Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020
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Results for Axis Land Partnerships search
New searchLand west of Station Road, Meldreth, SG8 6JR
22.25
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Agricultural land/industrial storage units and employment units
No answer given
No recent or relevant planning history
Mixture of greenfield and agricultural storage/employment
The proposed development has the capacity to accommodate up to 140 dwellings, associated amenity space and improved access. The proposal includes improved access to the site via Station Road and improved links to the wider area of Meldreth and Melbourn. Combined shared services of Meldreth and Melbourn and links to the train station opposite the site make it a sustainable location and well placed opportunity for mixed residential development. 2025: Mixed use site Office or research and development space: Specialist or other types of employment space
Benefits of the proposed development include improved access and footpaths increasing safety in close proximity to the train station, amenity space to serve the residential area and wider community, provision of a mixture of residential housing types. Development of this site provides an opportunity for improvement of highway pedestrian links to the station.
140 residential units based on 30 dwellings per hectare. 2025: from 315 units to 420 dwellings
No answer given
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Site access available via Station Road to the east.
No answer given
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Access to key utilities but no substantial constraints on site.
The majority of the site is vacant agricultural land with existing access and is therefore available for development.
High given its close proximity to the train station.
No
No
2021
2026
5
No answer given
Land East of Station Rd, Meldreth/Melbourn, SG8 6JP
15 --- 2025: 3.82
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Previously developed land which has some employment/office/storage in place 2025: Agricultural land and building
No answer given
No relevant planning history
Mixture 2025: Green Field
Development would involve removal of large agri-commercial buildings to make way for new family residential development of up to 200 units on the northern parcel. The southern parcel could accommodate approximately 70 dwellings together with public open space on its southern side which provides recreational area for the development and the village of Melbourn respecting its setting on the northern boundary. The proposed residential development will include mixed housing types, an area of amenity space and an improved footpath to Melbourn village college. A new cycle way is also proposed with appropriate lighting to improve access and security lighting to improve access and security linking Meldreth railway station to Melbourn.
This is a development with potential for improved safety and access off Station Road and improving links to the college and the wider community. Benefits include: - Improved vehicular access serving a family residential development; - A mix of housing types; - A new cycle way and footpath between Meldreth and Melbourn connecting the village, college, train station and public open space. The development serves as a vital link between Meldreth and Melbourn and will ensure that students from across both communities will have a direct, safe and well lit connection to Melbourn village college which is particularly important throughout the winter moths.
Northern parcel - 200 units Southern parcel - 70 units 2025: Minimum number of residential units 50 and maximum number of residential units is 70
No answer given
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Northern parcel - access via Station Road. Southern parcel - new access via new roundabout off Station Road
No answer given
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No answer given
Access to key utilities but no substantial constraints on site.
High given its close proximity to the train station and sustainable location.
No
No
2021
2026
5
Agricultural
N/A
S/1531/FL- Conversion of barns to single dwelling, including replacement of more modern structure, new driveway to Dairy Farm House and change of use of land to garden and associated infrastructure - Approved 02/11/2015 S/3391/16/OL - Outline application for demolition of farm buildings and erection of up to 90 dwellings - Refused 11/05/2017 Appeal Dismissed 16 March 2018
A mixture 2025: Greenfield
Residential development and public open space
Housing to meet the needs of the local population
Up to 50 dwellings 2025: between 50 to 70 dwellings
No answer given
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There is an existing access to the current barns on site (as shown on the site location plan; this would be upgraded as part of any planning application)
No answer given
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Boxworth End has mains gas, mains electric, mains water and good broad band internet. The land owners own land such that connection could be made into those street supplies. There is mains water and electric to the site and the farm house has a septic tank. Provision will be made for utilities connections to enable development with any services upgraded from those mains in the road. There are electric poles that cross the site NE-SW from the Ramper road. No other pipes (other than water supply to house and troughs) or cables cross the land. There is a surface water drain in the along NW boundary of this field.
The land is available and there are no constraints to development
Highly Attractive - Swavesey is a sought after, well connected village on the guided busway and has both a primary and secondary school. There have been a number of enquires from agents and developers
None known
N/A
2021 (dependent upon allocation)
2023
2
The proposed Local Plan period up to 2040 is considered appropriate and to accord with the requirements set out within the NPPF for local authorities to identify a sufficient supply and mix of sites between years 1-15 of the plan (Para 67). As recognised, Greater Cambridge falls at the crossroads of a number of key economic corridors, including the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, London-Stansted Corridor and the Cambridge-Norwich tech corridor. The Oxford-Cambridge Arc in particular is a key economic priority as recognised by Central Government. Further work on the delivery of these initiatives will take place including the need for cooperation between authorities and stakeholders. It is imperative that the New Local Plan has flexibility to allow for additional growth to come forward to meet the needs of these important initiatives as they develop through cross boundary and national discussions, potentially within the early/mid stages of the plan period.
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The four big themes for the Local Plan are considered suitable and all are important in the consideration of the spatial distribution of growth in Greater Cambridge, and for the determination of planning applications. The influence of the four big themes will generate a new way of planning. This may require a different approach to decision making. The Local Plan policy framework will need to allow for a clear planning balance to take place to assess and prioritise the potential impacts of these themes. The need for homes and jobs remains as does the need to ensure development is viable and can come forward.
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The increased focus on climate change is welcomed. Climate change policy and good practice is changing quickly, and the plan will need to build in suitable flexibility to accommodate these changes within the lifetime of the new Local Plan. Climate change scenarios predict extensive changes by 2050, much of which is dependent on government and human action so there is substantial uncertainty over outcomes. A needlessly stringent policy may inadvertently impede progress towards later years in the plan, or undermine results by not allowing for site-specific refinement. Energy policies should include flexibility for changing legislation, and technology, as well as the opportunity to refine a plan-wide policy for site specifics. As the Zero Carbon Futures Symposium Report (2019) submitted within the evidence base notes on page 10: where targets are too limited, and without consideration of project contexts, policy can drive dysfunctional behaviour such as photovoltaic solar panels being installed on north-facing roofs merely to achieve policy compliance, not to produce effective carbon reductions. If the new Local Plan is to achieve its ambitious targets on climate change the Councils should consider new ways of achieving net zero. It should recognise that seeking to achieve net zero on all sites regardless of their location and site-specific factors may not be feasible. Linked initiatives such as an offsetting scheme, secured through S106 financial contributions, could be an appropriate way of achieving net zero for small and medium developments. As recognised in the NPPF, small and medium developments, with their ability to be delivered early in the plan period at pace, will play an important role in meeting the Councils housing requirements and the needs of existing villages. Such sites may best secure net zero by contributing to an offsite initiative. If an offsetting scheme is the preferred mechanism, then the Councils will need to set out a clear, appropriate and practical way to implement this, which will mean identifying strategic off-setting projects with Greater Cambridge, and potentially beyond, in collaboration with other key stakeholders. Any financial obligations towards an offsetting scheme will need to meet the statutory tests and considered in the context of viability. Allowing for changing technologies and approaches should also help with viability as technology and approaches improve and are more widely adopted, thereby reducing costs. Escalating targets and policies may be able to accommodate these changes, while providing clarity to developers on the costs of development over time. The local plan Sustainability Appraisal (SA) should address variable climate change scenarios, as we would expect that different climate change scenarios will be of interest at examination. Lack of rigorous assessment of these scenarios in the SA could lead to the plan being found unsound.
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A policy approach with multiple options for delivering net zero carbon is likely to be most effective in delivering development, as well as carbon neutrality. A multi-pronged approach should allow different solutions for different developments, reflecting context. For example, for some developments, Passivhaus energy standards may be achievable (going well above and beyond minimums set out in the Building Regulations), but for others, Building Regulations may need to be followed but an offset solution, such as a green bond or offset fund, could be used to achieve a net carbon reduction. Possible options need to be worked up in more detail as the new Local Plan progresses and must build in flexibility.
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This Local Plan must deliver effective policy which protects and enhances natural capital. We support delivery of net gain for new developments. Such policy must be flexible enough to enable creative and cost-effective solutions for the delivery of net gain and support the Vision for the Natural Future of Cambridgeshire in 2050 as outlined by Natural Cambridgeshire and affiliated organisations. An off-site net gain solution should be clearly allowed for by policy. While it is a Local Plan priority as a part of one of the four big themes, the Local Plan policy must allow for a planning judgement and balanced decision to allow for site- and development-specific issues to be considered. A policy basis to facilitate off-site biodiversity net gain is essential for smaller and medium sized developments. As recognised in the NPPF, small and medium developments, with their ability to be delivered early in the plan period at pace, will play an important role in meeting housing requirements and supporting existing villages. Such sites may best secure biodiversity net gain by contributing to an offsite initiative. A strategy for the delivery of off-site biodiversity net gain funded through development contributions would allow the Council new green infrastructure and biodiversity habitats to be strategically planned, which in turn, would provide greater benefit than the provision of small, uncoordinated and connected new habitats across a range of new developments.
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This should come from an up-to-date base assessment of Greater Cambridge assets, which leads to a Local Plan wide (and beyond) strategy. Development proposals can then be shaped around the identified priorities. As part of a policy framework that allows for off-site mitigation and off-site net gain enhancements can be used to improve the wider green space network. Page 5 of our Exhibition Boards document, submitted in addition to these representations, details how our proposals for a countryside park could contribute to and link with the green space network to the south of Cambridge.
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Natural Cambridgeshire’s Developing with Nature Toolkit seeks to achieve a net gain in biodiversity through new development. It is agreed that development, and in particular large-scale development with sufficient land available, can deliver significant biodiversity enhancements. It is suggested that in deciding sites to allocate for development the emerging GCLP assesses not only whether the potential impacts on protected species and habitats can be mitigated but also whether development can deliver biodiversity enhancements. The promoted developments at land east of Hinton Way and land west of Haverhill Road in Stapleford would retain any ecological features on the sites and seek to provide ecological enhancements within a landscape strategy. Axis Land Partnerships is promoting the possibility of creating a 20 hectare public open space on the land between Hinton Way and Haverhill Road, in conjunction with the promoted developments and Greater Cambridge Partnerships proposed public transport route from Haverhill and Cambridge. The open space would include landscape planting comprising native species and chalk grassland, the retention and enhancement of existing hedgerows at the site, and an ecological management plan. The proposed open space could potentially connect with other green infrastructure in the surrounding area including Ninewells Nature Reserve, Magog Down, Wandlebury Country Park and Hobson’s Park. It is considered that these ecological enhancements and the proposed open space would deliver a net gain in biodiversity, consistent with Natural Cambridgeshire’s objectives. This is detailed on pages 5, and 8-9 of our Exhibition Boards document.
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