Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

It is considered that the growth of villages must be part of the development strategy for emerging GCLP, and there is national guidance that supports this approach. As set out in the response to Qu.32, Barton Willmore assessed housing delivery, existing allocations and commitments and potential strategic allocations to inform how and where the housing requirements should be distributed. 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 developments promoted by Endurance Estates in Bassingbourn would not only support the existing services and facilities within the village, including a secondary school, primary school, convenience store, post office, doctor's surgery, dentist, pharmacy, public houses, mobile library, sports centre, outdoor recreation areas, and bus services; but could also provide additional demand and critical mass such that a broader range of services and facilities become available. As identified in the Barton Wilmore report, it is considered that the GCLP should take the approach within the Taylor Review (2008) to review whether additional development will enhance the sustainability of the location in which it is taking place, rather than basing the decision on the existing situation. Paragraph 68 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, and that such sites are located within villages in South Cambridgeshire. 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 those promoted by Endurance Estates in Bassingbourn - at land off Poplar Farm Close, land off Elbourn Way, and, land off The Causeway - are allocated in the emerging GCLP to meet the requirement for a mix of sites including those that are easily deliverable. It is predicted that the promoted developments would be completed within one to two years once planning permission has been granted. 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, the developments promoted by Endurance Estates in Bassingbourn are accessible by walking, cycling and public transport. As set out in the call for site submissions the supporting technical work for the sites, there are no significant constraints at promoted developments for Endurance Estates in Bassingbourn - at land off Poplar Farm Close, land off Elbourn Way, and land off The Causeway. For example, none of the sites are in the Green Belt. There are heritage assets in Bassingbourn and adjacent to some of the promoted sites, but the initial heritage assessments for the sites demonstrate that there are no constraints to the promoted developments and mitigation measures including appropriate design and layout are possible. The proposed dwellings would be located on those parts of the site which are not subject to flood risk. The trees and hedgerows on the sites would be retained. A vehicular and pedestrian access can be provided at all of the promoted developments. The promoted developments would include biodiversity enhancement measures. For all these reasons it is requested that the following sites promoted by Endurance Estates in Bassingbourn are allocated for residential development in emerging GCLP: • land off Poplar Farm Close – for approximately 7 dwellings; • land off Elbourn Way – for between 65 and 80 dwellings; and, • land off The Causeway – for approximately 80 dwellings.

The call for sites submissions were accompanied by a Vision Document (prepared by Nicholas Jacob Architects) which included an Indicative Masteplan Concept Plan for the promoted developments. The Vision Document could form the basis for the site allocations.