Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Neither agree nor disagree

Summary: Cross-boundary issues and initiatives should expand to invite a more circular approach to resource use, such as energy, water and materials. Full text: We commend the priorisation of sustainability issues for the emerging local plan, in particualr the focus on zero carbon, biodiversity, green infrastructure and wellbeing. However, we feel that the cross-boundary strategic issues and initiatives need to take a more circular approach. In particular: + 'Carbon offsetting and renewable energy' should include 'Carbon reduction' before offsetting, to invite opportunities for regional zero carbon generation such as energy from waste, grid energy distribution efficiencies, energy sharing opportunities such as land use planning for waste heat sharing, energy storage at scale for both regional energy generation and aggregated individual renewable energy (Virtual Power Stations). + 'Water, including supply, quality, waste water and flood risk' should include recycling to invite opportunities for regional waste water recycling instead of limiting the cycle to treatment and disposal. We would also encourage the inclusion of 'Material efficiency and waste reduction' to encourage cross-boundary sharing of material resources, increase opportunities for upcycling of waste, reduction of the embodied carbon from construction and consumables by reducing transportation distances, creating new local economies, and building regional databases that include supply chain and environmental information e.g. material passports.

Agree

(Agree). We commend the environmental and social sustainability focus of the proposed big themes. We would suggest that 'Material and Waste' is also included with a view to achieving a local circular economy wherever possible. This would help towards achieving the carbon and transport ambition (embodied carbon reduction from material use and transportation), but would also address the issue of waste pollution and and its effect on the natural environment and human health.

Climate Change, Wellbeing and Social Inclusion, Biodiversity and Green Spaces, Great Places

Summary: The Local Plan can be instrumental in achieving net zero carbon by 2050 by including planning targets and incentives and planning for heat sharing. Full text: The Local Plan can be instrumental in achieving net zero carbon by 2050, especially in the context of such a significant forecast for urban growth. It could: - Provide incentives and planning targets for reducing construction and operational carbon emissions; - Provide incentives for water management, conservation and recycling; - Require that all development include climate change adaptation measures; - Make development allocations that support heat sharing infrastructure, such as mixed use development that balances cooling-led and heating-led land uses; - Encourage local generation and/or use of renewable energy, such as Energy from Waste, Solar and Ground source energy; - Create a planning fund for investment in local renewables, such as zero carbon heat infrastructure, Virtual Power Stations, Community Energy Schemes; - Require measures that reduce transport emissions that in turn improve human health and support wellbeing such as air quality neutrality targets, prioritise pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, increase electric vehicle charging stations, increase the number of shared surfaces that prioritise play, pedestrians and green infrastructure.

Summary: The proposed list of measures is examplar and we have proposed a number of other key items to be included. Full text: We commend the list of climate change mitigation measures provided and would recommend the addition of the following: + Plan land uses and patterns of development that increase opportunities for energy sharing; + Support initiatives to increase opportunities for virtual renewable energy generation, sharing, trading and procurement, including community participation and affordability initiatives; + Require a circular economy strategy and approach to building and infrastructural design and construction (e.g. refurbishment, upcycling, design for dissessembly, material passports etc.); + Support local and community initiatives and amenities that encourage residents to stay local and travel short distances on foot, by bicycle and non-fossil fuel transport; + Reinforce the infrastructure required to support electric vehicles.

Yes, somewhat agree

Yes, somewhat agree. We recommend that a more future proof option is to require that developments respond to the most up to date risks identified by the Climate Change Committee and demonstrate a clear adaptation strategy including a risk assessment and mitigation measures to be adopted.

See response to Q10. We recommend that a more future-proof option is to require that developments respond to the most up to date risks identified by the Climate Change Committee and demonstrate a clear adaptation strategy including a risk assessemnt and mitigation measures to be adopted. response to Q10: Yes, somewhat agree. We recommend that a more future proof option is to require that developments respond to the most up to date risks identified by the Climate Change Committee and demonstrate a clear adaptation strategy including a risk assessment and mitigation measures to be adopted.

The Local Plan can be instrumental in improving the natural environment, such as by: + Allocating a strategic green infrastructure network, contributing to wellbeing, biodiversity, protection of watercourses, and urban greening. + Developing a biodiversity enhancement strategy with which development would need to align or contribute. + Setting out urban greening requirments to meet the proposed 'doubling nature' aspiration (e.g. an Urban Greening Factor). + Setting up a local ecology forum, involving Natural England, with whom developments should consult. This could include requirements to control degredation of natural environments, such as ecological assets, and establish conservation priorities for the area.

Green space network can be improved in the ways proposed by the Local Plan options documents as well as: + Establishing a strategic green infrastructure network plan, identifying opportunities for developments to contribute to enhancements beyond their boundary (in line with off-site opportunities within BREEAM 2018) and through greening of developments to strenghten links across the urban fabric. + Encouraging managed green infrastructure. + Ensuring that new green infrastructure is adapted and resilient to climate change. + For urban green spaces ensuring that the spaces are accessible and inclusive, free of pollutants, comfortable and safe, possibly through demonstration (e.g. simulation)

In addition to the examples provided in the Local Plan options document, biodiversity net gain can be achieved through: + Establishing an Urban Greening Factor for developments to achieve/ aspire to will deliver enhancement of existing sites and begin to re-introduce semi-natural haibtats to the urban fabric; + Establishing a strategic green infrastructure network plan and identifying conservation priorities for species will enable developments to feel like they are contributing to a wider benefit than isolated pockets with limited value; + The involvement of specialists in development proposals; + The requirment for long term management strategies that take climate change into consideration.