Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

- Densification is allowing growth to continue in Cambridge. The increase in the number of 3 rather than 2 storey terrace housing over recent decades is noticeable as is the number of apartment blocks. The compact size of the City inside its surrounding Green Belt lends itself to densification with its attendant transport benefits. However, the LDP process might investigate the balance between inward migration to the GC area and relocation within the GC area to see if densification is associated with any particular group or age range or trends in HMA. - FDPC considered the original proposals for the Blue Lion site to be too dense.

- No such land should be developed unless it has good transport links. - No such land should be developed if it is providing significant environmental services.

- We disagree very strongly with idea of developing land in the Green Belt.

- Some new settlements appear necessary if the growth targets are to be met. - Waterbeach, Northstowe, Cambourne, Orchard Park and Wing/Marleigh are providing relevant experience of the issues. If additional new settlements are being considered to take advantage of new transport infrastructure such as East-West rail or the future availability of Cambridge Airport, the LDP process should review these issues.

- The responses to Q 39, 40 and 41 apply Answer to Q39 - We disagree strongly with idea of removing land from the Green Belt. Improving the sustainability of travel is better since it benefits of the existing population and just the planned new homes. Answer to Q40 - The approach should take into account the circumstances of the village such as its size, whether or not it is in the Green Belt and the wishes of the existing community. Answer to Q41 - The approach should take into account the circumstances of the village such as its size, whether or not it is in the Green Belt, its conservation status, the green space contribution of the sites in question and the wishes of the existing community.

- This is important – see the response to Q42 Answer to Q42 - Major new developments appear to be the main component of meeting the growth targets for housing and employment. It follows that sites with good transport connections are preferable.

- The next plan should be clear about how it will incorporate monitoring especially any new data from the 2021 census and whether some supplementary questions can or should be asked in the GC area. - The next plan should be clear also as to how provision of around 41,000 homes relates to the commitment to 100% growth in GVA over 25 years with, presumably, an implicit, related consquence about growth in numbers of jobs and GVA per capita and some assumptons about inward and outward commuting and housing costs. - The next plan should also recognise that the subsequent plan should be underpinned by more reliable data from the 2021 Census and monitoring of new settlements and planned transport improvements. - The next plan should also show some consideration of the consequnces of not achieving the high growth targets if growth turns out to be slower.