Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020
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New searchSummary: The new Local Plan should take a less restrictive approach to growth within villages than the policies in the adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan. Full comment: Do you have any views on any specific policies in the two adopted 2018 Local Plans? If so, what are they? In view of the acute need to provide new housing, which will also be required to the support economic growth of the area, it is important to move away from the current restrictive housing limits set out in the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan for the villages. While it is important to ensure villages grow in a sustainable manner, the limitation of growth, particuarly on Minor Rural Centre (Policy S/9), which are sustainble locations for development, is too restrictive. The services and facilities offered by Minor Rural Centres will stagnate and not attract additional provision which could lead to a further loss of existing service and faciliates. It is considered that the settlement hierachy needs to be revisited to ensure that it is fit for purpose but it is clear that Rural Centres and Minor Rural Centres like Fulbourn will play a significant role in meeting future housing needs, partciuarly those that have sustainable links into Cambridge and established employment areas. Therefore, the current restrictive regime towards future growth should be removed and development should be considered on a case-by-case basis rather than by an arbitrary figure.
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Summary: Strongly agree that 'we should plan for a higher number of homes than the minimum required…, to provide flexibility…for the growing economy'. Full comment: The question asks whether or not the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service should plan for a higher number of homes than the minimum required by Government, to provide flexibility and support the growing economy. The standard methodology indicates a need for 1,800 homes per year, or 40,900 homes for the suggested plan period of 2017-2040. However, as the draft Local Plan acknwoledges, the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Independent Economic Review (CPIER) 'showed that our recent growth has been faster than expected, and that growth is likely to continue. As a result, demand for new housing in this area has been exceptionally high and housebuilding has not kept up'. The draft Local Plan indicates that a rough indiactive calculation based on CPIER suggests that if the jobs growth is achieved, around 2,900 homes a year would need to be built in Greate Cambridge, which equates to an indicative total of 66,700 homes over the period 2017-2040. CPIER recommends that 'rhere should be a review of housing requirements based on the potential for higher growth in employment than currently forecast in the EEFM'. It states that 'no economy can achieve its potential without an adequate supply of housing, which must offer a range of types and price points for all society' and add that it 'is concerned that Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is already runnning a very significant risk in this regard' and that 'risk is most acute in the Greater Cambridge area'. CPIER continues, stating that 'there has been insufficient housing development to meet demand. Average house prices and commuting have risen, choking labour supply while reducing the well-being of those forced to commute longer and longer distances [from more affordabe areas]'. CPIER concludes that 'we believe the accumulated deficit in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is so acute that the local authorities should re-examine their assessments of housing need, setting higher numbers, which at least reflect previous under-delivery'. It should also be noted that the CPIER indicates that job growth in recent years in Greater Cambridge has been under-estimated with a knock-on impact for the level of housing required, which is likely to be far higher than the numbers set out using the standard methodology method. For these reasons, my client strongly agrees that the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service 'should plan for a higher number of homes than the minimum required by government, to provide flexibility to suppprt the growing economy'. While there is clearly more empirical evidence to be undertaken, the indicative CPIER calculation of 2,900 home a year (or 66,700 homes over the plan period) should be seen as an appropriate starting point. My client therefore supports the option of delivering at least 2,900 homes per year, as only by building at a higher level than has previously occurred will start to mitiage the significant negative effects on both the local and national economy should housing in Greater Cambridge continue to be constrained.
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Summary: My client's site has excellent public transport, cycling, and pedestrian connectivity to jobs and services, and safeguards land for a railway station. Full comment: The Issues & Options document asks how should we encourage a shift away from car use and towards more sustainable modes of transport such as public transport, cycling and walking. The spatial strategy approach is a key way of encouraging shifts away from car use towards more sustainable modes of transport by focusing development in locations with good existing public transport or with potential for improved public transport - the spatial approach that is ultimately chosen will have implications for the area's ability to deliver modal shift from the private car to alternative transport modes, and consequently assist in reducing carbon emission, and create more efficient patterns of commuting. My client's site at land west of Station Road, Fulbourn is particularly well-placed to encourage shifts towards more sustainable modes. Fulbourn already benefits from excellent existing bus services to employment locations such as the Cambridge Biomedical Campus/Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge railway station area, and the historic city centre. The Citi 1 and Citi 3 bus services provide a high frequency service to other parts of the City and there is an existing bus stop just 100 metres south of the site, which is very well placed to attract additional trip generation from the proposed new development.. The site also benefits from its location adjacent to the Cambridge to Newmarket railway line, which will become a key part of the Eastern Section of East West Rail. Figure 22 within the Greater Cambridge Local Plan shows the planned major transport projects in Greater Cambridge in the Draft Local Transport Plan 2019. It specifically makes reference to double tracking of the Cambridge to Newmarket railway line, which at present is single tracked from Coldham's Lane Junction to Chippenham Junction, with the exception of a 1.5 kilometre long passing loop at Dullingham. The current single tracked section limits the provision of additional services and new railway stations along the route but double tracking would enable a much greater number of services to operate, as well as the opening of new railway stations along the line, which is a long-term aspiration for the route and could link the site to Cambridge's central railway station in 7-8 minutes. My client proposes safeguarding land adjacent to the Cambridge to Newmarket railway line to include provision for a new railway station at Fulbourn should it be required, and the provision of a high quality pedestrian link from the potential railway station site and the village centre could be provided. In light of the above it is clear that the proposed removal of this land from the Cambridge Green Belt and the allocation of my client's site at land west of Station Road, Fulbourn would provide an excellent opportunity to deliver a highly sustainable development that is well-linked to existing and proposed sustainable transport infrastructure. There are clear synergies with the draft Local Plan which needs 'to consider how new development encourages a shift towards decreasing car use and the increased use of sustainable transport' and it seeks to 'consider opportunities provide by existing or planned transport improvements (such as public transport stops) when determining where future development should take place' such as land west of Station Road, Fulbourn. The Local Plan also advocates 'designing new development so that active ways of getting around like walking and cycling are supported, and there are real public transport alternatives to using the car'. In addition to its public transport credentials, land west of Station Road, Fulbourn also benefits from its proximity to a good range of shops, services, and facilities with the village centre being located just 200 metres south-west of the site. In addition, the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) is seeking to deliver a new 'Greenway' through Fulbourn which consists of a cycleway linking the village with the City. Indeed, the GCP states that 'Fulbourn is approximately 7km from Central Cambridge and with good provision is within relatively easy cycling distance of most major employment sites in Cambridge. Fulbourn itself is an important employment area. The case for high quality cycle routes is strong, Fulbourn being so close to the City'. My client strongly supports the Greenway proposals, which provide a further opportunity to help deliver modal shift away from the private congestion, reduce pollution, and increase the health and well-being of residents and workers.
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Summary: Support for review of the Green Belt, where the land could deliver more sustainable development and reduce travel distances. Full comment: Q39 asks whether the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service should 'look to remove land from the Green belt if evidence shows it provides a more sustainable development option by reducing travel distances, helping us to reduce our climate impacts'? The Green Belt provides an important role in preventing urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open and serving the five purposes set out in paragraph 134 of the National Planning Policy Framework namely: a) to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas; b) to prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another; c) to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment; d) to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and e) to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. A comprehensive review of the original 2012 Green Belt Review should be undertaken as part of the evidence base underpinning the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan. In many instances there may be opportunities to release land currently within the Green Belt, which plays a limited role in serving the five purposes set out in the NPPF. It is clear that given the geography of Greater Cambridge in which many of the most sustainable parts of the spatial planning area are located within the Green Belt, that some Green Belt release should form part of the overall spatial strategy. In this way, the area can help to reduce travel distances and help faciliate sustainability through the provision of sustainable transport infrastructure. Historically, much development has taken place in locations beyond the Green Belt, and this has led to many of the unsustainable commuting patterns that we see today. While the important role that the Green Belt plays is acknowledged, a flexible approach needs to be taken where sites such as land west of Station Road, Fulbourn benefit from their proximity to existing frequent public transport (with a bus stop just 100 metres south of the site). The proposed Fulbourn Greenway being promoted by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) would also to provide high quality sustainable transport infrastructure to further improve connectivity. In addition, my client's site at 'land west of Station Road, Fulbourn' presents opportunities for Green Belt release that would help to enable a sustainable large village such as Fulbourn to grow in a sustainable manner. The site itself is very well-contained and provides a very limited contribution to the Green Belt purposes. Its release would play no role in facilitating unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas and would not result in towns merging into one another. While it would play a limited role in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, it is an exceptionally well-contained site with residential development on its western, southern, and eastern boundaries, and the Cambridge to Newmarket railway line providing a clear defensible boundary along its northern side. Sites like land west of Station Road, Fulbourn should be released from the Green Belt.
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No choices made
RESPONSE TO QUESTION 42 8.6 No single solution will deliver a sound Local Plan; rather, a combination of approaches to the distribution of spatial growth will be necessary in order to establish the appropriate locations of new housing and employment development in the district. A hybrid approach will be required but should be underpinned by a focus on accessibility to public transport, employment and other daily needs. 8.7 It is considered that an element of village dispersal should form part of a hybrid spatial strategy. Whilst a village dispersal approach should consider villages from across the settlement hierarchy, it should seek to allocate sites for development at locations in villages which are or can be made sustainable. To contribute to this strategy, Orwell, is considered to be a sustainable location for future development given the services and facilities it contains and its accessibility to public transport, principally Shepreth Station; a matter confirmed by the 2018 appeal decision at Hurdleditch Road, Orwell.
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No choices made
Question 7 - The four big themes are all considered to be important aspects to achieving positive development. All four themes should be used to inform the spatial strategy within the Local Plan in terms of distributing growth and determining planning applications to deliver growth. It is therefore not considered necessary to rank the options in order of preference.
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Land north of Wilbraham Road Fulbourn
234
Arable land
n/a
No relevant planning history
Greenfield
'Garden village' consisting of up to 2200 new dwellings including public open space/country park including affordable housing, primary school, community facility, retirement and care home facilities, employment and retail space, and the safeguarding of land for the potential reopening of the railway line. 2025 update: 3,000 dwellings and 3,000-7,000 sqm employment floorspace
Benefits to the local area: - New housing including affordable housing to meet demand and local need; - Public open space/country park, community facility to facilitate well-being and encourage access to the countryside; - Retirement flats and care home to meet the existing and potential needs of an aging population; - Education facility to meet demand; - Highway improvements and access to public transport including the provision for the safeguarding of land to facilitate the potential reopening of the railway line.
Up to 2,200 new homes with employment land. The total amount of employment and retail space will be proportionate to the site and level of need. 2025 update: 3,000 dwellings and 3,000-7,000 sqm employment floorspace
No answer given
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Access provision will need to be made for the proposed development. See indicative Masterplan and vision document.
No major ground level constraints. The site is relatively flat.
The site is not within a EA Flood Zone. There is no evidence of previous industrial/commercial use that would suggest the site is contaminated. There are no heritage assets within the site or in close proximity. The Green Belt boundary will need to be amended to accommodate the site allocation. Compensatory measures can be demonstrated to justify amending the Green Belt boundary. Preliminary phase 1 assessments will be carried out to understand the site conditions and habitat content.
Infrastructure and utility connections will be identified and provision secured to ensure the proposed development is facilitated accordingly.
There are commercial units and farmhouses adjacent to the south-east boundary. Therefore, it would be acceptable to assume the site will have access to key utilities and provision/created for to enable the development.
The site is available and could deliver housing either as a housing allocation in the new local plan or through a planning application in advance of the new plan, which would make a significant contribution towards housing, education, open space, care provision in this part of the District.
The east of Cambridge has taken relatively little housing growth in the past 20 years, which is at odds with employment levels which have grown in the area. Housing here would help to rebalance the distribution of housing and employment uses. Fulbourn remains relatively affordable given the Cambridge villages have avoided the rapid price inflation seen in Central Cambridge. It's location and proximity to Cambridge City, which lends itself to a transport strategy using buses and cycling, is desirable.
No answer given
n/a
Early 2024
2034
10
The site is available for development and a planning application could be prepared and submitted immediately to create a supply of housing over the next 10 years. However, assuming the Local Plan (Local Development Scheme Oct 2018) is adopted in the summer of 2023, a planning application could be submitted at the Post Submission stage of the Local Plan, subject to site being considered favourable, or shortly after adoption.
