Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

No comment.

No comment.

No comment.

No comment.

The expansion of existing villages has an important role to play in the delivery of new homes and infrastructure in the short term, contributing positively to the Councils’ five-year housing land supply and providing significant benefits to existing communities. Papworth Everard is a key example of an existing village that has a good range of employment opportunities, facilities and services; and is well positioned to take full advantage of infrastructure improvements. Nearby Cambourne is also a well-established, thriving, vibrant and sustainable new settlement offering an array of services and facilities, including retail, education, leisure, and a significant amount of employment. Experience suggests that delays can occur in delivering large scale ambitious schemes, such as standalone new settlements. Large scale new settlements and urban extensions by their very nature require significant upfront infrastructure before dwellings can be delivered on site. While new settlements and urban extensions will no doubt form an important component of the spatial strategy in the period to 2050, it is equally important that the spatial strategy does not rely entirely upon new homes from these sources. In order to achieve the economic objectives for the area it is essential that a broad range of sites are available that can deliver in the short, medium and long terms. Opportunities to deliver short term housing that can also facilitate notable improvements in infrastructure for more rural communities should also be fully explored. At this stage in the plan-making process it is critical that the Councils do not disregard the opportunities presented via the expansion of existing villages that contain a good range of existing facilities and services. The position of Crow’s Nest Farm to the south of Papworth Everard means that new homes can be delivered in the short term, contributing positively to housing supply in Greater Cambridge, supported by existing and enhanced local infrastructure. This Vision Document illustrates how an early phase of new homes could come forward in a sustainable and logical way, to the benefit of the local community; whilst remaining an important element of the long-term growth ambitions for the area.

Please refer to M&M’s response to question 36, 27 and 42. For the reasons set out above M&M fully supports the strategy to site development along transport corridors.

No comment.

No comment.

No choices made

Question 42 - As set out in M&M’s responses to questions 36 and 37, new development should capitalise on opportunities that can exploit both existing and planned infrastructure improvements. Consistent with paragraph 103 of the NPPF, significant development should be focused on locations which are or can be made sustainable, through limiting the need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes. This can help to reduce congestion and emissions and improve air quality and public health. Crow’s Nest Farm is very well placed on the A428 growth corridor to capitalise on the strategic highway and public transport improvements and opportunities in the area; and is capable of forming part of a wider strategic growth corridor along the A428, providing opportunities to exploit local and regional connections: in particular those presented by the emergence of East West Rail and the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway. The A428 corridor will change radically over the coming years, benefitting significantly from planned investment, including the new communities at Cambourne West and Bourn Airfield, the first phase of the Oxford-Cambridge expressway and the emergence of East West Rail, which includes a new station at Cambourne. The position of the Site to the south of Papworth Everard means that new homes can be delivered in the short term, contributing positively to housing supply in Greater Cambridge, supported by existing and enhanced local infrastructure. The Vision Document accompanying these representations illustrate how an early phase of new homes could come forward in a sustainable and logical way, to the benefit of the local community; whilst remaining an important element of the long-term growth ambitions for the area.