Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

2.19 As per comment 2.13. Ideally, all new permanent developments over 500sqm will be required to undertake full operational energy and comfort modelling in line with CIBSE TM54 for operational energy and TM 59 for overheating risk, using 2050 climate data. Projects should demonstrate that they pass future climate data requirements.

2.20 Natural Cambridgeshire has a vision to double nature by 2050, and has produced a Developing with Nature Toolkit to achieve the aim of a net gain in biodiversity through new development. It is noted that Natural Cambridgeshire’s vision and toolkit acknowledge the role that development has in supporting the delivery net biodiversity gain. It is agreed that development, and in particular large-scale development with sufficient land available, can deliver significant biodiversity enhancements.

2.21 It is considered that one approach to improve the green space network is to create new green spaces within strategic developments. The selection of suitable strategic sites within emerging GCLP provides an opportunity to create new green spaces that connect with existing spaces and the surrounding countryside; new spaces would provide alternatives to existing green spaces and divert recreational pressure from those spaces.

2.22 The response to Question 12 refers to Natural Cambridgeshire’s Developing with Nature Toolkit, which aims to achieve the aim of a net gain in biodiversity through new development. The Toolkit acknowledges the role that development has in supporting the delivery net biodiversity gain.

Yes, somewhat agree

2.23 We agree that GCSP should be aiming to increase tree cover across area. Measures should also be put in place to ensure new tree planting is not homogenous. Ecologist should be consulted to ensure that the most native, drought tolerant, biodiverse and carbon sequestering tree species are included as part of a tree planting strategy.

2.24 As set out in the response to Question 7 it is suggested that meeting housing and affordable housing needs is part of the well-being and social inclusion theme, since housing falls within the social objective of sustainable development as contained 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. Therefore, ‘good growth’ must include meeting housing and affordable housing needs within emerging GCLP by allocating suitable sites that can meet those needs. 2.25 As set out in Paragraph 8 and Chapter 8 of the NPPF the other factors that relate to the wellbeing and social inclusion theme are about creating well-designed and safe developments, providing access to services and facilities, and providing open space. It is suggested that the emerging GCLP will need to allocate suitable sites that are accessible to services and facilities or can provide those facilities on site.

2.26 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.

2.27 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. 2.28 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. 2.29 In reference to NEC, there will be a considerable opportunity provided for creating a healthy new community, and supporting neighbouring communities, through access to high quality housing, a design approach founded on sustainable modes of travel (walkable neighbourhoods), and improved employment, shopping, health, education, leisure and recreational opportunities. We also support the intended preparation of the Health Impact and Needs Assessment for NEC, which will take account of the wider deprivation challenges faced in the neighbouring wards of East Chesterton and Kings Hedges.

2.30 Paragraph 103 of the NPPF acknowledges the relationship between managing patterns of growth, reducing the need to travel and encouraging the use of sustainable modes of transport in order to reduce congestion and emissions and improve air quality. Paragraph 181 suggests that traffic and travel management and the provision and enhancement of green infrastructure may provide an opportunity to improve air quality. 2.31 It is considered that the selection of suitable development sites in emerging GCLP will be an important factor in improving air quality, particularly those which strongly encourage sustainable travel choices (electric vehicles, low/zero emission modes of travel). 2.32 With regards to NEC, we are generally supportive of the concept of encouraging a greater share of non-car modes of travel. This is broadly in accordance with the advice from the Ely to Cambridge Transport Study, and will be further tested in the NEC AAP Transport Assessment work. It is recognised that many existing employment uses, such as those in Cambridge Science Park, St John’s Innovation Park and Cambridge Business Park, will have authorised car parking at significantly higher levels than what is now intended for NEC. We would support GCSP working with various landowners in exploring innovative/incentivised ways of reducing car usage from those sites. 2.33 We would also support the requirement for high levels of cycle parking from new developments. In terms of NEC, this approach will be supported by the new cycling infrastructure that is planned for Cambridge, including the Chisholm Trail and Waterbeach Greenways. Cycling helps support healthy lifestyles, and is a viable means of travelling around a compact city, assuming that safe and convenient routes and secure/covered parking can be provided. New and existing workplaces can be encouraged to provide showers, changing facilities and lockers to encourage staff to cycle into work. 2.34 Furthermore, cycling is key to achieving a mode split and demand must be met, and therefore we support innovative solutions to cycle parking. As part of further capacity testing, masterplanning and detailed design, consideration will be given to innovative storage solutions (using domestic and international examples) that enables cycle parking to be integrated appropriately into the public realm. The concept of micromobility should also be embraced, with provision made for parking dockless bikes to ensure that they are not left in inconsiderate locations such as the footway.

2.35 The Local Plan process will firstly seek to understand what development requirements it has over a certain period of time (which has been implied in the Consultation as needing to find sites for an additional c.30,000 homes between 2017 – 2040, together with a commensurate level of economic, leisure, community and retail development), and secondly, it will then seek to identify suitable sites that will satisfy sustainable development objectives. As part of the assessment process of a site’s suitability, consideration will be given to the ‘environmental’ aspect of sustainable development, of which heritage protection falls within. The Site in NEC provides an excellent opportunity for achieving significant levels of growth whilst protecting the iconic centre of Cambridge, and having due regard to the surrounding landscape character.