Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

In this region we have the potential to create massive retention ponds on poor quality farm-land, especially in the Fens. Combined with a series of canals we could significantly improve flood-resilience.

Lakes and canals could encourage a significant increase in our fen-edge landscape and environment.

Green Space should be allocated locally in Neighbourhood Plans.

Achieving biodiversity net gain in new developments is a myth; urban foxes are an example.

Nothing chosen

Tree cover in the Fens seems to be as unnatural as cultivating bats in big housing developments. A tree is each new garden is desirable; attempts to create mini-forests of non-native tree species seems wrong.

Good growth is modest integrated growth alongside – and within walking distance of - an existing community.

A new approach to Rural Exception Sites is needed, especially in the Green Belt is needed in many communities.

The best way to achieve safe and inclusive communities in new developments is to stop what you are doing now; housing needs to be nearer to jobs and community facilities, not reliant on public transport.

People create healthy life-styles; a walkable community day and night helps

Air quality issues mostly arise from the misguided dash to diesel and their use in streets that are not wide enough to disperse the fumes. This is largely being dealt with by national policies, especially those encouraging EVs. Insistence on EV charging provision in new homes and adaptation of street furniture to provide a massive increase in EV charging points will help but some education to favour more PV, energy from waste and nuclear power generation in the region is likely to be necessary.