Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Natural Cambridgeshire’s Developing with Nature Toolkit seeks to achieve a net gain in biodiversity through new development. It is agreed that development, and in particular large-scale development with sufficient land available, can deliver significant biodiversity enhancements. It is suggested that in deciding sites to allocate for development the emerging GCLP assesses not only whether the potential impacts on protected species and habitats can be mitigated but also whether development can deliver biodiversity enhancements. The proposed development of Land at Meadow Drift, Elsworth includes a number of ecological enhancements including: new woodland planting; aquatic habitat creation; enhancement of existing ditches; incorporation of native plants; and provision of new bat roosting and bird nesting opportunities.

Land at Meadow Drift, Elsworth was promoted to the call for sites process in March 2019. Elsworth is located to the north of Cambourne and to the west of Papworth Everard. Cambridge is 14 km to the south east. Elsworth has good connections to the strategic road network, via the A428 and A14. Elsworth is defined as a Group Village in the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan, containing some services and facilities and suitable for some additional development. Cambourne and Papworth Everard provide additional services and facilities not provided within Elsworth. The site is located to the north west of Elsworth and forms an ‘L’ shape that wraps around the north and west of the Primary School. The site currently forms three distinct areas of land. The north eastern part is currently in use as under- utilised allotments with mature trees on the frontage to Meadow Drift. The central section comprises agricultural land (pasture), bounded by a mature hedge line to the west and east, providing a degree of screening. The south western part comprises part of a larger agricultural field (arable) extending towards Rogue’s Lane. A public footpath runs north-south through the site in the south western corner, linking Broad End and the open countryside. It would be retained and incorporated into the development. The boundaries of the site are hedged, interspersed with trees. The site is well screened from most sides. The consideration of application reference S/4550/17/FL has confirmed that the site can accommodate 16 dwellings, including six affordable homes, a school car park and drop off area, ecological mitigation area and new allotments without any technical objections. The proposals would deliver numerous benefits including: Allotments: The proposed development of the site would provide new allotments of an area not less than the existing which would be serviced and in addition provided with parking. The current allotments have no services nor dedicated parking. School drop off and parking: The proposals would provide a designated parking and drop off zone for the primary school and pre-school; including new pedestrian access arrangements to the latter. Such provisions have been extensively discussed and welcomed as an improvement in facilities and a safer solution to current drop off and pick up arrangements. The primary school has supported the scheme in providing additional pupil numbers to assist its ongoing sustainability. Affordable housing: The proposals would deliver six new affordable homes. All necessary technical reports demonstrating that the proposed development is deliverable have already been undertaken and confirmed as acceptable by all relevant consultees. It is considered that meeting housing and affordable housing needs is part of the well-being and social inclusion theme because housing falls within the social objective of sustainable development (as set out in Paragraph 8 of the NPPF). 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 commuting. Paragraph 8 and Chapter 8 of the NPPF identifies the other factors that relate to the wellbeing and social inclusion theme, which are about creating well-designed and safe developments, providing access to services and facilities, and providing open space. It is suggested that to achieve ‘good growth’ the emerging GCLP will need to allocate suitable sites that deliver housing and affordable housing, are accessible to services and facilities, include open space and recreation facilities. The proposed development of Land at Meadow Drift, Elsworth would contribute towards achieving good growth that promotes wellbeing and social inclusion in a number of ways. The proposals would deliver numerous benefits including: Allotments: The proposed development of the site would provide new allotments of an area not less than the existing which would be serviced and in addition provided with parking. These allotments would contribute to the wellbeing of local residents by encouraging outdoor activity and allowing residents to grow their own food. Allotments also act as a place to encourage social inclusion as different members of the local community could meet and mix with a shared interest in looking after the allotments. School drop off and parking: The proposals would provide a designated parking and drop off zone for the primary school and pre-school; including new pedestrian access arrangements to the latter. This would result in improvements to wellbeing as it would remove the current traffic, parking and safety issues that exist around the school and pre-school at drop off and pick up times. Housing including affordable housing: The scheme will comply with housing mix policies and would deliver six new affordable homes. These would contribute to improving wellbeing by providing six families in housing need with good quality new homes to move into. Additionally, the provision of affordable housing alongside market dwellings will promote social inclusion.

Section 4.3.3 of the Issues & Options consultation document identifies the factors that are relevant to the creation of safe and inclusive communities. As set out in the response to Question 16, 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 commuting. It is considered that the emerging GCLP should include a development strategy that seeks to meet housing and affordable housing needs and locate housing closer to employment opportunities to reduce in-commuting. New housing development in Elsworth will provide support for crucial village facilities and amenities, including the primary and pre-schools, community shop and local pubs.

Paragraph 91 of the NPPF seeks to deliver healthy, inclusive and safe places, and identifies a number of approaches to support healthy lifestyles. It promotes social interaction through mixed-use developments, strong neighbourhood centres, street layouts that include pedestrian and cycle connections, and active street frontages for example. It enables and supports healthy lifestyles, by providing green infrastructure, sports facilities, local shops, access to healthier food, allotments, and layouts that encourage walking and cycling for example. NHS England Healthy Towns Initiatives identified ten principles to deliver healthy places, which relate to the provision of health services, meeting local and community health needs, and development design matters. In terms of design matters it is suggested that compact neighbourhoods, active travel, healthy eating opportunities, play and leisure facilities would contribute towards the delivery of healthy places. The promoted development of Land at Meadow Drift, Elsworth would be consistent with guidance and initiatives to support healthy lifestyles. In particular, the provision of allotments as part of the proposals align with the national policy and guidance mentioned above.

The emerging GCLP will need to be consistent with national guidance on meeting housing needs. Paragraph 59 of the NPPF confirms the Government’s objective to significantly boost the supply of housing, and to achieve this by ensuring that a sufficient amount and variety of land for housing is identified. Paragraph 60 expects the standard method to be used to determine the minimum number of houses needed. Paragraph 61 expects the size, type and tenure of housing needs of the community to be assessed and reflected in planning policies, including for example those with an affordable housing need, students, renters and self-builders. Section Id.2a of the Planning Practice Guidance explains how housing and economic needs assessments should be undertaken, including how to calculate local housing needs using the standard method. Paragraph 010 of Id.2a makes it clear that the standard method is the minimum starting point for determining local housing needs, and acknowledges that there may be circumstances where actual housing need is higher than the standard method indicates. As set out in Paragraph 010 the circumstances where increases to housing need that exceed past trends are as follows: there is a growth strategy in place to promote and facilitate additional growth; strategic infrastructure improvements are likely to lead to an increase in the number of homes needed locally; and, an authority has agreed to accommodate unmet housing needs from a neighbouring area. The first two circumstances are relevant to Greater Cambridge. Paragraph 024 of Id.2a explains how the need for affordable housing is calculated, and it is suggested that the overall housing target should be increased where it could help deliver the required number of affordable homes. There is an urgent need to improve the affordability of housing and to boost affordable housing delivery in Greater Cambridge. Therefore, the emerging GCLP should use the standard method to calculate the minimum local housing need, and then make appropriate adjustments taking into account the growth strategies and strategic infrastructure improvements identified for Greater Cambridge, and a further adjustment to ensure affordable housing needs are met.

Yes, strongly agree

Yes. As set out in the response to Question 31, upward adjustments to the minimum figure derived from the standard method are required to take into account growth strategies, strategic infrastructure improvements and housing affordability in Greater Cambridgeshire. The National Infrastructure Commission, the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership acknowledge and support the economic growth potential of the Greater Cambridge area, and consider that there is a need to substantially increase housing delivery in order to support that economic growth and address the significant housing affordability issues that exist.

Paragraph 103 of the NPPF seeks to ensure that development is located where the need to travel will be minimised and the use of sustainable transport modes can be maximised. Therefore, the site selection process for potential allocations in emerging CGLP will be an important part of increasing travel by sustainable modes of transport. The Transport Statement that supported the previous application for the proposed development of Land at Meadow Drift, Elsworth concluded that the location of the site and the local transport services available are such that future residents would have a realistic choice of travel modes. The proposals would therefore contribute towards the aim of the GCLP to encourage a shift away from car use towards more sustainable modes of transport.

Dispersal: Villages, Public Transport Corridors, Densification of existing urban areas, Edge of Cambridge: Outside Green Belt, Edge of Cambridge: Green Belt, Dispersal: New Settlements

Dispersal: Villages / Public Transport Corridors There are limited opportunities and constraints to development within the urban area of Cambridge, there are limited opportunities for development on the edge of Cambridge which are not in the Green Belt and those opportunities require the relocation of existing uses, and new settlements are complex and typically do not provide policy compliant levels of affordable housing. The options of focussing development in villages and and along public transport corridors are preferred. The promoted development at Land at Meadow Drift, Elsworth would be consistent with both of these approaches.

Strongly agree. Paragraph 78 of the NPPF seeks to promote sustainable development in rural areas, and acknowledges the role that housing has in enhancing or maintaining the vitality of rural communities and supporting local services. Elsworth is located to the north of Cambourne and to the west of Papworth Everard. Cambridge is 14 km to the south east. Elsworth has good connections to the strategic road network, via the A428 and A14. Elsworth is defined as a Group Village in the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan, containing some services and facilities and suitable for some additional development. Cambourne and Papworth Everard provide additional services and facilities not provided within Elsworth. Land at Meadow Drift, Elsworth is located to the north west of Elsworth and forms an ‘L’ shape that wraps around the north and west of the Primary School. The site currently forms three distinct areas of land. The north eastern part is currently in use as allotments with mature trees on the frontage to Meadow Drift. The central section comprises agricultural land (pasture), bounded by a mature hedge line to the west and east, providing a degree of screening. The south western part comprises part of a larger agricultural field (arable) extending towards Rogue’s Lane. A public footpath runs north-south through the site in the south western corner, linking Broad End and the open countryside. It would be retained and incorporated into the development. The boundaries of the site are hedged, interspersed with trees. The site is well screened from most sides. The consideration of application reference S/4550/17/FL has confirmed that the site can accommodate 16 dwellings, including six affordable homes, a school car park and drop off area, ecological mitigation area and new allotments without any technical objections. The proposals would deliver numerous benefits including: Allotments: The proposed development of the site would provide new allotments of an area not less than the existing and which would be serviced and in addition provided with parking. School drop off and parking: The proposals would provide a designated parking and drop off zone for the primary school and pre-school; including new pedestrian access arrangements to the latter. Affordable housing: The proposals would deliver six new affordable homes. Housing: The scheme would be of a high-quality design and of a mix to meet identified needs. Sustainable Community: The scheme will support local facilities and services, including the primary school and pre-school, the community shop and pubs. All necessary technical reports demonstrating that the proposed development is deliverable have already been undertaken and confirmed as acceptable by all relevant consultees.