Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Strongly agree. It should be noted that some villages, including Great Shelford, are also located in the Green Belt and are on transport corridors, and as such development options that include these locations are also supported; the response to this question is also relevant to Questions 47 and 48. As set out in the response to Question 39 national guidance allows the release of land from the Green Belt through the plan-making process, and that exceptional circumstances exist to release land which is related to the significant need for housing and affordable housing in Greater Cambridge and the need to support economic growth. The experience of new settlements and the redevelopment of previously developed land on the edge of Cambridge demonstrates that these options do not deliver policy compliant levels of affordable housing, and in the case of new settlements these types of development typically have much longer lead-in times than originally predicted. Therefore, releasing land from the Green Belt on the edge of Cambridge, including at Great Shelford, is a realistic option. Paragraph 78 of the NPPF seeks to promote sustainable development in rural areas and acknowledges that housing can enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities and support local services. The promoted development at land off Cabbage Moor in Great Shelford would support the existing good range of services and facilities available in the village and nearby Trumpington. Paragraph 68 of the NPPF acknowledges the role that small and medium sized sites can make towards meeting the housing requirements, and that such sites are often built-out relatively quickly. Small and medium sized sites typically only require limited new physical infrastructure and amendments to the access arrangements. The housing monitoring data from Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire confirms that small and medium sites are delivered quickly i.e. within two to three years. It is considered that small and medium sized sites make a significant contribution towards the short term housing land supply and the five year housing land supply position in Greater Cambridge. Therefore, it is requested that small/medium sized sites such as land off Cabbage Moor are allocated to meet the requirement for a mix of sites including those that are easily deliverable; it is predicted that it would take approximately two years for development to be completed at the site once construction has started. Paragraph 102 of the NPPF expects transport issues to be considered at the earliest stages of plan-making. Those issues include opportunities created by existing or proposed transport infrastructure in terms of the scale, location and density of development, and opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use. Paragraph 103 expects significant development to be focused on locations which are or can be made sustainable. As set out in the response to Qu.37, Great Shelford is very accessible by walking, cycling and public transport. It is well-related to existing and proposed public transport services in Trumpington including the Park and Ride, Guided Busway and proposed Cambridge South Station. The promoted development is well-related to the services and facilities in Great Shelford and Trumpington by sustainable modes of transport. As set out in the call for sites submission, there are no significant constraints to development at land off Cabbage Moor in Great Shelford. The site makes a limited contribution to the Green Belt, and could be released to meet the needs for housing, affordable housing and self-build plots. The existing uses at the site and neighbouring uses means that it does not contribute towards the wider landscape of Cambridge and Great Shelford, and the promoted development would include additional landscaping to enhance the setting of the site. Great Shelford is a suitable village for additional development.