Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

4.28 New developments such as the proposed high density mixed use redevelopment of the Travis Perkins site should support healthy lifestyles by creating a spatial strategy that can support connected spaces where people do not have to rely on the private car for their daily routine of school, work, shopping and leisure. Enabling active lifestyles and opportunities for social interaction is a priority. 4.29 The Local Plan should provide open space within developments where possible, alongside a policy framework to allow for off-site enhancements where appropriate, particularly when they can improve provision for existing communities. Standards within policies that determine the quantity and quality of provision should reflect an evidence-based assessment of need and benefits delivered. 4.30 A further measure to ensure new developments should support healthy lifestyles is for them to consider the needs of all age ranges and abilities in the detailed design of open spaces and public realm. New developments should also encourage healthy eating choices through the provision of healthy options and minimising/preventing fast food outlets.

4.31 Improvements in air quality should be achieved principally through the reduced use of polluting vehicles. For the Travis Perkins site this could include the following measures: ● Locating residential development and places of work that has a high footfall where there is good access to active travel and affordable, frequent, reliable and high quality public transport options; ● Better cycle lanes, parking and cycle security (including the Chisholm Trail link) - achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme; ● Reducing the volume of HGV movements in the city by relocating industrial sites such as the Travis Perkins site elsewhere and maximising the site for an alternative high density mixed use development; ● Encouraging the use of less polluting vehicles, particularly during peak hours when emissions from stationary traffic makes conditions for pedestrians and cyclists and other vulnerable groups particularly bad; ● Tree planting along road frontages: species selected for their pollution absorbing properties.

4.32 The Site is located adjacent to but not within the Mill Road Conservation Area, which was allocated as a separate conservation area on 21 November 2018. There are no listed buildings on the site and the site comprises industrial uses. An important tree group is identified along the site’s western boundary and also along parts of the northern boundary. There is a row of ‘positive’ unlisted buildings along Devonshire Road to the west of the site. 4.33 Promoting car-free developments that are designed for pedestrians and cyclists rather than cars; encouraging a move towards more sustainable, healthy forms of transport, such as walking and cycling or using public transport. Car use should be restricted to local car clubs (preferably Electric Vehicles with charging points) and car sharing. 4.34 The proposed redevelopment of the site for a mixed use development would represent a more suitable land use than the current industrial uses on site. A commercial and residential development on the site would offer the opportunity to re-envisage the site’s layout and design and provide buildings that would be more suitable to the heritage context of the area. 4.35 Greater Cambridge has a track record as a place where contemporary design and the historic environment co-exist in harmony. There is a need for densification on such as the Travis Perkins site, to fully utilise brownfield land and maximise opportunities for sustainable development. The impact of the redevelopment proposals would need to be weighed in the balance of the public benefits arising from the proposed redevelopment. There are significant opportunities to maximise the sustainability of the site, providing energy efficient buildings that incorporate exemplar standards and maximising the site’s location to transport links to encourage the use of active modes of transport.

4.36 The proposed redevelopment of the Travis Perkins site will need to sensitively take into account the surrounding Conservation Area and heritage assets. The principle of redeveloping the site for residential uses has been found acceptable through its designation under Policy 24. With the right design, it is considered that a site layout and the proposed massing of the buildings can be formulated that responds sensitively to the surrounding context of the area.

4.37 The proposed redevelopment of the Travis Perkins site can achieve a high quality design by responding to the site’s context and characteristics. Not only is site layout key to achieving a positive design, ensuring that the proposed employment buildings are built to a high standard in terms of sustainability, achieving an energy efficient design.

Nothing chosen

5.1 As referred to in Section 2 of these representations, National Planning Policy confirms “Significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth and productivity, taking into account both local business needs and wider opportunities for development” (NPPF, paragraph 80). The approach taken should allow each area to build on its strengths, counter any weaknesses and address the challenges of the future. 5.2 Cambridge’s hi-technology clusters, particularly in AI, bio-tech and agri-tech are recognised in the UK Industrial Strategy as an essential element of the UK economy to support “…towns such as MK, Oxford and Cambridge (that) have been hot spots for job creation. We must promote growth through fostering clusters and connectivity across cities, towns and surrounding areas.” 5.3 Growth relies on increases in employment and productivity and the Cambridge and Peterborough Independent Economic Review (CPIER) emphasises the need for productivity growth in this region as employment rates are so high. Economic growth is therefore essential for the next Local Plan. As part of the devolution contract to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is a commitment to doubling the economic output of the area (Gross Value Added) over 25 years. This is a challenging target and needs to factor at the heart of the Plan.

5.4 A wide variety of business and industrial space is most needed in Greater Cambridge, in terms of location, size, function and price, in order to support the growth of the economy, offering choice to meet an occupier’s individual needs: “The requirements for physical space, like finance, have stages. What a business needs in its start-up phase is different to its needs as it matures and grows. It is vital, if an innovation ecosystem is to be effective for there to be variety and availability at every stage4. 5.5 Flexible commercial space in urban and rural areas supports the growth of local business and strengthens opportunities for local supply chains to engage in the growth industries of the region. Local supply chains are recognised by the UK Government as a means of delivering ‘clean growth’ (UK Industrial Strategy) as they contribute to the Strategy’s mission to halve energy use in new buildings, partly by facilitation of local supply chains. 5.6 The Science and Technology sector is the engine of the Cambridge Phenomenon that has driven the economy and it will remain an important part of the local economy and job market. Alongside, it is important to have all types of commercial space to provide for a wide range of job opportunities and to serve Greater Cambridge at close quarters to not overly rely on longdistance travel to service the area with goods and services. Further prime office floorspace in high quality developments is also needed to consolidate and expand the world class facilities which have recently put CB1 on the international property investment map. 5.7 All new employment space should be located and built to maximise the health and wellbeing of employees and visitors. Healthy buildings in locations that reduce commute times and improve the sleep and wellbeing of its occupants contribute significantly to their productivity. Improving productivity is a primary route through which the Greater Cambridgeshire economic expansion objectives of doubling GVA and inclusive growth will be achieved. “If workers can be more productive, they can bring home more take home pay, which will flow into the local economy. And they will be able to enjoy a higher standard of life. It is this, before anything else, which needs to be looked at to create an inclusive economic future.” CPIER p38

5.8 A broad range of employment opportunities accessible by active modes of transport (including public transport) needs to be maintained in urban and rural areas to ensure local jobs are available. All existing space and allocations should be assessed to understand their suitability for employment uses in the current climate of energy use reduction, the need for local employment, access for the workforce by public transport or active means of travel, which locations can deliver the highest health and wellbeing for workers and surrounding people.

5.9 Whilst the focus of Cambridge is the Science and Technology sector as the driving force of the economy, there is a requirement for a range of job opportunities, in urban and more rural areas. The Local Plan policy framework needs to provide for a full range of opportunities; as planned allocations and windfall employment opportunities. 5.10 The CPIER notes a missed opportunity to supply AI, science and technology and bio-medical clusters from within the region: 10.8% of supplies come from within the company’s local area (30mile radius) while 27.8% came from overseas5. Growing these local supply chains, particularly the high value ones would help disperse the economic benefits and provide a wide range of different jobs. Availability of suitable sites and premises in excellent locations outside of Cambridge is a key factor in spreading the economic growth. 5.11 The redevelopment of the Travis Perkins site for a high density mixed-use development which offers a healthy working environment and Build to Rent housing would be welcomed. The delivery of a high quality public realm which provides both recreational space and efficient management of pedestrian and cycle through traffic is essential in areas around the Central Business District around the train station.

5.12 The UK industrial Strategy advocates focusing on our strengths, “fostering clusters and connectivity across cities, towns and surrounding areas” 6 Sites which support these clusters are necessary and could be urban, edge of town or rural. 5.13 Locations with high levels of public transport access should be identified for businesses with high employment densities. This would include sites within walking distance of train stations, travel hubs and along transport corridors. “by ensuring good quality public transport is in place before development, the number of those new residents who will use the transport is maximised. This is also likely to be the best way to stretch some of the high-value businesses based within and around Cambridge out into wider Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. These companies will not want to be distant from the city, but these clusters could ‘grow’ out along the transportation links, providing connection to other market towns.” 7 5.14 Taller prime office buildings could locate at Cambridge’s railway stations to focus development at transport hubs; keeping the city compact, but supporting the demand for high quality office space, particularly that arising from knowledge intensive (KI), especially artificial intelligence firms around Cambridge Central station. This supports CPIERs third key recommendation: “Ensuring that Cambridge continues to deliver for KI businesses should be considered a nationally strategic priority”. 5.15 The cluster effect is well-evidenced in Cambridgeshire and an opportunity exists for Greater Cambridge to encourage the forces of agglomeration through promotion of sites around existing groups of same-sector companies. This is certainly the case for the Science and Technology Sector. A spatial strategy to provide for a range of commercial and job opportunities should be informed by the cluster approach, but not at the expense of unduly restricting employment opportunities across the Plan area, particularly to transport corridors. 5.16 Non-knowledge intensive companies tend to be more footloose and typically locate where premises are provided rather than through bespoke development, while some companies expand from humbler often rural beginnings in converted buildings. To enable this growth dynamic, employment locations in settlements of all sizes and classification should be allocated or be permissible, with larger concentrations of floorspace in areas with better public transport and access to active modes of travel. CPIER supports this position noting that deeper networks on smaller clusters on the periphery of Cambridge could help spread the ‘Cambridge effect’.