Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Nothing chosen

Southern and Regional Developments (Swavesey) consider that the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan must plan for a higher quantum of housing. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Review has recognised that the Combined Authority Area (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough) has experienced a higher rate of economic growth than forecast. This is a significant indicator that the new Plan for Greater Cambridge must consider actively planning for through delivery of a significantly higher number of homes. Furthermore, if implemented into the spatial strategy, an increase in the number of homes to be delivered will allow a better degree of flexibility that will otherwise not be available if the Plan only provides for the minimum. Given the evidence that is available, it would not be an appropriate or sound approach if the Plan were to avoid strategising for a higher number of homes than the government figure suggests - instead the government figure should be consdiered the minimum level required. If the economic trend is to continue within the Plan area, which the CPIER report establishes, it would be a failure of the Plan's statutory requirement to "make sufficient provision" for housing numbers and boost delivery, as asserted in the NPPF. If the Plan is to support the economic growth of the area over the new Plan period, a higher housing quantum will need to be incorporated into strategic policy. If insufficient homes are delivered over the new period, this will supress any potential for economic growth within the Plan area and result in diminishing the expansion of the jobs market in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. Summary of Comment: Higher quantum of housing is need to assure flexibility and to support the significant economic growth experienced in the Plan area.

Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) consider that it is important for the Plan to deliver a varied range of housing, particularly with respect to bedroom size and tenure mix that reflects the findings of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment. However, to ensure that development can truly address local needs and respond to lcoational characteristics, such development requirements for residential proposals should not be overly or inappropriately prescriptive. Schemes for residential development should be required to deliver a housing mix that most appropriately caters for the needs of the community it will serve and should not be controlled by a restrictive development management policy which applies particular obligations for development to deliver at the strategic level. It is recognised that affordability is a major issue within Greater Cambridge, particularly within the rural areas and villages. Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) consider there is a need for the emerging Local Plan policy to address this issue and ensure that a mix of types and tenures is catered for across the whole of the plan area. Similarly, where settlements are dominated by a particular housing type or scale, there should be the opportunity through emerging plan policy for Development Frameworks to be sutiably amended. Claremont Planning maintain that although the new Plan should include policy guidance on housing types, including size and tenure mix, such guidance should be supported by the most up to date evidence and have the ability to respond directly to specific local requirements. The wording of any policy should reflect this and provide suitable provisions for housing mix to be informed by local circumstances and market influences. Taking into account the size of the plan area and the varied characteristics of the area, it is important that any policy guidance includes an appropriate degree of flexibility in its requirements for housing development. For example, housing mix requirements will differ between settlements across the entire Plan area, given that the needs of rural South Cambridgeshire will be different from those within Cambridge City. It is therefore important that any attempt to include specific housing mix and type requirements within development management policies should ensure a degree of flexibility and acknowledge locational considerations. Summary of Comments: Policies for housing mix/type should not be prescriptive and should reflect the requirements as identifed in the latest SHMA.

Nothing chosen

Southern and Regional Developments (Swavesey) consider that the Local Planning Authority should look to remove land from the Green Belt to support sustainable development options across the plan area and reduce travel distances within communities so reducing climate impacts. They support the direction established by the new Plan in reviewing Green Belt land at locations benefitting from public transport and thereby, enhanced accessibility. This complies with the National Planning Policy Framework at Paragraph 123a which encourages efficient use of land for housing, particularly towards locations well served by public transport. It also asserts that appropriate densities should be achieved at these locations, with particular consideration of higher densities to ensure that the best use of these accessible sites can be encouraged. By directing development towards these accessible locations, the emerging Plan will also contribute towards strengthening a modal shift away from the use of private cars which is a fundamental concept of the NPPF in its movement towards achieving sustainable development. Furthermore, it will contribute towards combating the impacts of climate change through reduction of carbon emissions and easing the congestion and pressure on the national highway system. However it is maintained that seeking the release of sites from the Green Belt alone will not ensure that sufficient sites are identified to meet the need of the new Plan period. Identification of land that benefits from high degrees of accessibility should also include land that is located outside the Green Belt, but also at locations that benefit from access to services as well as public transport options. It is considered that the Dairy Farm site at Boxworth End, Swavesey benefits from good access to social infrastructure, with close walking distance, with amenities to includes a medical clinic, secondary school, post office and village shop. As these are within close proximity to the site, it should be recognised that the site is a sustainable location to accommodate new development. Furthermore, the site is not designated Green Belt and so its development will not result in wider impacts or harm to the strategic purposes of it. As such, review of Green Belt sites alone will not go far enough in ensuring an adequate spatial strategy, given that there are suitable locations for development that exist beyond it and located in sustainable settlements that are able to and have the capacity to accommodate new development to meet the needs of the new Plan period. Summary of Comments: Releasing sites from Green Belt should be an element of a wider and more comprehensive spatial strategy that includes other approaches.

Nothing chosen

Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) expreses caution relating to the application of higher levels of design standards and construction requirements through development management policies. their concerns is that such requirements will result in restrictions that will impact on viability and deliverability of development within the Plan area. Whilst it may be an objective of the Plan to combat Climate Change to mitigate development impacts and existing factors, the application of restrictive requirements to development design above national standards could directly impact on the Plan's ability to ensure adequate levels of growth are implemented. The Plan should not attach restrictive caveats to development management policies and should explore alternative strategies to combat climate change and achieve a highly environmentally sustainable approach to development. It is important that this is carefully balanced with the needs of the Plan area to achieve growth that meets the demands of its communities and support the everyday requirements of the area's residents. Summary of Comments: Application of restrictive development management requirements is not supported where it will result in the supression of the delivery of growth.

Claremont Planning are instructed on behalf of Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) to submit representations to influence the emerging plan's consideration of green spaces alongside the emerging strategy to address the cause of Climate Change. It is advanced that the enhancement of the biodiversity of existing settlements can only be delivered through development that recognises the neccessity to deliver imporved green spaces and ecological enhncements. Farming practises can not be relied upon to deliver such enhencements and the only means of postively contributing to the green space and ecological qualities of any settlement is through the development influence of land. Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) contend that land within their control at Boxworth End has the ability to provide new Green Space within parts of their site that are influened by local drainage patterns and the local landscape. The frontage of their Dairy Farm site has the potenetial to contribute toward the provisin of new green space that will postively influence the setting of the village, which alongside residential development will provide public access to natural environments that concur with the emerging plan's objective to contribute new green spaces through the development strategy. The resulting green space on the Boxworth End site would be multi-functional through the mitigation of flood waters and a positive draiange strategy, defining a landscaped edge to the east through a new development framework limit and significant biodiversity enhancement through areas specifically set aside to the notrth of the site. Summary of Comments: Delivery of green spaces must be recongised as linked to provision of development.

Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) agree that the Local Plan should seek to achieve 'good growth' that promotes wellbeing and social inclusion across the whole plan area. As such, the social and housing need of smaller communities such as at Group Villages and Rural Centres should not be ignored. The Plan mus positvely address the needs of all its communities to be able to provide for 'good growth'. To achieve the 'good growth' benefits the Councils are seeking, the Plan must deliver development that also recognises the needs of existing comminities, including the needs of the settlements within the rural areas. This is especially relevant to the provision of affordable housing and homes that address specific needs such as small families, down-sizing households and the needs of larger families. The housing stock within villages has not benefited by the delivery of such accommodation, with development relying upon small infill development that is not of a scale that can contribute to these requirements. Similarly, the existing facilities within villages have not been able to be supported by required growth levels, with schools relying upon larger and larger catchments, whilst shops and pubs have not has sufficient customer base to sustain their business. To address the wellbing of existing communities and contribute to their social inclusion, the Plan must consider the positve distribution of a suitbable level of development. Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) believe that the expansion of settlements such as Swavesey, with good facilities and access to wider facilities at nearby strategic allocations through public transport and sustainable modes of transport such as cycling; would be an effective way to provide good growth that address this objective. Pursance of this strategy would mean including suitable sites such as the Dariry Farm site at Boxworth End within the village Development Framework and so capable of delivery. The revision of Development Frameworks and village extents can be best achieved through the requirement of local communities to accommodate minimum levels of development, so that windfall development or positive allocations through the neighbourhood plan process can be identified. Claremont Planning are instructed on behalf of Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) to promote the Dairy Farm site at Boworth End for residential development to achieve the 'good growth' and its consideration within the emerging spatial strategy for allocation. The site covers an area approximately 4ha in size is located towards the south of Swavesey, within an area known as Boxworth End. It is fronted by the highway to the west, where there is an existing farm access into the site and bounded by Ramper Road in the north. In the south and east the site is open to fields, with the boundaries marked by hedgerow. There are a number of structures and buildings located within the site, some of which continue to be used for agricultural purposes for dairy and pasture farming, as well as a recently converted barn into a dwelling and the original farmhouse. More widely, the site continues to be used as pasture and remains undeveloped. Dense, mature hedgerow run along the Bucking Way Road boundary of the site which currently provides a sense of enclosure. Otherwise within the site itself there is no woodland, trees or groupings of vegetation of significance. The site does not include any particular gradients or changes in topography, so reflects the wider landscape characteristic of the Cambridgeshire fenland landscape. The north-eastern limits of the farm, adjacent to Ramper Road experience some flood risk and is identified as being within Flood Zone 3. As such, these areas of the farm are excluded from the site promotion as it is considered that this area is not developable but could be set aside as to inform a comprehensive landscape scheme. Located towards the southernmost part of Swavesey, it is considered that the site exhibits a close relationship with the settlement through the built form that is present to the north of the site at Ramper Road and towards the south at Pine Grove. Although the village is predominantly linear in its development pattern, past development has expanded the village eastwards that provides a precedent for the realisation of its development potential. The development of the site would reflect the wider settlement pattern and project to the east in line with Pine Grove, ensuring that the overall form and linear pattern of built form along Boxworth End and Bucking Way Road is maintained. The identification of the Dairy Farm site as a residential allocation would be an appropriate option for development at Swavesey that would represent moderate growth. The site is directly opposite to a recently consented major residential development, which alongside other consents establish the suitability of the settlement as a sustainable location. The spatial strategy would benefit from the inclusion of further non-strategic sites located at sustainable villages such as Swavesey within the Greater Cambridge area. This would comply with the assertions of the National Planning Policy Framework, where it states at Paragraph 68 that authorities should secure small and medium development sites as complementary to strategic allocations. These smaller sites exhibit less complex and speedy delivery which can valuably maintain a housing supply if delays arise at strategic sites. This is particularly relevant in South Cambridgeshire given the large allocations which have been made that represent a significant proportion of their housing supply. As such, the Dairy Farm site at Boxworth End should be duly considered by the authorities as part of a development solution to accommodate growth at Swavesey. Summary of Comments: The Plan should require a review of development frameworks at settlements with wider linkages and facilities, such as Swavesey.

Very important

It is very important that the Local Plan supports economic growth through the next Plan period. Without the Plan ensuring economic growth as a fundamental component in its development strategy, it will fail to secure the longevity and vibrancy of the Plan area in the long term. Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) recommends that the Plan should recognise the key importance of sustaining the economic growth throughout the next Plan period and support the deliery of the strategic infrastructure strategy to 2050. Unless the Plan ensures economic growth as a fundamental component of the development strategy, it will fail to secure the longevity and vibrancy of the Plan area in the long term. It must be recognised that economic growth and prosperity across the Plan area has a significant relationship with other aspects of the Local Plan, in particular residential demand and housing growth. These elements of the Plan are directly related and therefore new policies that are adopted by the Plan must acknowledge this interconnectivity. It is recognised that the Plan area has benefited recently from significant levels of economic growth that has benefited the area considerably. It is essential that the Plan recognises the resulting significant pressures on the local housing market and address this appropiately through a necessary quantum of development. As such, the level of housing should reflect this and a substantial increase in housing numbers for the new Plan to deliver would ensure that this increased demand can be met. As such, the Plan, whilst supporting economic growth, must ensure that it is appropriately managed so that development which is implemented is sustainable and appropriate in terms of scale, design and location. Therefore, the Plan needs to implement a spatial strategy which can support both economic and housing growth to meet the needs of the new Plan period. Summary of Comments: The plan should support economic growth and recognise the need to implement higher levels of housing to support this growth.

Achieving net zero carbon emissions as an objective of the plan is an ambitious goal which directly complies with paragraph 16a of the National Planning Policy Framework's assertion that Plan-making should be ambitious. Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) consider that the policy approach to meet this aspiration should be to promote patterns of development that enable travel by low-carbon modes such as walking, cycling and public transport. The focus of the Climate Change strategy should therefore seek to focus development within sustainable communities where everyday needs can be accessed by these modes of transport. To achieve this, development must be provided to reinforce existing rural settlements at Minor Rural Centres such as Swavesey to ensure that suffcient population is resident to support existing schools, social facilties, health services and businesses. Any strategy that continues to focus develoment at only the largest settlements will cause the smaller sustainable locations to fail and cause an over-concentration of environmental impacts. Summary of Comments: To achieve this objective existing rural communities must be supported through appropriate expansion.

Somewhat flexible

It is considered that the Local Plan should be flexible towards development of both jobs and homes on the edge of villages. It is considered that the Local Planning Authority should be more flexible to the scale of development within the village framework and should allow a more flexible approach to development on the edge of villages. The adopted settlement hierarchy of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan recognises that there are sustainable villages within the District that can appropriately accommodate levels of growth that can both contribute towards meeting the strategic needs of the Plan area. Accordingly, a flexible approach to development should be applied to the most sustainable settlement. The Dairy Farm site controlled by Southern and Regional Developments (Swavesey) at Boxworth End, Swavesey represents a deliverable and appropriate example of an edge of village set that can be sensitivetly developed to contribute towards the strategic requirements of the new Local Plan. It is beneficially located within walking distance of an established range of services within the village, including a secondary school, which supports the suitability and sustainability of the site for development. Although the site is not affected by national designations, it is acknowledged that the site provides local viewpoints of the wider countryside. This landscape contribution relates to the countryside frontage of the site alongside the western boundary formed by the highway frontage. Development at an approproate scale would preserve this landscape setting by way of maintaining views eastwards towards the Fens and wider countryside, through a detailed and sympathetic development design proposal. This will include the conservation of key views across the site, sustaining the existing "glimpses" of the countryside that protrude into the village and contribute towards its character. A spatial strategy which considers development at the edge of villages should ensure that it maximises sustainable development opportunities. It is considered that sites such as at Boxworth End, Swavesey present such opportunities and omission of them will result in a spatial strategy which has not appropriately explored all deliverable or realistic directions of growth to assist in meeting the demanding housing needs for Greater Cambridge. Summary of Comments: Development at the edges of villages is supported, as it is a sustainable approach which can contribute towards meeting the OAN of the Plan area.

Nothing chosen

It is advanced on behalf of Southern & Regional Developments (Swavesey) that the approach of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan should encourage further development at sustainable villages through the expansion of existing village frameworks. The application of overly prescriptive guidance of what is then aceptable at such villages is not considered to be compliant with the National Planning Policy Framework's assertion to support development where it is demonstrated to be required whilst also achieving the best and most efficient use of land. It is acknowledged that development within rural settlements must respond to their context, including historical built form and rural character. However, it is maintained that many of these settlements demonstrate sustainability credentials that complies with the objectives of the Framework. Access to public transport and existing services are primary considerations that should support growth within the villages, particularly where these are recognised in the adopted settlement hierarchy at Rural Centres, Minor Rural Centres and Group Villages. Achieving appropriate densities in line with the requirements of the Framework currently cannot be achieved by existing policies, particulalry with respect to the opportunities to deliver housing on infill sites and achieve affordable homes. The nature of development at villages is also dictated by the quantum of housing to be attributed to such settlements village frameworks and therefore, a more flexible approach should be adopted by the new Plan in order to achieve varying levels of development at such locations. Summary of Comments: A more flexible approach is considered appropriate to ensure that efficient and appropriate densities are achieved in sustainable village locations.