Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to engage in the development of the next Local Plan for Greater Cambridge. Cambridge Ahead has responded to the recommendations made by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Review, and has undertaken a significant amount of further analysis to put forward this input, which is based on the broad recommendation made in the Review on the future spatial development of the Cambridge sub-region. Cambridge Ahead has welcomed the chance to test and discuss this with you, while at the same time we have been developing our proposals with our membership. This presentation now represents the consolidated view of Cambridge Ahead’s membership, having been approved by the Policy Group, our individual project groups and by the Board. Our input is titled a Suggestive Spatial Vision: A Catalyst for Conversation, which describes clearly how we intend this to be used. We have purposely not sought to develop a draft plan, but we have developed visioning material which we hope will help to form your considerations around the main strategic spatial choices. This material is supported by significant data and modelling, to demonstrate that the vision is robust and deliverable, and to give an indication of what such a vision could deliver in terms of sustainable, high economic growth. To capture succinctly our views, we propose the Local Plan should consider: • Densification of five strategic employment sites, most around the fringes of the city, supported by strong public transport connectivity; • The extension of the critical technology clusters along nine existing, but uprated transport corridors into the wider sub-region; and • The provision of new large green spaces, rich in biodiversity, to provide future nature parks for the enlarged city. We believe that this blend of strategic spatial choices will unlock high-value jobs, spread Cambridge clusters outwards across a wider footprint without losing their dynamism, support major shifts towards sustainable travel, improve the environment and sustain the quality of life for local people. As you know from our work with you at a technical level, we also believe that it is fundamentally important that the Plan is based upon robust estimates of future employment rates, regularly monitored to keep track of the realities of the local economy. In that regard, I am pleased to share with you, on an embargoed basis, the latest draft Cambridge and South Cambs data on Cambridge companies’ employment growth in the year to April 2019. This is different from the ONS’ BRES data for the same areas, notably showing an acceleration of employment growth despite the uncertainties of the Brexit debates. We will publish the final CPIER data for the two districts and GCP, plus the Combined CBR/BRES data, shortly and thereafter annually to support regular revisions to the Local Plan. This will allow regular updates of Slide 5 of the presentation. We recognise that the material appended to this letter is more than has been sought at the Issues and Options stage of the Local Plan consultation, but it has already been the subject of our discussions to date and we believe this now represents the best opportunity for us formally to share it with you for input into the Local Plan. We look forward to continuing to work closely with you and your colleagues.

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