Question 20. How do you think we should achieve improvements in air quality?

Improvements in air quality must begin by removing the sources of emissions, particularly motor transport - starting with short journeys that could be easily replaced by walking and cycling. Ideas like more electric cars and 'city trees' may be able to play a part in air quality reduction but their impact should not be overestimated particularly as both bring additional challenges such as the space that needs to be given to them. For example, I strongly disagree with the county council's idea to give priority to electric cars in bus lanes. I also support the following points made by Camcycle: • We can achieve enormous improvements in air quality transitioning away from car dependency towards very high levels of cycling and walking. • Transport Assessments must demonstrate how developments will improve and maintain air quality. • Developments should be designed so that there is minimal car traffic near homes, schools, and places where people gather. In existing developments, traffic management should be introduced to remove and minimise car traffic. • Electric cars will still lead to significant pollution from tyres, road wear and brakes and will not resolve the issue of congestion or road danger. • Any electric car charging infrastructure that is provided in new and existing developments must not undermine walking and cycling accessibility.

It would be useful to also mention the important role which trees can play in improving urban air quality. Trees can absorb air pollution into the surface of their leaves but recent research at Birmingham University Forestry Institute (by Professor Rob Mackenzie et al) has shown that a far bigger effect is achieved by trees acting as a barrier between sources of air pollution and places where people live.

In order to improve air quality, it will be necessary to encourage development in sustainable locations close to existing public transport, services and job opportunities to reduce the need for people to travel by private car as part of their everyday routine. Significant investment in infrastructure would be required to help deliver viable alternative modes of transport between areas of population and employment. Development on the edge of existing settlements for housing and employment will help increase the sustainability of existing towns and villages by reducing the need to commute for work or move away from family and friends to find affordable housing.

Ban diesel vehicles from Cambridge city centre and from parking within 100 metres of school gates. Road charging and pollution charging. Make pollution measurement data available (in real time) to members of the public, perhaps via an app, to raise awareness.

To achieve this we need a full-scale transition away from car dependency towards very high levels of cycling and walking. Transport Assessments must demonstrate how the development will improve and maintain air quality. Car traffic must be minimised near homes, schools, and places where people gather.

• We can achieve enormous improvements in air quality transitioning away from car dependency towards very high levels of cycling and walking. • Electric cars will still lead to significant pollution from tyres, road wear and brakes and will not resolve the issue of congestion or road danger.

Air quality issues mostly arise from the misguided dash to diesel and their use in streets that are not wide enough to disperse the fumes. This is largely being dealt with by national policies, especially those encouraging EVs. Insistence on EV charging provision in new homes and adaptation of street furniture to provide a massive increase in EV charging points will help but some education to favour more PV, energy from waste and nuclear power generation in the region is likely to be necessary.

• We can achieve enormous improvements in air quality transitioning away from car dependency towards very high levels of cycling and walking. • Transport Assessments must demonstrate how developments will improve and maintain air quality. • Developments should be designed so that there is minimal car traffic near homes, schools, and places where people gather. In existing developments, traffic management should be introduced to remove and minimise car traffic. • Electric cars will still lead to significant pollution from tyres, road wear and brakes and will not resolve the issue of congestion or road danger. • Any electric car charging infrastructure that is provided in new and existing developments must not undermine walking and cycling accessibility.

Encourage cycling/walking and public transport by improving routes and reducing prices. Subsidies for lower incomes to move away from fossil fuels and enforced metered water to encourage more careful usage.

Build all new developments as zero carbon, with no fossil fuels at all burnt in the new development areas for transport or heating buildings.

See all above!

• We can achieve enormous improvements in air quality transitioning away from car dependency towards very high levels of cycling and walking. • Transport Assessments must demonstrate how developments will improve and maintain air quality. • Developments should be designed so that there is minimal car traffic near homes, schools, and places where people gather. In existing developments, traffic management should be introduced to remove and minimise car traffic. • Electric cars will still lead to significant pollution from tyres, road wear and brakes and will not resolve the issue of congestion or road danger. • Any electric car charging infrastructure that is provided in new and existing developments must not undermine walking and cycling accessibility.

Through appropriate construction activities and through requiring electricity charging points for all new development.

Changing to a ‘not car focussed’ way of living. Make cycling and walking easier and demand excellence from bus companies. Transport must go across the communities as well as along spokes into Cambridge. I would be happy if the park and rides were transport hubs as there is one relatively close to most people. Look at new ways to move across communities.

No comment.

The operational impact of buildings upon local air quality must be minimised. The Local Plan should support all development which reduces the use of combustion fuels within development. Indeed, it is Pace’s view that policy should seek to be innovative and place its full support behind development that results in zero CO2 emissions. 4.40 As set out elsewhere within these representations, improvements in air quality should also be achieved through the reduced use of polluting vehicles and encouraging the use of other modes of green and sustainable transport.

This can principally be achieved through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development where there is good access to active travel, coupled with access to affordable, frequent, reliable and high quality public transport options. ● Better cycle and pedestrian connectivity – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme. ● Ensuring new development includes tree planting. 6.24 Land to the west of Cambridge Road, Melbourn can contribute to achieving improvements in air quality as it is in a sustainable location, whereby future residents would not be reliant on the private car for their daily needs. Melbourn is one of the largest villages in the District and has a wide range of services and facilities, including Meldreth station, which are within walking and cycling distance of the site and the proposals look to enhance pedestrian connectivity into the centre of the village. Furthermore, the proposals incorporate extensive tree planting and landscaping throughout which can contribute to improvements in air quality and carbon capture.

Developments should be designed to encourage walking, cycling and utilise public transport to reduce the reliance on the private car. Where feasible, developments should support infrastructure for electric car charging points.

5.24 This can principally be achieved through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development where there is good access to active travel, coupled with access to affordable, frequent, reliable and high quality public transport options; ● Better cycle and pedestrian connectivity – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme; ● Ensuring new development includes tree planting. 5.25 Land at Fishers Lane, Orwell can contribute to achieving improvements in air quality as it is in a sustainable location, whereby future residents would not be reliant on the private car for all their daily needs. Shepreth station is within cycling distance of the site and the proposals will seek to enhance pedestrian connectivity into the centre of the village. Furthermore, the proposals incorporate extensive tree planting and landscaping throughout which can contribute to improvements in air quality and carbon capture.

5.22 This can principally be achieved through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development where there is good access to active travel, coupled with access to affordable, frequent, reliable and high quality public transport options; ● Better cycle and pedestrian connectivity – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme.

5.30 Principally through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development, 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 – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme. 5.31 Tree planting along road frontages: species selected for their pollution absorbing properties.

Developments should be designed to encourage walking, cycling and utilise public transport to reduce the reliance on the private car. Where feasible, developments should support infrastructure for electric car charging points. The Melbourn scheme is seeking to deliver EV Charging points as part of the development. These will hopefully be available to the businesses located on the site and for use by the motorists using the A10 and from the nearby village of Melbourn.

This can principally be achieved through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development where there is good access to active travel, coupled with access to affordable, frequent, reliable and high-quality public transport options; and ● Better cycle and pedestrian connectivity – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme.

5.20 This can principally be achieved through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development where there is good access to active travel, coupled with access to affordable, frequent, reliable and high quality public transport options. ● Better cycle and pedestrian connectivity – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme.

4.37 Improvements in air quality should be achieved principally through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development, particularly schools, places of work and other facilities that have a high footfall, close to existing public transport corridors, 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 – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme; ● Reducing the volume of HGV movements in the city; ● 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; and ● Encouraging the provision of electric car and cycle parking infrastructure in new developments.

3.25 The new Local Plan should allocate new development in locations which minimise the need to use polluting vehicles. It should also promote the inclusion of new green spaces and tree planting in new development to provide good outdoor air quality. 3.26 A new mixed-use community at Land at Gazelle Way, located on the edge of Cambridge and has direct access to numerous cycling and walking routes and public transport services, minimising the need for residents to use private cars. The landscape setting and scope of development also gives the ability to provide extensive areas of strategic green infrastructure and meaningful levels of new tree planting to provide good outdoor air quality for residents.

5.19 Principally through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development where there is good access to active travel, coupled with access to affordable, frequent, reliable and high-quality public transport options; ● Better cycle lanes, parking and cycle security – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme; ● Tree planting along road frontages: species selected for their pollution absorbing properties.

5.37 Principally through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development, particularly schools, places of work and other facilities that have 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 – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme; ● Reducing the volume of HGV movements in the city; ● Encouraging the use of less polluting vehicles particularly during rush hours when emissions from stationary traffic makes conditions for pedestrians and cyclists and other vulnerable groups particularly bad. 5.38 Tree planting in urban areas would also assist with tackling air pollution. Species in these locations should be selected for their pollution absorbing properties.

In accordance with the NPPF16 opportunities to improve air quality should be considered at the plan-making stage. Methods to achieve improvements in air quality include investing in walking, cycling and public transport. The government announcement to bring forward to 2035 the end date for new diesel- and petrol-powered vehicles falls within the plan period, so this needs to be considered as part of the new Local Plan. For example, ensuring the providing of infrastructure such as charging facilities for electric vehicles and Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEV) is in place. The plans for Cambridge Science Park North are being developed with air quality considerations from the outset. This is twofold – reducing harmful emissions at source through the focus on access to work primarily by walking, cycling and the existing and planned public transport routes will be coupled with a move to consolidate parking to one location within the site for those that have to drive. Secondly, improving air quality by the addition of substantial areas of green space and enhanced vegetation. Cambridge Science Park North is being developed with a substantial (circa 90 hectares) area of green space providing: • A network of new green infrastructure; with links to Milton Country Park, and the communities in Histon & Impington, Arbury and Kings Hedges. • Woodland and vegetation planting mediating carbon emissions, chemical pollutants and particulates. • Landscape and visual enhancements taking existing agricultural land and creating a valuable green asset for neighbouring communities and employees. • Improvements to biodiversity, habitat connectivity and the introduction of natural capital. • New and enhanced walking and cycle routes. • Improved access to new recreational and playing field provision. 16 NPPF Paragraph 181

4.35 Improvements in air quality should be achieved principally through the reduced use of polluting vehicles by: ● Locating development, particularly schools, places of work and other facilities that have 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 – achieved by developments directly and through a coordinated s106 infrastructure programme; ● Reducing the volume of car movements in the city; ● 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; and ● Tree planting along road frontages: species selected for their pollution absorbing properties.