Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

This week at The Big Debate I threw down a gauntlet to the Council, suggesting that much more power should be put in the hands of the Council, and the direction of our extended City determined to a far greater extent by the Councils, as opposed to private development. I also suggested that should central Government not ensure through new stringent Building Regulations that the next generation of buildings be carbon neutral, then the Local Authority might take it upon themselves to include this in the Local Plan. I understand that this is likely to run counter to new legislation, which is set to curtail a Local Plan’s ability to require higher standards. Attached is a longer piece of writing on this subject; a call to arms. Clearly there is much that could be done. The RTPI have done some national research in to how other Authorities are achieving this: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/knowledge/better-planning/better-planning-housing-affordability/local-authority-direct-provision-of-housing/ and attached summary. I’m not suggesting that Cambridge is idle in this regard, and Cambridge’s own Housing Development Agency is a great start. However why not aim far higher- aim for a transformation in our environment? From my experience over the last 10 years on the Cambridge Quality Panel, it is clear that unless legislated for, it doesn’t happen. No amount of exemplars or encouragements work; we get many platitudes and the same proposals dressed up in the right language. Why not make a significant shift towards zero carbon housing by insisting on Passivhaus for all new buildings? Why not raise significantly the requirements for affordable housing and more particularly housing for social rent? Why not set aside significant areas of land to be developed by the community in not-for-profit organisations? The answer is usually about viability. This needs better investigation. If the development plan is based on money paid for the land, then the deals will need to be re-negotiated. I can’t believe that most land isn’t held on options or with uplifts against future profits, with clauses that allow a re-adjustment if legislation changes. It ceases to become viable if the land value isn’t appreciably above its original value. Given that it is in the gift of the Local Authority to zone land that permits the change of use, it is also in the Council’s gift to make demands on what the uses should be. At ouir CFCI Zero Carbon Conference, we are going to hear from Sam Hunter Jones from Lawyers Client Earth. They are set up to enable Council’s to raise their ambitions and assist with the legal requirements and potential battles. I have had lots of people after the event giving backing to this higher ambition. Is the Council up for it? I’d love to meet with a few other interested people to discuss.

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