Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

More trees, parks, a commitment to a percentage net increase in biodiversity, rewilding, animalhabitat enhancement (e.g. requiring every new or replacement fence to have holes big enough for small-mammal passage) should be required in every single planning application, from the biggest development down to the smallest domestic extension. Front- and rear-garden green spaces should be protected from paving and car parking; the Green Belt should be retained, and landowners encouraged to rewild and manage the habitat for maximum biodiversity and species health

More trees, parks, a commitment to a percentage net increase in biodiversity, rewilding, animalhabitat enhancement (e.g. requiring every new or replacement fence to have holes big enough for small-mammal passage) should be required in every single planning application, from the biggest development down to the smallest domestic extension. Front- and rear-garden green spaces should be protected from paving and car parking; the Green Belt should be retained, and landowners encouraged to rewild and manage the habitat for maximum biodiversity and species health

Nothing chosen

More trees, parks, a commitment to a percentage net increase in biodiversity, rewilding, animalhabitat enhancement (e.g. requiring every new or replacement fence to have holes big enough for small-mammal passage) should be required in every single planning application, from the biggest development down to the smallest domestic extension. Front- and rear-garden green spaces should be protected from paving and car parking; the Green Belt should be retained, and landowners encouraged to rewild and manage the habitat for maximum biodiversity and species health

Policies that require the highest standards of housing and environment, rigorously enforced. Further growth within Cambridge itself can be damaging to well-being and social inclusion. Already approved developments should require the highest standards of housing and environment, rigorously enforced.

All planning applications should be required to demonstrate how the community has been consulted, and what changes have been made as a result, before they will be considered. Currently all too often not even the people living next door are even informed — let alone consulted — about plans before they become live Planning Applications. This makes a farce any idea of enabling communities to ‘shape’ new proposals.

‘Historic Environment Strategy’ needed. The next Local Plan must include an ‘historic environment strategy’ if we are to retain the essential character of our streets, city and surrounds. Such a strategy is required in the National Planning Policy Framework, but still Cambridge remains without one. This is an urgent priority, so that Planning will have a framework for making informed and holistic decisions about new infrastructure and building, population growth, biodiversity, sustainability and pollution — all in the context of doing what can be done to mitigate the effects of Climate Change. Stricter guidelines based on this strategy should be included within the Local Plan, and vigorously enforced. Currently not all areas are included within Conservation Areas, so they get scant review and the character of many areas is being eroded, one planning application at a time. To help with this project, the South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum stands ready to work with the Council on further developing our draft Street Appraisals for the area. We have already done much of the work and would be happy to offer it as part of the Local Plan process.

‘Historic Environment Strategy’ needed. The next Local Plan must include an ‘historic environment strategy’ if we are to retain the essential character of our streets, city and surrounds. Such a strategy is required in the National Planning Policy Framework, but still Cambridge remains without one. This is an urgent priority, so that Planning will have a framework for making informed and holistic decisions about new infrastructure and building, population growth, biodiversity, sustainability and pollution — all in the context of doing what can be done to mitigate the effects of Climate Change. Stricter guidelines based on this strategy should be included within the Local Plan, and vigorously enforced. Currently not all areas are included within Conservation Areas, so they get scant review and the character of many areas is being eroded, one planning application at a time. To help with this project, the South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum stands ready to work with the Council on further developing our draft Street Appraisals for the area. We have already done much of the work and would be happy to offer it as part of the Local Plan process.

‘Historic Environment Strategy’ needed. The next Local Plan must include an ‘historic environment strategy’ if we are to retain the essential character of our streets, city and surrounds. Such a strategy is required in the National Planning Policy Framework, but still Cambridge remains without one. This is an urgent priority, so that Planning will have a framework for making informed and holistic decisions about new infrastructure and building, population growth, biodiversity, sustainability and pollution — all in the context of doing what can be done to mitigate the effects of Climate Change. Stricter guidelines based on this strategy should be included within the Local Plan, and vigorously enforced. Currently not all areas are included within Conservation Areas, so they get scant review and the character of many areas is being eroded, one planning application at a time. To help with this project, the South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum stands ready to work with the Council on further developing our draft Street Appraisals for the area. We have already done much of the work and would be happy to offer it as part of the Local Plan process.

Within the South Newnham Neighbourhood Area as there is no space to expand any businesses, but we do wish to protect our existing shops, school etc., which are so important to our community.

Nothing chosen

This should depend on the needs and wishes of the local community. There should be restrictions on some types of development, such as student accommodation and Airbnb.