Question 12. How should the Local Plan help us improve the natural environment?

Natural Cambridgeshire has a vision to double nature by 2050 and has produced a ‘Developing with Nature Toolkit’ to achieve the aim of a net gain in biodiversity through new development. The Toolkit identifies ten actions for nature, which relate to the following: • site selection; • strategic planning and design of developments; • appoint professional ecological expertise; • understand context of development site within landscape and ecological networks; • plan green and hard infrastructure at the same time; provide sustainable drainage systems; undertake an audit of green infrastructure including biodiversity; • demonstrate a clear rationale for landscape design and species selection; • provide the full range of breeding sites, shelter and all year round food resources; and • demonstrate continuity of management of important natural features. It is noted that Natural Cambridgeshire’s vision and toolkit acknowledge the role that development has in supporting the delivery of net biodiversity gain. It is agreed that development, and in particular large-scale development with sufficient land available, can deliver significant biodiversity enhancements. It is suggested that in deciding which sites to allocate for development, the emerging GCLP assesses not only whether the potential impacts on protected species and habitats can be mitigated but also whether development can deliver biodiversity enhancements. The promoted development at South West Cambridge would include a new country park with potential connections to Coton Countryside Reserve, wildlife areas and strategic landscaping. It would retain and enhance existing ecological features on the site and provide biodiversity enhancement including a new wetland habitat at Bin Brook which, in addition, would also retain floodwater. It is considered that the promoted development would score very well against the nature matrix system in the ‘Developing with Nature Toolkit’. A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (prepared by The Landscape Partnership) is submitted with these representations.

Encourage farmers to use organic methods and replant some of the old avenues of trees, as well as net gain for developments.

City park idea - linking all green spaces

Cambridge informal green spaces with ducks and swans and cows are admired all over the world. And, it is this informal, semi rural style that residents tell us they do like and enjoy. In Cambridge, almost uniquely the urban and rural mix and abut, and it is this combination that give our city much of its special character

The introduction to this question considerably understates the parlous condition of our chalkland rivers and streams. The Plan should ensure that major developments, which will have huge water usage requirements and sewage treatment issues, are not sited in areas of water stress or where the delicate ecology around chalk streams will be adversely impacted. Reports that water may need to be piped in from other parts of the country, or that rationing may need to be introduced, if accurate, suggest that the rate of development needs to be carefully monitored so that developers pay for mass water transport systems and for measures to retrofit homes. It would be unjust to expect residents to pay for what developers and expanding businesses have brought about.

The local plan needs to respect greenbelt areas and not build on these.

Each new house is a further drain on the water table. The obvious way to protect water resources is to not build more houses. Central government has finally recognised that other areas need better infrastructure to encourage growth, and if those ares also have the natural environment to sustain more houses, then that's where more houses should be built. It's not rocket science!

Require 20% biodiversity net gain and don’t accept token meadow strips on edges of plots to achieve this – a levy to fund larger scale projects such as rewilding associated with the Wicken Fen 100 Year vision will be more effective. Development of the airport site must include nature corridors to link together Cherry Hinton Lakes, Coldhams Common, Wilbraham Fen, and Wicken Fen 100 Year Vision.

We should have a net gain in green spaces and wildlife. Green roofs, and green walls. Ban pesticide use. Make hedgehog holes in fences compulsory. Incentivise tree planting and shrubs in front gardens, by providing a biodiversity discount on council tax to green homes. Tackle light pollution by turning off street lighting at midnight.

Stop building speculatively. Where's the evidence for extreme level of Growth?

The Local Plan should continue as per the current situation – protect important natural areas and, where appropriate, encourage the provision of new greenspace associated with large scale development. The City of Cambridge would benefit from further large-scale greenspace on its periphery or along river corridors - i.e. areas large enough to serve the whole population. There are potential opportunities to achieve major new green infrastructure associated with Green Belt release.

As noted in Question 3, the Trumpington Residents’ Association sees an opportunity to continue to protect and enhance existing open spaces: (1) the River Cam corridor, including being alert to the potential impact of East-West Rail; (2) Byron's Pool/Trumpington Meadows Country Park, including the opportunity to extend the area of tree coverage and the need for mitigation in response to the development of the new Travel Hub; (3) the Vicar's Brook corridor; (4) Hobson's Park, including the importance of mitigation in response to Cambridge South Station and East West Rail; (5) Nine Wells, including the opportunity to enhance and extend the site as mitigation for the South East Transport Project, East West Rail and the approved extension of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. In addition, there are small areas of land that provide a valuable environmental resource, such as the busway corridor through Trumpington, tree belts, pocket parks, play areas, allotments and gardens. As also noted in Question 3, there is an opportunity to enhance the value of other local areas, rather than allow them to be built over: (1) the green corridor between Trumpington Meadows, Hauxton Road and the M11; (2) the land to the south of Addenbrooke's Road, between the M11 and the west side of Shelford Road; (3) land to the west of Trumpington Road, from Trumpington village to Latham Road; (4) land to the south of Addenbrooke's Road, between the east side of Shelford Road and Granham's Road; and (5) land to the south east of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, including White Hill towards Granham's Road and the approaches to Magog Down. The Council and landowners/farmers have important roles in protecting these areas. We think there is a strong case for strengthening the Council team who care for existing sites such as Byron's Pool and Nine Wells and supporting the work of groups such as the Wildlife Trust which cares for Trumpington Meadows Country Park.

Green spaces to be part and parcel of all new housing and business developments Trees to be planted in these development Protection of existing wildlife habitats and encouragement of increased wildlife Green roofs and bee habitats

The introduction to this question considerably understates the parlous condition of our chalkland rivers and streams. The Plan should ensure that major developments, which will have huge water usage requirements and sewage treatment issues, are not sited in areas of water stress or where the delicate ecology around chalk streams will be adversely impacted. Reports that water may need to be piped in from other parts of the country, or that rationing may need to be introduced, if accurate, suggest that the rate of development needs to be carefully monitored so that developers pay for mass water transport systems and for measures to retrofit homes. It would be unjust to expect residents to pay for what developers and expanding businesses have brought about.

The environment needs to be the ENTIRE focus of the plan. We depend on it for survival - our life support system. Nothing matters more! No jobs on a dead planet. No economy on a dead planet. Etc.

(1) by • Minimising land take with new developments, including new transport infrastructure. • Ensuring new development minimises impact on connectivity between green spaces and the coherent nature of the ecological network. • Enhancing protection of local green space, statutorily and non-statutorily protected wildlife sites. (2) The EWR central section is an opportunity for improved transport connectivity within and outside the Greater Cambridge area. Unfortunately, preferred route Option E proposed by EWRCo requires a vast amount of land-take across rural South Cambridgeshire. This is not only environmentally unsustainable, but unnecessary. (3) Until the alignment is announced, Planning Blight has been imposed over an unnecessarily large area. Such Blight should be proscribed. (4) CBRR has demonstrated that a route that follows as far as possible existing road trunk road corridors (A428 / A421) and utilises existing rail track corridors entering Cambridge from the north would serve new communities at Northstowe and Cambourne and minimise blight of rural areas, loss of agricultural land and destruction of wildlife sites. (5) EWR Co’s route Option E would be hugely damaging to the natural environment. A multi-modal road-rail corridor along the A421/A428 as proposed by CBRR would enable the growth envisaged in the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan whilst avoiding huge, irreversible damage to the natural environment.

There are opportunities for the local plan to set and achieve clear targets for a net gain of biodiversity in the region with the associated benefits for human health and well-being, delivering nature-based solutions to climate change and improving sustainable food production locally. Increasing density of housing developments, could enable larger areas to be devoted to woodland, food production and ‘rewilded’ areas for nature conservation and human wellbeing. Biodiversity offsetting for all new development offers an opportunity to enhance the regions’ biodiversity for the benefit of people and nature.

Designated areas for improvement

Require habitat on new build e.g. swift boxes on tall buildings. Keep dogs out of SUDS lakes. Create naturalistic SUDS lakes and not metal boxes with vertical sides as seen at the Hill/city council development in Clay Farm. Retain the green fingers bringing the countryside into the city, but ensure they work for wildlife (Trumpington Meadows is better than Hobson’s Park). Where land is newly designated for habitat, provide for ongoing management by people who know what they're doing. This seems to be working at Trumpington Meadows.

Where the Local Plan seeks to promote any strategic scale potential cross boundary nature improvement projects, we would welcome you working constructively with Huntingdonshire District Council through the Cambridgeshire Local Nature Partnership. We would also welcome engagement where any proposals may affect the Cambridgeshire Hundreds and the small woodlands bordering South Cambridgeshire.

Can it include teh local farming community please. They perform a vital task and the new policies coming out of government post Brexit look like they will be encouraging biodiversity and environmentally friendly policies. Much of South Cambridgeshire is dominated by agricultural land - it adds to teh beauty of teh area and feeds us. We need Farmers on-board protecting the countryside rather than just concreting over their land with housing and claiming its 'green' because they have solar panels.

Proper protection against unneccessary development on areas of higher biodiversity. Instead of high density infill, promote green spaces in development as much as possible, esp if development on green belt land (which should be limited!). Think garden cities of the last century. Help minimise against vacant flats/houses, airBnB, etc so those proporties around are occupied efficiently, thereby minimising any new land taken for new developments.

The planning and encouragement of green and wildlife corridors is very important. Planning for development should begin with a 'landscape first' approach, rather than a 'streets and roads' approach. As well as looking at the overall big picture, small interventions are important - from the design of new gardens (not just a postage stamp of turf) to edible bus stops, pocket parks and planted kerbs running between cycle lanes and roadways.

The Local Plan should explore how it can go beyond existing targets and measures to improve the existing green infrastructure network and build on strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change through setting short and longer term targets to improve the natural environment. This includes but is not limited to, biodiversity monitoring, increased tree cover, the promotion of multi-functional public open spaces that are highly accessible to existing and new developments and encouraging the community in getting involved with caring for the natural environment. To improve its surrounding natural environment, Trumpington South can deliver high performance, multi-functional open space, delivering significant natural capital gains, such as 25%+ net biodiversity gain while promoting active lifestyles, social inclusion and cohesive communities.

"Net gain for Nature" must be genuine gain - not replacing one habitat that's been removed by the conversion of a different one of perceived lower value.

It is important that your plan gives protection to ancient woodland and ancient/veteran trees which is at least as strong as that provided in national policy. NPPF para 175c says that these habitats are so valuable that any loss of or damage to them should be wholly exceptional. We would also like to see other trees and woods in Cambridge and South Cambs given a strong degree of protection in the local plan, as retaining existing trees is particularly important in the light of the climate and biodiversity emergencies.

You've listed most of the ideas. We should also be encouraging the growth of small businesses that help the transitioning to carbon neutral.

Similar protection should be afforded to ancient ditches as to the River Cam, as these provide valuable habitat, and also valuable wildlife corridors. There is a risk that developers will sanitise them or destroy them (replacing with culverts) otherwise. Field hedges should be protected, and maintained. These provide diverse wildlife habitats, and act as wildlife corridors, linking other sites. Any developments which either break up the existing network or remove hedges and replant them with fewer species should be prevented. Ancient hedges are equally as biodiverse as ancient woodlands, and should be given as much priority and protection. Hedges also provide protection against wind erosion. Loss of humus (particularly through ‘fen blow’) degrades the environment.

-Improve the River Cam as a wildlife habitat by restricting any development on its banks and reducing the number of barges. -Impose strict regulation regarding waste water - there are areas of the river in Fen Ditton where sewage is clearly leaking into the river -The green belt should not be committed to development - the city should grow in height rather than diameter to preserve space for wildlife; existing buildings should be adapted so that additional floors can be built on top. Owners of the many Victorian houses in city centre could be encouraged to consider connecting their gardens to provide adequate living space for small mammals and to plant hedges and trees compatible with the warmer climate. Many streets in Romsey town have no trees on them, and cars or bins are taking up the pavements. such use of space is neither environmentally friendly nor is it conducive to pleasant city experience: avenues of trees could be planted instead to help mitigate hot summers while bins should be confined to gardens or other spaces that are not for public use. Parking should be restricted to residents only.

It should require detailed statements in detail from developers about steps they plan to take to mitigate any threat to the natural environment and steps they plan to take to actually imrove the natural environment,