Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Absolute bans on development in flood zones. Focus of development to south of City on higher ground. No point building homes that will be flooded before end of life. Where developments have potential to flood, what solutions could be considered to make flood water less prone to affect the properties. Government and organisations with power consider passing autonomy to local organisations and people in the front line. Currently these people are often overlooked. E.g. The current Keep Britain tidy by Government could have encouraged and given value to the local organisations. Identify where the issues are national and controlled by the Government and where local communities should have the autonomy to engage and improve their own areas. Also, would like to see the Government engaging and lobbying businesses to remove some of the big wins in Climate Exchange e.g. Mandatory for packaging to be ECO Friendly at source. Change road construction and road repair materials to suit the higher temperatures, mandatory requirement defined by the Local Plan.

Every development and Planning application to consider how it is affecting the environment. A need to improve the environment should be at the heart of every application including offsite improvements Confer Homes England purchase of off-site land. Listen and encourage participation of the local community. Place responsibility and autonomy at local level. Engage local teams/co-operatives to build up into national groups with the same interests to maximise re-use of ideas, proven solutions. Create local front-line jobs to do this so people can work where they live.

Compare and contrast existing plans e.g. plans for Northstowe phases 1 and 2,3a,3b A key retention of green space is to meet an approved and clear criterion in the local plan of everybody living within 800m of some open green space for wellbeing. This should be a constraint on all new developments over, say, 10 dwellings (this allows for infills in space that is not public open space in existing communities that may not be completely compliant with this criterion). Applying this criterion would in effect limit the growth of settlements unless new green space is created interspersed with the settlement, and reinforce the key role of the green belt, with maybe increased public access, around Cambridge. Provide information, ideas and guidance on how individuals could best maintain their gardens with suggestions for use of Eco-friendly materials.

Mandatory inclusion of requirements for biodiversity net gain for every development. Encourage participation of residents with clear measurements of the effects to encourage everyone to meet stretch goals. Less need to travel for every day work decreases carbon emissions and pollution. Increase the community who are interested in maintaining and promoting biodiversity in the place where they live, and they are bringing up their children. Consider using Hedges rather than fences in place of Fences in new development. Consult with Environment committees on your local Parish Councils, they will have done a lot of the groundwork. Their local knowledge is essential for understanding the bigger picture. Build from bottom up.

Yes, strongly agree

Absolutely, the right trees of course. Note that deciduous trees on shedding leaves put back a lot of carbon at the same time as domestic heating increases. I heard recently that increases in carbon dioxide are slow to reduce. More information on the above is needed to guide and increase interest of individuals and key groups. Encourage great local and national initiatives around trees and planting in general. to commemorate individuals and events e.g. We have a project to plant 39 trees to remember the 39 individuals who died in our village in the 1st World War. Make them mean something. Should we be thinking of areas where people would opt to be buried in a carbon neutral way within woodland. These are rare in many places where people would go for this option if the site existed where they live.

Increase identification and information around best practice developments around the UK and in other countries such as Netherlands and Germany. These key factors are often missing and the effect of this upon the ‘health of a community’ is significant. Social Inclusion works well when people are together in trusting teams. I would support and grow local sport, education, community groups/charities and has initiatives where all ages get together. Examples - Men's football teams working with the young children's teams, Local Charity working on Beer Festival over 60s lunch and sporting memories. Local pubs and cafes putting on initiatives like games and discussions. Getting communities working together across ages, organisations to drive and improve bigger picture initiatives.

Adding requirements for community developments in ALL developments. Land to be made available for Community Land Trusts. Local councillors at all levels to work with the local groups and individuals who would have an interest in new developments so that they feel their 'Voice matters' and will be listened to. Local plan to give power to the locals so that they are willing to get involved and to feel safe in speaking up. Increased specific involvement in all components of the planning process by communities and their representatives. Residents have commented on Marmalade Lane been a great example which has received a design award.

Safe: by design, unanimous vote by HI Parish Council Inclusive by building a mix of houses that matches need not developers profit maximisation, e.g., 2 and 3 bed houses. Absolute need - homes for young people, families, downsizers, those needing support. Developments which people feel they have an investment in and are developed well uplift the community and people remain invested in keeping them well. We need to make sure both the new development has them included and the maintenance is also their interest. Value to the local people who do this is key. As society places more value in earning more money than its ability to achieve and maintain inclusive communities is likely not sustainable.

Development proposals must include how they increase the social capital over a certain number of houses. Inclusion of green space, walking and cycling focussed, streets that children can play in - car free streets - outstanding public transport. This approach will encourage social inclusion, are easy to get to by public transport and have taken net carbon zero into account.

Decrease need to travel every day, decrease use of cars by promoting walking and cycling, increase green spaces in the villages and towns. Ensure that the financial incentives for alternatives to car usage are equivalent or better than using car. Retrofitting of existing housing stock. Restriction on wood burning stoves.