Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Strongly encouraged by intention to consult a wide range within our communities. However, the depth of the consideration required to properly respond to the report is not amenable to “vox pop” responses in front of supermarkets. The informing of the communities through a wide range of media still leaves the Local Plan as the most important document our residents are unaware of. Extra events have been arranged in Histon and Impington but this has only partially remedied the shortfall of the official events not including an indoors, or one available to working residents, event. A more flexible approach would have been more effective, such as canvassing on a single issue at a time. The questions with provided short answers do not allow a more nuanced response over a range of scaled options. Residents would and should be encouraged to participate more by a clear feedback and evidence of taking the views into account throughout the whole Plan development process. Perhaps asking for opinions on key matters continuously through the development of this first consultation report would have been more effective, and welcome: the necessary polish on this first report has, for some, reinforced the view that consultation is of little value on what is already a done deal.

Question 2: Please submit any sites for employment and housing you wish to suggest for allocation in the Local Plan. Provide as much information and supporting evidence as possible: Q2 response: HIPC does not wish to propose any additional sites to those we have been informed have already been put forward by developers. Our answers to later questions indicate the essential analysis that should be applied to each and every potential site before it is included in a draft plan. HIPC is aware that there will not be, as happened last time, an opportunity to comment on all the sites which meet fundamental criteria (such as having an acceptable access) to ensure local knowledge is applied to the selection of sites in the draft plan.

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Question 3: Please submit any sites for green space and wildlife habitats you wish to suggest for consideration through the Local Plan. Provide as much information and supporting evidence as possible. Q3 response: There is a draft Neighbourhood Plan in the final stages of examination before proceeding to a local poll. It is assumed that the Neighbourhood Plan will be approved before the issue of the draft new plan, and the neighbourhood plan includes a full catalogue of green, biodiversity and wildlife sites.

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Nothing chosen

We understand that the centrally defined process for all areas includes the use of a 20 year horizon from the start of the planning cycle, which allows for the approximately five years from the start of the process to the adoption of the new Local Plan. However, the latter years, relying as they do on extrapolation from the short-term trends (also in the CPIER) can only be at best indicative. There are too many unknowns and economic history shows this smooth expansion is rare. Furthermore, the predictions of the range of possible (by 2040) impacts of climate change which are dependent on the effective action taken in the near term worldwide, make the exercise lack any credibility that far ahead.

Disagree

No - Fenland will flood before SCDC. We have not allowed for migration, nor the loss of farmland. The current emphasis on the information and knowledge sectors jobs being created and the cost of housing affect working, commuting and living across into neighbouring areas. With current policies, Greater Cambridge will be dependent on the adjacent areas to allow it to continue to be successful. In order to minimise this potentially carbon rich living style, we would expect the Local Plan to make more effort to improve the life chances of those born and educated here so that there are suitable jobs and housing locally for all abilities.

Agree

HIPC agree that the full list of all seven themes are core to the consideration. We are mindful that not one of these themes can be treated in isolation and the questions do not tease out respondents’views on the inevitable trade-offs. There is insufficient emphasis in the document on some of the challenges that need to be addressed, such as: - • Providing suitable accommodation for an increasing proportion of ageing populations • The trend towards smaller numbers of people in the same dwelling: this must be matched by a suitable housing mix in large developments enforced by specific policy to balance the developer’s oft stated assumption that providing a mix of larger units is more profitable. • Changing work patterns requiring more opportunities to work at home. • Emphasis on design to build social capital in all the communities Above all the Plan needs to define the place we want to become and include measures and policies to make that be achieved.

No choices made

Some would say that unless overall priority is given to environmental impact (especially climate/carbon impact but also water usage, biodiversity and creating a place that supports wellbeing) little else matters. The graphic (the tree with 4 leaves and three, smaller, roots) underplays the influence of the three on creating the community we wish to become.

Require developments to be walking/cycling promoting, restrict car use, insist on matching infrastructure (especially public transport working through the days and evenings) and building design codes that demand sustainable developments. The required policies to be clear and not challengeable on appeal and above all enforce the requirements.

9. How do you think we should be reducing our impact on the climate? Have we missed any key actions? Make grey water use mandatory in new developments. Expect communal heating systems in significant developments. Design for tree inclusions in new developments. Encourage electricity generation from renewable sources and accommodate some space for these in large developments

Nothing chosen

See above One adaption to development design would require them to ensure that bus routes through the development would be viable.