambridge remains and important vital component part.

Savills (UK) Ltd are instructed by St John’s College, Cambridge to make the necessary submissions to the Council’s consultation “The First Conversation” as part of the Issues and Options consultation process for a new Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The College is a significant landowner in and around Cambridge and accordingly needs to make the necessary representations to the Councils in respect of its assets and on other relevant planning policy issues that will arise in the context of any new development plan for the two administrative areas of South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City. As part of the University, the College is being asked to accommodate a small but steady increase in student numbers year on year. The growth is primarily in the postgraduate community which comprises a diverse and international cohort of students. As such, they require types of accommodation ranging from single rooms for individuals to furnished flats for couples and small flats and houses for families with and without children. Often, there is a wish to accommodate the students on site, to enhance the sense of community. During the period of the new Local Plan, policies will be required which enable the Colleges to continue to grow and adapt their on and off site student/College accommodation to meet the diverse and changing needs of the future cohorts.

Savills (UK) Ltd are instructed by St John’s College, Cambridge to make the necessary submissions to the Council’s consultation “The First Conversation” as part of the Issues and Options consultation process for a new Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The College is a significant landowner in and around Cambridge and accordingly needs to make the necessary representations to the Councils in respect of its assets and on other relevant planning policy issues that will arise in the context of any new development plan for the two administrative areas of South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City. As an employer of a range of workers in lower paid sectors, we would support policies within the new Local Plan that encourage the development of affordable housing and improved public transport from surrounding towns and villages to the city centre. This would support the reality that the cost of living in Cambridge is such that workers in many sectors cannot afford to live there. The College, therefore, remains concerned that any planning policies within any new Local Plan recognise that ensuring accessibility to and from the College within the Greater Cambridge area is convenient, safe and efficient is essential. Furthermore, sustainable travel needs to be available, affordable and convenient. In particular, it needs to meet the requirements of those working shift patterns and unsociable hours in 24/7 operations such as the city centre Colleges. As set out in the College's response to Question 11 , upgrading the fundamental services infrastructure (electricity, water, broadband) to meet the increasing requirements within Cambridge is an essential element of being able to develop a sustainable future. The current capacity is unlikely to be sufficient to support a full transition to renewable sources of energy, electric cars and domestic water consumption. Upgrading the flood plain management strategies may also be required.

Savills (UK) Ltd are instructed by St John’s College, Cambridge to make the necessary submissions to the Council’s consultation “The First Conversation” as part of the Issues and Options consultation process for a new Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The College is a significant landowner in and around Cambridge and accordingly needs to make the necessary representations to the Councils in respect of its assets and on other relevant planning policy issues that will arise in the context of any new development plan for the two administrative areas of South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City. As an employer of a range of workers in lower paid sectors, we would support policies within the new Local Plan that encourage the development of affordable housing and improved public transport from surrounding towns and villages to the city centre. This would support the reality that the cost of living in Cambridge is such that workers in many sectors cannot afford to live there. The College, therefore, remains concerned that any planning policies within any new Local Plan recognise that ensuring accessibility to and from the College within the Greater Cambridge area is convenient, safe and efficient is essential. Furthermore, sustainable travel needs to be available, affordable and convenient. In particular, it needs to meet the requirements of those working shift patterns and unsociable hours in 24/7 operations such as the city centre Colleges. As set out in the College's response to Question 11 , upgrading the fundamental services infrastructure (electricity, water, broadband) to meet the increasing requirements within Cambridge is an essential element of being able to develop a sustainable future. The current capacity is unlikely to be sufficient to support a full transition to renewable sources of energy, electric cars and domestic water consumption. Upgrading the flood plain management strategies may also be required.

Savills (UK) Ltd are instructed by St John’s College, Cambridge to make the necessary submissions to the Council’s consultation “The First Conversation” as part of the Issues and Options consultation process for a new Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The College is a significant landowner in and around Cambridge and accordingly needs to make the necessary representations to the Councils in respect of its assets and on other relevant planning policy issues that will arise in the context of any new development plan for the two administrative areas of South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City. St Johns College has landholdings which are directly affected by 2 existing policies in the existing Cambridge City Local Plan 2018. These polices are as follows: Policy U3 in Appendix B of Cambridge Local Plan 2018 - “Grange Farm off Wilberforce Road, Cambridge “ This policy allocates 1.22 hectares of “uncultivated land and a tennis court“ for “120 student units”. The site was also allocated in the Cambridge Local Plan 2006 for Student hostel or affordable/key worker housing for the Colleges. The extent of the allocation as shown in the 2018 Local Plan is supported. However it is considered that the reference to its future use for “120 student units” does not provide sufficient flexibility for the College’s aspirations for future development on the site. Firstly the description of “120 student units” is particularly prescriptive. Whilst it is acknowledged that such a figure is an approximation having regard to the footnote in the Plan, the final figure will need to be determined through the planning application process. Secondly, the scope of the allocated use for student units is too narrow from our perspective. In the context of a new Local Plan and the needs of the College in respect of both student and staff accommodation including all of the different categories that fall to be considered with such defined terms , it is considered that the allocated use should be for “College Accommodation”. Importantly it ensures any such accommodation would remain in the control of the College. Policy 14: Areas of Major Change and Opportunity Areas – general principles and Policy 15: Cambridge Northern Fringe East and new railway station Area of Major Change In assessing the relevance of policies in the 2018 Local Plan, it is acknowledged that the adoption date of 2018 is perhaps misleading in terms of the relevance of planning policies and proposals at that point in time. The 2018 adopted plans took some 5 years to come forward and even within that period of time significant legislative and policy changes took place both at national and local level which have already placed a number of policies into a bracket of being at variance with legislation or inconsistent with other emerging plans and policies. One such matter is the proposals for significant new development in North-East Cambridge (NEC). This new planning area has emerged since the 2018 adopted plans and previously known as the Cambridge Northern Fringe East (CNFE), its boundaries have now been further extended to include significant new areas to the west to include Cambridge Regional College and Cambridge Science Park. A significant amount of work has been undertaken by the Councils and key stakeholders in a series of workshops and meetings over the past 18 months or so to start to work on a development strategy covering the whole of the NEC area and where a key component element remains the relocation of Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Works to an alternative site and the freeing up of a significant amount of previously developed land for largely new residential development. The whole NEC area is thus the subject of a comprehensive review and it is entirely appropriate that any review of the Local Plan provides an updated policy position reflecting the key objectives and aspirations of those stakeholders within that area. St John’s College is the freehold owner of the St John’s Innovation Park which is located in a central position within the NEC area. The success and growth of the Park is well known and it is a truism to state that it is the success of both the Innovation Park and the Cambridge Science Park that have been synonymous with the continued success of Cambridge as a focus for new growth and business in the research and development/technology/life sciences/bioscience sectors. The College’s key objectives remain as ensuring the Innovation Park continues to be a focus for and start-up and early stage businesses with flexibility of space for companies to grow and thrive within the Innovation Park environment. The inputs the College has made together with those from their professional project team during all of the NEC workshops has sought to envisage a 20 year masterplan across the Innovation Park. Such a masterplan looks to respond to the short-term ,medium term and long terms demands for existing and new tenants. Within the overall masterplan it is important to have the necessary flexibility and ability for adaptation to respond to changing needs and requirements over such a long period of time. Clearly, the redevelopment of the Innovation Park is driven by economic demands at the time and which in turn reflect occupier demands and requirements. It is therefore essential that any new masterplan has the necessary fluidity and ability for change to respond to changing priorities and tenants demands as well as changing and evolving planning policies and requirements that are needed alongside the submission of detailed proposals. In the circumstance where the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan will have a plan period up to 2040 then this general timeframe replicates the plan period for the 20 year masterplan for the Innovation Park. However, it remains the case that the timescales for Local Plan adoption and the needs and demands of the market will never be the same and consequently it is absolutely essential that the Councils have sufficiently robust policies in place to be able to address applications that may well come forward from key stakeholders in the NEC area in advance of adoption of both the Local Plan and any associated Area Action Plan (AAP). The current policy approach as set out within the 2018 Local Plans for both Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District are based on the need for applicants to demonstrate that those proposals would not unduly prejudice the long term developments of the NEC area sites and the eventual adoption of the AAP. In the circumstances where those key stakeholders are able to comply with such a policy context, then there is no reason for the Councils not to support such proposals provided all the other technical and relevant planning considerations can be satisfactory addressed through the submitted application (s). St John’s College, Cambridge is the freehold owner of an existing employment site in the form of an Innovation Park which has a series of buildings which were constructed in a different economic climate and which are simply not conducive to modern standards and methods of working. With the impetus for economic growth and the stimulation of continued investment in Cambridge and in the NEC area, it is important that such proposals can be designed with the principles of sustainable development in mind, at appropriate densities and with the necessary protection/provision of landscape and other environmental requirements. As part of the masterplanning for the Innovation Park, the College has acknowledged that development should come forward in a phased manner across the whole of the site. The first phase of development will come forward in the north-western corner of the site and which will include the demolition of St John’s House and the intended erection of two new commercial buildings together with a transport hub which incorporates cycle and car parking together with the necessary ancillary facilities of locker and showers and a new gym. All of these elements will be the subject of a detailed planning application and it is intended that such a detailed application would be submitted alongside a masterplan document which would include a concept layout for the whole of the Innovation Park . The masterplan would be an informative document setting out the broad design and siting elements to demonstrate that the phased approach to development over the 20 year period is appropriate and in a form that retains the qualities of the Innovation Park that exists whilst planning for a Park of the future consistent with the broad principles being taken forward within the emerging action area plan and where the College has played a major role. As referred to above, it is intended that a masterplan is submitted alongside each detailed phase of development during the plan period with the masterplan being capable of being changed to ensure that its broad assumptions are consistent with changing policies and market demands and which retain the strategic policies and proposals within a new Local Plan and a detailed Action Area Plan. In summary, the policies as set out within the 2018 Local Plan as it relates to the Cambridge Northern Fringe/North-East Cambridge area are clearly out of date having regard to the ongoing work that the Councils and the key stakeholders have undertaken to date. Any new policy context must set out a clear policy vision for the plan period up to 2020 whilst ensuring that a planning framework exists in the circumstance where planning applications can be submitted in advance of adoption of the Local Plan and the Action Area Plan provided they do not unduly prejudice the outcome of the former. The use of informative/indicative master plans to accompany detailed planning applications is the appropriate way forward having regard to the need to be flexible in adapting to change over a considerable period of time.

Savills (UK) Ltd are instructed by St John’s College, Cambridge to make the necessary submissions to the Council’s consultation “The First Conversation” as part of the Issues and Options consultation process for a new Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The College is a significant landowner in and around Cambridge and accordingly needs to make the necessary representations to the Councils in respect of its assets and on other relevant planning policy issues that will arise in the context of any new development plan for the two administrative areas of South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City. The length of the planning period envisaged within the new Local Plan is considerable. Given the pace of change required to meet the environmental challenges and other social and economic evolution, the Local Plan will need a mechanism to enable a consistent and timely pattern of review throughout its lifetime.