Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Response to Question 2 3.1 The site was submitted as part of the Call for Sites consultation in 2019 and the Chivers Family are continuing to promote the site for allocation in the Local Plan. The Site is an opportunity to deliver small scale residential development to help meet the needs of the District. Description of Proposals 3.2 An illustrative masterplan has been prepared to show how five new homes could be developed on the site. The proposal shows five dwellings arranged in a layout comprising 2 no two bed dwellings and 3 no three bed dwellings. The proposed development density is 38dph. 3.3 Existing landscaping to the east and south boundaries will be retained and enhanced. The landscaping will provide both screening of the development and enhanced ecological and biodiversity. The proposal is modest in scale, is in keeping with the character of the area, and appropriate given the site’s location adjacent to existing residential dwellings. Summary of Technical Assessments 3.4 A Transport Access Review of the existing site access has been carried out to support this promotion. The assessment acknowledges the site’s highly sustainable location and notes that there are many daily facilities to the north of the site circa 1.6km (20-minute walk / 5-minute cycle) which future residents can frequent. 3.5 In terms of the highway capacity, all traffic would enter and exit via an access onto Cambridge Road. A TRICS assessment has been undertaken using the nationally recognised trip rate database ‘TRICS’ to determine an appropriate vehicle trip rate, this concludes that vehicle generation from the development would have a negligible impact on the local road network. 3.6 Bus stops are situated within 210 metres of the site which provide one bus every 20-minutes Monday to Saturday and one bus every 30-minutes on Sundays, providing future residents the opportunity to travel without the use of a car. The proposal is considered acceptable in highway terms. 3.7 A Flood Risk and Drainage site appraisal has been carried out to support this promotion. It notes that the site falls wholly within Flood Zone 1 of the Environment Agency (EA) Flood Zone maps. It is also shown to be predominantly at very low risk of surface water flooding with small areas of flood risk with low depths. It is assumed that these areas are topographic low points and will be mitigated against by the new development. This will also be mitigated by installing an effective surface water drainage system on the site. In conclusion, the site is at low risk of flooding overall with practical and sustainable solutions for both foul and surface water drainage. 3.8 This promotion is also supported by a Preliminary Ecology Appraisal. This document indicates that the site falls within the Impact Risk Buffer Zone of the Madingley Wood SSSI, which is located approximately 4.5km to the south-west. It should be noted, however, that Natural England do not consider new residential development within this risk zone to constitute a risk to the SSSI. 3.9 The Preliminary Ecology Appraisal also notes that the site has a baseline biodiversity value of 0.48 habitat units. In order to achieve no net loss to biodiversity, the report stipulates that 0.06 hectares of grassland would need to be retained and enhanced (25% of the total site area). To achieve a 10% net gain, then 0.07 hectares of grassland would need to be retained and enhanced (29% of the total site area). Such calculations, however, do not take into account the opportunity for the provision of additional ecological compensatory measures e.g. the provision of bird and bat boxes across the site. It is therefore likely that less grassland would need to be retained and enhanced in order to achieve a biodiversity net gain, on the basis that additional ecological mitigation is provided as part of the development. 3.10 In terms of protected species, the report indicates that a range of common woodland bird species are likely to nest in the adjoining plantation woodland. Furthermore, the mixed plantation woodland surrounding the site has the potential to be used as commuting and foraging habitat by a range of bat species. The Preliminary Ecology Appraisal therefore recommends undertaking a bat activity survey in order to determine the potential mitigation and enhancement measures required to ensure that no harm comes to these species as a result of the proposed development. 3.11 A Tree Survey and Constraints Plan also accompanies this representation. As previously noted, the site comprises a mature vegetated boundary. The Tree Survey and Constraints Plan indicate that the vast majority of the site’s boundary comprises Category B specimens, with only one Category C tree. Unclassified ivy-covered stumps are present on the western boundary. 3.12 Because of the visual screening and arboricultural quality of the mature vegetated boundary, the report recommends the retention of as many trees as feasibly possible. Such recommendations have been incorporated into the design, with all trees to be retained (albeit it is likely pruning would be required to facilitate the access). The unclassified ivy-covered stumps would be removed in order to facilitate both a vehicular and separate pedestrianised access. Benefits to be delivered by the proposals 3.13 It is considered that the development proposals could deliver numerous tangible social, economic and environmental benefits to the local area, including: ● Residential development in the form of new family homes of an appropriate scale and form which supports, and is informed by, its village edge location; ● Locating residential development within one of the District’s largest and most sustainable villages. The site is located close to the village centre and is well placed for future residents to be able to walk and cycle, rather than travel by private car, to these facilities; ● Supporting Impington and Histon’s economy, including local shops and services; and, ● A sustainable site location with good access to the facilities and services in Impington and Histon and Cambridge City to the south.

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Agree

Agree - The proposed Local Plan period up to 2040 is considered appropriate and to accord with the requirements set out within the NPPF for local authorities to identify a sufficient supply and mix of sites between years 1-15 of the plan (Para 67). It is widely recognised that a mix of both small and large sites are needed during the plan period. Small sites such as land between Cambridge Road and Bridge Road can bring forward development early in the plan period while larger strategic sites can take many years to come forward.

Agree

5.1 Agree - The four big themes for the Local Plan are considered suitable and all are considered to be important in the consideration of the spatial distribution of growth in the district, and for the determination of planning applications. The four big themes will generate a new way of planning, which may require a different way to make decisions. The Local Plan policy framework will need to allow for a clear planning balance to take place to assess and prioritise impacts. 5.2 The development proposals would contribute to the four big themes as follows: ● Climate Change – new dwellings will be designed and constructed in a manner to be energy efficient and incorporate renewable technologies. The site is also in a sustainable location, providing alternatives to private car use for residents to meet their daily needs; ● Biodiversity and Green Space – through the retention and enhancement of trees and hedges on the site providing an ecological and recreational asset to be enjoyed by future residents; ● Wellbeing and Social Inclusion – the proposal includes a mix of family homes which will help meet the needs of the District and local community. The proposal would also promote healthy lifestyles and wellbeing through the provision high quality homes set within an existing residential area with excellent accessibility to employment, education, shops and public transport by active modes of travel; and ● Great Places – a landscape-led approach is central to the design and layout of the scheme, as shown in the Illustrative Masterplan which shows how the site could come forward.

5.3 The four big themes are all considered to be important aspects towards achieving positive development. All four themes should be used to inform the spatial strategy within the Local Plan in terms of distributing growth and determining planning applications to deliver growth. It is therefore not considered necessary to rank the options in order of preference.

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5.4 The increased focus on climate change is welcomed. Climate change policy and good practice is changing quickly, and the plan will need to build in suitable flexibility to accommodate these changes within the lifetime of the plan. Climate change scenarios predict extensive changes by 2050, much of which is dependent on government and human action so there is substantial uncertainty over outcomes. 5.5 A needlessly stringent policy may inadvertently impede progress towards later years in the plan or undermine results by not allowing for site-specific refinement. For example, policy for electric vehicle charging points should be sufficiently flexible to accommodate that quickly changing technology, as well the current grid challenges in implemented EV charging places. Energy policies should include flexibility for changing legislation, and technology, as well as the opportunity to refine a plan-wide policy for site specifics. As the Zero Carbon Futures Symposium Report (2019) submitted within the evidence base notes on page 10: where targets are too limited, and without consideration of project contexts, policy can drive dysfunctional behaviour such as photovoltaic solar panels being installed on North facing roofs merely to achieve policy compliance not to produce effective carbon reductions. 5.6 The local plan sustainability appraisal should address variable climate change scenarios, as we would expect that different climate changes scenarios will be of interest at examination. Lack of rigorous assessment of these scenarios in the SA is could lead to the plan being found unsound. 5.7 The site is considered to present an opportunity to contribute towards achieving the goal of net zero carbon by 2050 through the delivery of housing which would allow future residents to live low-carbon lifestyles. Houses would be designed and constructed in a manner to ensure that energy use is reduced and that renewable forms are used. The site is also located in a sustainable location, whereby future residents would not be reliant on the private car for their daily needs. Impington and Histon combined is one of the largest villages in the District and with a wide range of services and facilities within walking and cycling distance of a site which already benefits from excellent pedestrian connectivity into the centre of the village.

5.8 Greater Cambridge is a leading local authority on climate change policy, as demonstrated by the early declaration of a climate change emergency and also the newly adopted Sustainable Development SPD. This leadership should continue, as it is central to the sustainable development of Cambridge, leading to better outcomes for people, the environment, and for economic development. It should be borne in mind that Cambridge's knowledge economy demands increasingly high sustainability standards, with health and wellbeing, informed by this need to minimise climate change, as a key focus for its continuing economic development. This should remain a priority as part of a policy framework the recognises climate change as a key part of sustainable development across social, environmental and economic objectives.

5.9 This Local Plan must deliver effective policy which protects and enhances natural capital. We support delivery of net gain for new development. Such policy must be flexible enough to enable creative and cost-effective solutions for the delivery of net gain and support the Vision for the Natural Future of Cambridgeshire in 2050 as outlined by Natural Cambridgeshire and affiliated organisations. An off-site net gain solution should be clearly allowed for by policy. While it is a Local Plan priority as a part of one of the four big themes, the Local Plan policy must allow for a planning judgement and balanced decision to allow for site and development specific issues to be taken into account. 5.10 The site already benefits from existing ecological features, the proposal presents an opportunity to help improve the natural environment and to also protect existing ecological features on the boundaries of the site

5.11 This should come through from an up to date base assessment of Greater Cambridge, which leads to a Local Plan wide (and beyond) strategy. Development proposals can then be shaped around the identified priorities. As part of a policy framework that allows for off-site mitigation and off-site net gain enhancements can be used to improve the wider green space network.

5.12 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. 5.13 The site presents an opportunity to deliver biodiversity net gains and, through a landscape-led approach, will seek to deliver open space that is functional whilst also creating resilient habitats. 5.14 It should also be noted that the landowner owns a portion of land to the south of the site, as indicated by the accompanying Site Location Plan. To continue to work towards delivering a biodiversity net gain, the landowner has expressed a desire to enhance this land in ecological terms and would be willing to liaise with the Parish Council and local community in order to deliver the most appropriate outcome which satisfies all parties concerned. This could be achieved, for example, through the planting of wildflower species and enabling the land to be accessed by the local community. Not only would such measures enhance local biodiversity, but they would also result in improving the wellbeing of local residents who would benefit from being able to access natural, ecologically-rich land.

Yes, somewhat agree

5.15 Yes, the Local Plan should include a policy framework that seeks to increase tree cover but allows for a planning balance within decision-making to enable the benefits and impacts of each development to be assessed. This could be part of an on-site/off-site solution, which could generate notable s106 funds to achieve significant, meaningful and long-term planted and ecological areas. 5.16 The site is currently screened by trees and other vegetation. The proposals would seek to retain existing vegetation whilst also delivering substantial new tree planting across the site where appropriate.