Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Thakeham is of the view that housing mix policies should be determined by a Local Housing Need Assessment in accordance with Paragraphs 60 and 61 of the NPPF, but also with the flexibility of the policies to be reviewed on a site-by-site basis based on their location. Please refer to the appended Vision Document titled 'Land east of Long Road, Comberton' produced by Thakeham.

Thakeham is aware of the proposed ‘Comberton Greenway’ which is a proposed route to enable cyclists, walkers and equestrians to travel sustainably from Comberton into Cambridge. As shown in the appended Vision Document, the Land east of Long Road could deliver part of the route of the proposed ‘Comberton Greenway’ to benefit the wider community and provide a sustainable route into Cambridge. Thakeham requests that the Local Plan consider planned transport improvements when determining where future development should take place, as well as assessing how potential development sites could provide new opportunities for transport infrastructure improvements. This includes the planned ‘Comberton Greenway’ and proposed new East-West rail link from Cambridge to Bedford with the northern route including stations at Cambourne and St Neots/Sandy recently announced as the preferred route. These planned infrastructure improvements improve connectivity between Comberton, Cambridge and Bedford due to the proximity of these planned routes, making Comberton a more sustainable location. Thakeham urge the Councils’ to ensure the Local Plan commits to providing infrastructure that has already been planned, especially where a site has demonstrated that it could assist in the deliverability of the infrastructure – for instance, the Land east of Long Road, and its ability to assist in delivering the proposed ‘Comberton Greenway’. Please refer to the appended Vision Document titled 'Land east of Long Road, Comberton' produced by Thakeham.

Thakeham is of the view that priorities for new infrastructure should be improved sustainable transport links between villages and nearby towns/centre of Cambridge. This not only includes the proposed Greenways including ‘Comberton Greenway’, but also the proposed new East-West rail link from Cambridge to Bedford which will provide new stations west of Cambridge at Cambourne and St Neots/Sandy area, which is key to improving connectivity between villages like Comberton and Cambridge/Bedford. These planned routes will make outlying existing villages more sustainable, particularly where there are existing bus services, and reduce reliance on the centre of Cambridge. New development within villages like Comberton, which already have existing bus services, could provide financial contributions to improve existing services from villages to the new station at Cambourne. This will enable sites to be allocated for development in and adjacent to existing village settlements, which would deliver new homes, employment space and community facilities for the benefit of rural communities. This will enable the benefits of economic growth to be dispersed across the District. In addition, improved sustainable transport links that benefit both existing settlements and new homes will assist the Councils’ in meeting their zero-carbon aspirations for the Plan period. Please refer to the appended Vision Document titled 'Land east of Long Road, Comberton' produced by Thakeham

Thakeham is of the opinion that the Councils’ should consider opportunities provided by existing or planned transport improvements when determining where future development should take place, as well as assessing how potential development sites could provide new opportunities for transport infrastructure improvements. Thakeham request that the Councils’ assess potential sites based on planned transport improvements as well as what new opportunities exist for transport infrastructure improvements. Thakeham is aware of the proposed ‘Comberton Greenway’ which is a proposed route to enable cyclists, walkers and equestrians to travel sustainably from Comberton into Cambridge. Whilst the Land east of Long Road, Comberton is located in close proximity to existing public transport links (bus stops), the Site could deliver a key part of the proposed ‘Comberton Greenway’ route on-site, as well as contribute to the wider route through any section 106 obligations. Thakeham is also of the view that the Councils’ should review sites based on the ambitions of the developer, and work with mutually conscious developers to deliver high quality, sustainable developments. Thakeham prioritise sustainable transport (pedestrian and cycle routes) within all our site layouts, as demonstrated through the inclusion of the proposed ‘Comberton Greenway’ within the concept masterplan shown in the appended Vision Document, and commitment to providing financial contributions to improving public transport links within the vicinity of the Site. From 2020, Thakeham is committed to installing fast electric car charging units in all Thakeham homes, which will enable electric vehicles to be charged more quickly and efficiently than with regular household connections. This will encourage homeowners to seamlessly transition to Electric Vehicles, which will not only benefit them but also reduce air pollution in the local area. As shown in the appended Vision Document, the Land east of Long Road could deliver part of the route of the proposed ‘Comberton Greenway’ to benefit the wider community. Please refer to the appended Vision Document titled 'Land east of Long Road, Comberton' produced by Thakeham

Yes

Yes Thakeham is of the view that whilst the Green Belt should be afforded a level of protection, the Green Belt is restricting growth outside the city of Cambridge. In accordance with Paragraph 138 of the NPPF, the need to promote sustainable patterns of development should be considered when reviewing Green Belt boundaries. As stated in the consultation material, the Councils’ acknowledge that a location that has sustainability advantages in terms of access to jobs and services and thus reducing trips by the private car, could help mitigate its climate impacts. Thakeham consider that allocating sites for development in and adjacent to existing village settlements, will enable other uses such as new employment space, community space and new sustainable transport links to come forward for the benefit of rural communities. This approach would spread new homes, jobs and facilities out to the villages, as well as help to sustain existing facilities and infrastructure in the villages. The provision of new employment spaces within villages will reduce travel distances across the district, helping the Councils’ to meet its Net-Zero Carbon commitments. As demonstrated in the appended Vision Document, the concept masterplan for the Land east of Long Road, Comberton could deliver new modern employment facilities as well as new open space and sustainable travel links into the centre of Cambridge. In line with National guidance, and to meet the test of “Soundness” (NPPF, paragraph 35), Local Plans should positively seek opportunities to meet development needs. In this regard, the Councils’ should be striving for as higher levels of growth as possible. Within this context and having regard to the scale of the shortage of housing and the need to meet the increased OAN, it is our view that the Councils’ housing need cannot be met without releasing some sites from the Green Belt. For these reasons we consider that the necessary exceptional circumstances exist to release sustainably located sites from the Green Belt, which includes sites like the Land east of Long Road, Comberton. PPG states that where it is necessary to release Green Belt land for development, authorities should set out policies for compensatory improvements to the environmental quality and accessibility of the remaining Green Belt land. As demonstrated in the appended Vision Document, Thakeham would be committed to providing a number of compensatory improvements at the Land east of Long Road, Comberton including new and enhanced green infrastructure, improvements to biodiversity, new walking and cycle routes and new recreational provision (Green Belt Paragraph: 002 Reference ID: 64-00220190722). As shown within these representations and appended Vision Document, the Land east of Long Road, Comberton could deliver a number of benefits for the wider community including much-needed affordable housing, as well as access to employment, open space, and other community facilities in rural areas. In Thakeham’s view, any adverse impacts relating to loss of Green Belt would be outweighed by the benefits of the Land coming forward for development, which is in accordance with Paragraph 11 of the NPPF. Please refer to the appended Vision Document titled 'Land east of Long Road, Comberton' produced by Thakeham

Highly flexible

Highly Flexible In Thakeham’s view, the strategy for allocating new development should include planning for larger scale development through a variety of strategies, including extensions to existing villages, which the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states is the best way to achieve supply of large numbers of new homes (Paragraph 74). The allocation of larger developments adjacent to village settlements can deliver much-needed affordable housing, as well as employment uses, open space, and other community facilities in rural areas. This will enable the benefits of economic growth of the District to be felt by rural communities, allowing them to grow and thrive in accordance with Paragraph 78 of the NPPF. The provision of new sustainable transport links (Greenways) and flexible co-working employment facilities through development in villages, will reduce the reliance on travel across the wider district, especially by private car, which will benefit the wider community. Please refer to the appended Vision Document titled 'Land east of Long Road, Comberton' produced by Thakeham.

As mentioned in response to Question 42, Thakeham consider the most appropriate siting of new development to be a flexible approach including dispersal across the District with a focus on extensions to existing villages, which the NPPF also states are the best way to achieve supply of large numbers of new homes (Paragraph 74). The current approach to small infill development within villages means that the threshold is rarely met to provide affordable housing or other community uses on-site, and s106 obligations are insufficient to enable significant infrastructure improvements. Thakeham is of the view that allocating sites for development in and adjacent to existing village settlements, will enable other uses such as new employment space, community space and new sustainable transport links to come forward for the benefit of rural communities. This will enable the benefits of economic growth of the district to be felt by these communities. The provision of new employment spaces within villages will considerably reduce travel distances across the district, helping the Councils’ to meet its net-zero carbon aspirations. South Cambridgeshire’s adopted Local Plan 2018 acknowledges that villages within the District face difficulties in securing an adequate supply of land for affordable housing to address local needs and comments that “most villages do not have housing site allocations, house prices are often high and existing social rented housing is usually under long term occupancy and rarely available to re-let.” This further reiterates the importance for new development to be allocated in villages, so that much-need affordable housing can be delivered. The Land east of Long Road, Comberton would provide a policycompliant level of affordable housing (40%), which based on 400 homes, could deliver 160 affordable homes, designed to seamlessly integrate with the rest of the development. As demonstrated in the appended Vision Document, the concept masterplan for the Land east of Long Road, Comberton could also deliver new homes and flexible co-working space as well as new open space and sustainable travel links into the centre of Cambridge. The site will help the Councils’ deliver sustainable development in a strategic location, allowing the village of Comberton to grow and thrive in accordance with the requirements of the NPPF (Paragraph 78). Please refer to the appended Vision Document titled 'Land east of Long Road, Comberton' produced by Thakeham.

Land east of Long Road, Comberton

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No choices made

Response to Question 42 1. Dispersal: Villages 2. Dispersal: New Settlements 3. Public Transport Corridor 4. Densification of existing urban areas 5. Edge of Cambridge: Outside Green Belt 6. Edge of Cambridge: Green Belt Thakeham considers the most appropriate siting of new development to be a flexible approach comprising the top three approaches identified above, including dispersal across the District with a focus on extensions to existing villages, which the NPPF also states are the best way to achieve supply of large numbers of new homes (Paragraph 74), as well as through Dispersal: New Settlements and Public Transport Corridors. Please refer to the appended Vision Document titled 'Land east of Long Road, Comberton' produced by Thakeham

No choices made

1. Climate Change 2. Wellbeing and Social Inclusion 3. Great Places 4. Biodiversity and Greenspaces Whilst Thakeham is of the view that all the above themes are all important, we believe that it is key that Climate Change should be a priority, with a focus on development which can provide both new and improved sustainable transport links, new Zero-Carbon ready homes, and new employment opportunities which link to and sustain existing villages and settlements. Thakeham would like to urge the Councils’ to work with environmentally focused developers to deliver high quality, sustainable developments. By focussing on Climate Change, Thakeham believes that taking a holistic approach on positively impacting Climate Change will benefit the other big themes. By looking at how to adapt to Climate Change, developments will need to have resilient and connected greenspaces that have a NetBiodiversity Gain. By promoting sustainable transport, developments will place walking and cycling above car travel which will create great places and the interaction of the community across the landscape. Improved wellbeing and social inclusion can be achieved through creating great places by allocating development and new facilities (open space, community and employment uses) across the wider district to include villages, in order to allow them to grow and thrive in accordance with Paragraph 78 of the NPPF. In accordance with Paragraph 124 of the NPPF, the creation of high-quality buildings and places is fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve, and good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, which creates better places in which to live and work. Please refer to the appended Vision Document titled 'Land east of Long Road, Comberton' produced by Thakeham