Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

The Issues & Options consultation material and publicity seeks to encourage a wide range of individuals and organisations to respond, all of which is positive and to be welcomed. It should be acknowledged that feedback from local communities and organisations is only one of the factors that should inform decisions about the strategy and policies for emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan (GCLP). For example, national planning guidance, technical evidence and feedback from statutory consultees will have a key role in informing decisions, and it would not be a sound approach to ignore these other factors. It will also be important that the emerging GCLP fully meets the development needs of businesses and organisations, and residents in terms of housing, employment space and community/social needs.

Land north of Barton Road in Cambridge (referred to as South West Cambridge) was promoted to the call for sites process in March 2019. A number of technical documents have subsequently been prepared for the site and are submitted with these representations to the Issues & Options consultation. The findings of the site-specific technical reports are referred to in response to some of the consultation questions.

The promoted development at South West Cambridge would include a comprehensive new green infrastructure network in conjunction with a landscape-led urban extension. The promoted development would include open space and sports pitches, a new country park with potential connections to Coton Countryside Reserve, wildlife areas, biodiversity enhancement, and strategic landscaping. It will be a development characterised by its strong environmental characteristics and will embrace fully the principles of natural capital.

Agree

Agree. This accords with paragraph 22 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2019) which advises that strategic policies should look ahead over a minimum 15-year period from adoption.

Agree

Yes. The identified cross-boundary issues are highly relevant. However, it is requested that employment matters are included as cross-boundary issue to be discussed with neighbouring authorities (in Section 3.6.5). Employment matters are identified as a strategic matter in Paragraph 20 of the NPPF, and should be subject to the duty to cooperate (see Paragraph 24). The reason why employment matters are particularly relevant is that Cambridge and its immediate surroundings are a focus for employment development which has an impact on commuting patterns, but because of limited supply compared to demand, high housing costs (buying and renting) in the City and affordability issues generally it is difficult for residents in neighbouring areas to live closer to where they work.

Disagree

Disagree. The four potential big themes are related to the social and environmental objectives of sustainable development and are supported. However, there is no economic theme, despite the fact that the Cambridge and Peterborough Devolution Deal commits the authorities in the area to planning to double economic output by 2040 and Greater Cambridge will have a significant role in delivering that commitment. It is requested that there emerging GCLP must include a specific economic theme. It is requested that the relationship between the big themes and the overarching theme of sustainable development is however further explained in the emerging GCLP. It is also suggested that additional issues are referred to under the well-being and social inclusion theme. Paragraph 8 of the NPPF identifies the three overarching objectives of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental), and notes that these objectives are interdependent and suggests that they need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways. The NPPF is clearly framed such that sustainable development is the overarching theme of the planning system to which all other themes relate. It is requested that sustainable development is identified as the overarching theme, to be consistent with the approach in Paragraph 8 of the NPPF, and in order to avoid one of the identified big themes (and the requested additional economic theme) being give greater importance than another; in the response to Question 7 it is suggested that the big themes are not prioritised. It is noted that the social strand of sustainable development (contained in Paragraph 8 of the NPPF) specifically relates meeting housing needs with strong, vibrant and healthy communities. There are substantial affordability issues in Greater Cambridge associated with the high cost of buying and renting housing, and those that cannot afford to live in Cambridge or South Cambridgeshire close to employment opportunities having to endure longer and unsustainable commuting. Therefore, it is requested that meeting housing and affordable housing needs in a sustainable manner is specifically referred to in the well-being and social inclusion theme.

Wellbeing and Social Inclusion, Climate Change, Biodiversity and Green Spaces, Great Places

We don’t. It is inappropriate to seek to prioritise these big themes. All of the themes fall within and under the overarching theme of sustainable development and represent the three objectives of sustainable development. As stated in Paragraph 8 of the NPPF, “Achieving sustainable development means that the planning system has three overarching objectives [economic, social and environmental], which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways (so that opportunities can be taken to secure net gains across each of the different objectives):…”. Therefore, national guidance expects all of the objectives of sustainable development to be considered jointly, with no priority given to one objective over another. The emerging GCLP will need to balance all three objectives of sustainable development, and as such balance all of the big themes too.

Carbon Neutral Cambridge identifies a number of actions to achieve net zero carbon, which in summary are as follows: • buildings – to reinstate zero carbon standards and require new buildings to be energy efficient; • transport – to phase out the use of petrol and diesel vehicles and improve facilities to encourage the use of public transport, walking and cycling; and • energy – to use low carbon and renewable energy. It is acknowledged that there are social, economic, ecological, and health benefits associated with a policy of net zero carbon. It is anticipated that the emerging GCLP will include policies to deliver net zero carbon. It is expected that decisions about the development strategy and which sites to allocate for development will also reflect the vision to achieve net zero carbon. It is considered that the emerging GCLP should support the following to achieve net zero carbon: • residential development that is located close to employment opportunities; • development that is accessible by walking, cycling and public transport; • development that provides green infrastructure including wildlife areas; and, development that includes high sustainability standards. It is considered the promoted development at South West Cambridge is a prime example of a prospective development that could contribute towards the net zero carbon aims and would represent a far more sustainable option than one based on dispersal of housing growth.

The suggested mitigation measures identified in Section 4.1.3 of the Issues & Options consultation document are supported. It is considered that the selection of suitable development sites which could deliver those climate mitigation measures will be key to reducing the impact on the climate. The promoted development at South West Cambridge is an example where the identified climate mitigation measures could be delivered.

Yes, somewhat agree

Yes. There may be opportunities to incorporate additional climate adaptation and resilience features into new development, but it is more likely that those opportunities will emerge at detailed design stage and on a site by site basis. It is also likely that new solutions and good practice examples will emerge during the plan period for emerging GCLP.