Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

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I work in the Connecting Cambridgeshire team at Cambridgeshire County Council. I understand that specific policies have not been included at this stage however I wanted to take the opportunity to request that a policy relating to Digital Infrastructure is included within the Local Plan – I believe this relates to Q5 (it will support working together across boundaries) and Q6 (It will support at least 3 of the big themes – Climate Change, Wellbeing & Social inclusion and Great Places).Please find my comments in relation to this in black text below: “The National Planning Policy Framework describes the importance of ‘Supporting high quality communications’ within a Local Plan including its role being ‘essential for economic growth and social well-being’. The availability of highly quality communications facilitates modern businesses operations from payments to supply chain management to research projects as well providing access to residents for online services, education and an ability to stay in contact with family & friends. The importance of high quality gigabit capable digital connectivity has been highlighted by the Government setting a target of having full fibre coverage across the UK by 2033 as well as recently announcing their investment alongside Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in a Shared Rural Network (SRN) to significantly reduce rural ‘not-spots’ where mobile coverage is unavailable across the UK. Going forward it is essential that Digital Infrastructure is included in the detailed design of new developments to ensure the benefits of high quality gigabit capable digital connectivity are realised for all residents and businesses. This needs to be included in the planning policy as: • Any new development of any size by default will not have Full Fibre connectivity without engagement with suppliers and having the right infrastructure installed. • A new development site may have poor mobile coverage and/or impact on the capacity of a MNO’s existing network without a requirement to review the current situation and facilitating improvements if required. • The availability of Full Fibre technology is considered to be a pre-requisite of future 5G rollout and other future facing technologies. Ensuring Digital Infrastructure is included in the Local Plan and therefore development design provides multiple benefits to developers, service providers, local councils, highway authorities, businesses and residents: • It ensures the design and equipment locations for communication infrastructure are integrated in to the full design of the development. • There is a significantly lower cost to install ducts, chambers, power cables and cabinets at a time when footways/carriageways are being constructed and other utilities installed. • Disruption to residents and commuters is minimised by ensuring a majority of the construction work takes place at the same time and primarily before occupation. • The quality of finish for new surfaces, in particular footways and carriageways is maintained by avoiding the need to retrofit underground apparatus. • The availability of high quality communications is becoming an increasingly important factor for potential residents and businesses in their location decisions. Failure to include Digital Infrastructure as part of the development design and site construction is likely to lead to significant delays in the provision of high quality gigabit capable communications to the development. This is due to the higher costs and inherent additional difficulties in retrofitting infrastructure where suppliers are likely to be prioritise other locations where there will be a quicker return on investment.” The Connecting Cambridgeshire team would be happy to help develop this policy to fit Greater Cambridge’s growth ambitions and I have attached an early draft example of what this might look like going forward subject to further input from yourselves and other stakeholders to ensure it is appropriate for use.

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I work in the Connecting Cambridgeshire team at Cambridgeshire County Council. I understand that specific policies have not been included at this stage however I wanted to take the opportunity to request that a policy relating to Digital Infrastructure is included within the Local Plan – I believe this relates to Q5 (it will support working together across boundaries) and Q6 (It will support at least 3 of the big themes – Climate Change, Wellbeing & Social inclusion and Great Places).Please find my comments in relation to this in black text below: “The National Planning Policy Framework describes the importance of ‘Supporting high quality communications’ within a Local Plan including its role being ‘essential for economic growth and social well-being’. The availability of highly quality communications facilitates modern businesses operations from payments to supply chain management to research projects as well providing access to residents for online services, education and an ability to stay in contact with family & friends. The importance of high quality gigabit capable digital connectivity has been highlighted by the Government setting a target of having full fibre coverage across the UK by 2033 as well as recently announcing their investment alongside Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in a Shared Rural Network (SRN) to significantly reduce rural ‘not-spots’ where mobile coverage is unavailable across the UK. Going forward it is essential that Digital Infrastructure is included in the detailed design of new developments to ensure the benefits of high quality gigabit capable digital connectivity are realised for all residents and businesses. This needs to be included in the planning policy as: • Any new development of any size by default will not have Full Fibre connectivity without engagement with suppliers and having the right infrastructure installed. • A new development site may have poor mobile coverage and/or impact on the capacity of a MNO’s existing network without a requirement to review the current situation and facilitating improvements if required. • The availability of Full Fibre technology is considered to be a pre-requisite of future 5G rollout and other future facing technologies. Ensuring Digital Infrastructure is included in the Local Plan and therefore development design provides multiple benefits to developers, service providers, local councils, highway authorities, businesses and residents: • It ensures the design and equipment locations for communication infrastructure are integrated in to the full design of the development. • There is a significantly lower cost to install ducts, chambers, power cables and cabinets at a time when footways/carriageways are being constructed and other utilities installed. • Disruption to residents and commuters is minimised by ensuring a majority of the construction work takes place at the same time and primarily before occupation. • The quality of finish for new surfaces, in particular footways and carriageways is maintained by avoiding the need to retrofit underground apparatus. • The availability of high quality communications is becoming an increasingly important factor for potential residents and businesses in their location decisions. Failure to include Digital Infrastructure as part of the development design and site construction is likely to lead to significant delays in the provision of high quality gigabit capable communications to the development. This is due to the higher costs and inherent additional difficulties in retrofitting infrastructure where suppliers are likely to be prioritise other locations where there will be a quicker return on investment.” The Connecting Cambridgeshire team would be happy to help develop this policy to fit Greater Cambridge’s growth ambitions and I have attached an early draft example of what this might look like going forward subject to further input from yourselves and other stakeholders to ensure it is appropriate for use.