Question 23. How do you think we could ensure that new development is as well-designed as possible?

Local design guides ;see above 21 . There are any number of excellent schemes being developed – but not by national or even regional volume developers. So we should look to small scale good exemplars. The Sterling award winning scheme at Goldsmith Street in Norwich would be a good regional starting point.

• Cycling infrastructure should be separate from walking facilities. Walking, cycling and motor vehicles all have significantly different speeds and must not be mixed together – this is unsatisfactory (and unsafe) for all modes. See Parkin "Designing for Cycle traffic" https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/isbn/9780727763495 • The design of new developments must be led by a requirement to achieve a fully-permeable, high-quality, first-class cycling and walking network, including safe and attractive surroundings, along with direct and convenient public transport routes.

Development Control must give more weight to design factors laid out in Neighbourhood Plans and Village Design Statements if local character is to be conserved. Parish Councils with Neighbourhood Plans or Village Design Statements should be given a stronger say in planning decisions.

• New developments must follow design standards for high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure that is accessible for people of all ages and abilities. • The design of new developments must be led by a requirement to achieve a fully-permeable, high-quality, first-class cycling and walking network, including safe and attractive surroundings, along with direct and convenient public transport routes. • Where new developments or changes touch existing cycle routes, those cycle routes must be protected and must maintain their quality, priority and accessibility. If diverted, the diversion must be of high-quality and fully accessible to people of all abilities throughout the construction process. Any damage to the original cycle route must be fixed once it is reopened. • Cycling infrastructure should be separate from walking facilities. Walking, cycling and motor vehicles all have significantly different speeds and must not be mixed together – this is unsatisfactory (and unsafe) for all modes. See Parkin "Designing for Cycle traffic" https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/isbn/9780727763495

Ensure very high eco standards in new builds, including no fossil fuels, having solar panels, rain water storage, excellent insulation, good green spaces etc

By making sure that badly designed developments are not given planning! It would be nice to see a variety of development particularly sustainable development. There are lots of sources of inspiration throughout this country and Europe that can be drawn upon.

Far too few quality public buildings are built. Outside of the University, with very few exceptions (new mosque, Marmalade Lane), few new developments in Cambridge achieve notable quality, let alone outstanding. Too many are very poor – the Marque, Cambridge Leisure Park and Travelodge, the new hotel at Cambridge North Station, and much new housing is bland and uninspired. Planning policies should encourage the development of at least some landmark buildings within each site (high quality materials and design, intended to stand the tests of time), and all large new development sites should aim for consistent high-quality design and materials throughout the site.

‘Historic Environment Strategy’ needed. The next Local Plan must include an ‘historic environment strategy’ if we are to retain the essential character of our streets, city and surrounds. Such a strategy is required in the National Planning Policy Framework, but still Cambridge remains without one. This is an urgent priority, so that Planning will have a framework for making informed and holistic decisions about new infrastructure and building, population growth, biodiversity, sustainability and pollution — all in the context of doing what can be done to mitigate the effects of Climate Change. Stricter guidelines based on this strategy should be included within the Local Plan, and vigorously enforced. Currently not all areas are included within Conservation Areas, so they get scant review and the character of many areas is being eroded, one planning application at a time. To help with this project, the South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum stands ready to work with the Council on further developing our draft Street Appraisals for the area. We have already done much of the work and would be happy to offer it as part of the Local Plan process.

See all above!

• New developments must follow design standards for high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure that is accessible for people of all ages and abilities. • The design of new developments must be led by a requirement to achieve a fully-permeable, high-quality, first-class cycling and walking network, including safe and attractive surroundings, along with direct and convenient public transport routes. • Where new developments or changes touch existing cycle routes, those cycle routes must be protected and must maintain their quality, priority and accessibility. If diverted, the diversion must be of high-quality and fully accessible to people of all abilities throughout the construction process. Any damage to the original cycle route must be fixed once it is reopened. • Cycling infrastructure should be separate from walking facilities. Walking, cycling and motor vehicles all have significantly different speeds and must not be mixed together – this is unsatisfactory (and unsafe) for all modes. See Parkin "Designing for Cycle traffic" https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/isbn/9780727763495

By having appropriate design policies which enable viable development to take place.

Good design comes in a number of ways. Zero carbon is critical. Even if central government is not prepared to go far enough can we run a local scheme? Could we make planning cheaper if you are creating a zero carbon development? Could we create an awards scheme where zero carbon developments get a plaque or properties that have retrofitted get a plaque etc? Could all public buildings have their epc certificate on the outside? Diversity is essential to create an attractive and varied environment to live in, I like Rosehip Lane in Orchard park but think that some of the pastel cladding on other properties there has aged badly. The question must be not how will this look when built but how will it look in 10 years time and 50 years time? Plants always look good can we soften more properties with plants? The new Park Street Car Park in Cambridge is spectacularly bland and ugly for such a beautiful city. If that had been designed with big boxes for planting which draped up and down the building it could have been beautiful. Finally it is critical that we design developments that fulfil the essential requirements of living. - How we do move about our communities can we do it without cars and is it safe to park expensive electric bikes here? Do buses provide the necessary service? - How do we eat – talk to the supermarkets about their visions of how to feed people in the future. Perhaps it’s a community hub with refrigerated lockers where groceries could be dropped off in one go. - What do people do – are there spaces for recreation outside and inside. If I want to reduce my carbon footprint what am I going to do instead? If I’m not spending my weekends going on mini breaks to Europe what am I going to do? Is there a makers space locally? Can I start a sewing club? Is there a pub? Orchard Park doesn’t have a pub that’s bad design. - Where will I get my health care? Do I need a car to get there and is there a space on the patient list for me? Get this in place from the start.

The Living with Beauty (January 2020) report published by the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, sets out the requirements to promote health, well-being and sustainable growth through design. The report proposes three aims for the planning system to achieve beautiful buildings including ‘Ask for Beauty’ as beauty includes everything that promotes health and happy life and can turn a collection of buildings into a place; ‘Refuse Ugliness’ as ugly buildings can destroy the sense of place; and ‘Promote Stewardship’ which includes protecting and enhancing the built and natural environment for long-term communities. USS supports the Council’s desire to ensure that new development is as well designed as possible and this will need to be achieved through incorporating this requirement into planning policy. Development proposals should then be assessed against the relevant policies, but also against relevant guidance at a local and national level.

No comment.

As set out above, the proposed redevelopment can achieve a high-quality design by responding to the site’s context and characteristics.

4.41 ‘Place-making’ – creating and sustaining a positive and distinctive character in an area – is important to the economic success of the Greater Cambridge area, as identified by the CPIER. This is also supported by the NPPF (paragraph 124) which confirms that good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, creates better places in which to live and work and helps make development acceptable to communities. 4.42 The NPPF continues by advising that plans should set out a clear design vision and expectations and design policies should be developed with local communities so they reflect local aspirations. To provide maximum clarity about design expectations at an early stage, plans or SPDs should use visual tools such as design guides and codes. The Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth sets out core principles of the level of quality to be expected in new developments in Cambridgeshire and the four ‘C’s’ of Community, Connectivity, Climate and Character align well with the four big themes of the emerging Local Plan. This forms a good basis to set out a design vision for the new Local Plan. 4.43 M Scott Properties Ltd has experience of working with the local community and Local Planning Authorities in preparing design briefs and design codes for Sites to agree the design principles prior to a more detailed scheme coming forward. M Scott Properties Ltd would be keen to explore the potential for this approach to be taken in respect of the emerging development proposals at Land at Frog End, Shepreth.

2.39 A careful balance is needed between the characteristics that make up local distinctiveness, and the use of modern innovative technologies that will yield more sustainable buildings. 2.40 Guidance is needed based on emerging governments aims to secure better building design however this should not stifle truly innovative design even where it presents as a significant contrast to existing local built form 2.41 Overall, new development should take the high-quality characteristics of the surrounding built form to influence the design implemented as part of the development proposal. Further the design should also include complete compliance with the design principles as set out, which should create a distinctive and characterful development that includes for the provision of climate change mitigation/adaptation. 2.42 In the case of the sites as Steeple Morden, there would be scope to create a truly innovative form of development. This however is not illustrated in the attached plans which reflect the conventional expectation for layout and house types. The Local Plan needs to set out what flexibility the Council will permit in the approach to residential design not just in major growth areas but across the whole Greater Cambridgeshire area.

4.38 ‘Place-making’ – creating and sustaining a positive and distinctive character in an area – is important to the economic success of the Greater Cambridge area, as identified by the CPIER. This is also supported by the NPPF (paragraph 124) which confirms that good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, creates better places in which to live and work and helps make development acceptable to communities. 4.39 The NPPF continues by advising that plans should set out a clear design vision and expectations and design policies should be developed with local communities, so they reflect local aspirations. To provide maximum clarity about design expectations at an early stage, plans or SPDs should use visual tools such as design guides and codes. The Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth sets out core principles of the level of quality to be expected in new developments in Cambridgeshire and the four ‘C’s’ of Community, Connectivity, Climate and Character align well with the four big themes of the emerging Local Plan. This forms a good basis to set out a design vision for the new Local Plan.

2.49 It is considered that the proposals set out within the Concept Masterplan and Vision Document set out the ability for a high-quality design response to the site. The later living proposals will include a centralised district heating source and attractive, architect-designed buildings within a high-quality landscaped environment. This and the residential development will be focused around the green heart central open space which will benefit from natural surveillance. There will be green corridors through and around the site as part of multifunctional green infrastructure with the enhanced boundary screening setting the site within the surrounding landscape.

5.2.1 Whilst Gladman recognise the importance of good design, it is critical that the Local Plan does not include overly onerous design policies which could restrict the delivery of much needed housing across the Greater Cambridge area. 5.2.2 In this regard, Gladman refer to paragraph 128 of the NPPF which states: “Design quality should be considered throughout the evolution and assessment of individual proposals. Early discussions between applicants, the local planning authority and local community about the design and style of emerging schemes is important for clarifying expectations and reconciling local and commercial interests….”

‘Place-making’ – creating and sustaining a positive and distinctive character in an area – is important to the economic success of the Greater Cambridge area, as identified by the CPIER. This is also supported by the NPPF (paragraph 124) which confirms that good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, creates better places in which to live and work and helps make development acceptable to communities. The NPPF continues by advising that plans should set out a clear design vision and expectations and design policies should be developed with local communities so they reflect local aspirations. To provide maximum clarity about design expectations at an early stage, plans or SPDs should use visual tools such as design guides and codes. The Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth sets out core principles of the level of quality to be expected in new developments in Cambridgeshire and the four ‘C’s’ of Community, Connectivity, Climate and Character align well with the four big themes of the emerging Local Plan. This forms a good basis to set out a design vision for the new Local Plan.

• There is a need to review successes and failures, and to learn lessons from them. CB1 is an example where historic environment considerations were given lower priority than claimed public benefits, which have not been delivered. Lessons need to be learned from past successes and failures. • One problem is that it is difficult for the local planning authority to refuse an application because of poor design – because it is all too likely they will lose on appeal. Developers know this and so, for some, there is very little incentive for them to invest heavily in quality architecture. If it is possible, we would like to see a policy in the Local Plan that makes it easier for the Councils to refuse schemes that are not well designed. The Plan should use the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s report “Living with Beauty” as a basis for securing better quality design. The criterion – “does this scheme meet the standards set out in the Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth?” – should be applied as the basis for assessments. • “Blandscape” is becoming the scourge of Cambridge. These are developments which are not necessarily ugly or badly designed but neither are they interesting or well-designed. Typically, they are block shaped with flat roofs and are almost identical to new developments in any other European city because they form part of the developer’s standard architectural portfolio. Outside of the historic core such developments, collectively, are eroding the character of the city into “anywhereville”. CB1 and the developments around Cambridge Central and Cambridge North station are examples of this. It seems that the planning authorities are powerless to stop it but we would welcome any policies within the new Local Plan which could support better architecture, especially in prominent locations such as major roads. • Applications should conform with Design Guides and plans which have been created by the local community, such as Village Design Guides and Neighbourhood Plans. Policy statements in the plan should afford sufficient weight to Design Guides or neighbourhood plans that have been created by the community (eg by considering them as SPDs), such that applications that do not conform can be turned down without risk of appeal. • We would like to see the Councils provide clear frameworks and guidance to enable and enthuse local communities and residents’ associations to become involved in preparing village design guides, neighbourhood plans and updated Conservation Area Appraisals. Once these are adopted, they should be material considerations in assessing planning applications. • Insist that any significant developments in very visible locations have to go before the Design & Conservation Panel or the Cambridgeshire Quality Panels.

• New developments must follow design standards for high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure that is accessible for people of all ages and abilities. See Parkin (2018) for details. • The design of new developments must be led by a requirement to achieve a fully-permeable, highquality, first-class cycling and walking network, including safe and attractive surroundings, along with direct and convenient public transport routes. • Where new developments or changes touch existing cycle routes, those cycle routes must be protected and must maintain their quality, priority and accessibility. If diverted, the diversion must be of high-quality and fully accessible to people of all abilities throughout the construction process. Any damage to the original cycle route must be fixed once it is reopened. • Cycling infrastructure should be separate from walking facilities. People walking, cycling and driving motor vehicles all have significantly different speeds from each other. Substantial flows of one mode must not be mixed together with the others, because it would be unsatisfactory and unsafe for all modes. • Too many poorly-designed developments are being granted permission (Carmona, 2020). The Local Plan is only as strong as the people who defend its principles. The planning committee and officers must be ready and willing to refuse permission to poorly designed developments. We especially emphasise that the planning authority must challenge car-centric road designs that come from the highway authority and refuse to accept car-dominated plans from the county or Combined Authority. “Designing cycle infrastructure means working on an accessible, sustainable, healthy, habitable and attractive living environment. Consequently, cycle infrastructure is inextricable from its spatial planning and social context.” (CROW, 2017, p. 37) “Cycle infrastructure designed in an integrated fashion will unite the traffic function with the spatial quality and the economic and social potential of cycling. This will enable cycle facilities to go beyond their primary traffic function and have a structuring, enriching effect on their environment in their entirety.” (CROW, 2017, p. 38) “We consider that British local authorities should be encouraged to develop a vision for highly sustainable developments on important sites, similar to European best practice, with thoroughgoing integration of land-use and transport.” (Taylor, 2011) “Generally shared use pedestrian/cycling paths alongside the carriageway are not favoured by either the City Council or the Cambridge Cycling Campaign. The City and County Council Cycling Officers raised objections to the designing in of ‘pavement cycling’, particularly of an inadequate width and requested that the route through the site should be segregated from pedestrians.” (Cambridge City Council, 2009) “Following advice set out in the NPPF (2012 and 2019), over one in five of the audited schemes — those scoring poor and very poor — should have been refused planning permission outright. Given that the national aspiration is for ‘good design’ as ‘a key aspect of sustainable development’, the mediocre projects — over half the audited total — fail the national threshold of schemes likely to prove acceptable to their communities. The design of these schemes should certainly have been improved before relevant permissions were granted.” (Carmona, 2020) Evidence for our response to Question 23. • Parkin, John (2018). Designing for Cycle Traffic. Institute of Civil Engineers Publishing. • CROW (1996–2017). The Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic. CROW-Fietsberaad. Ede, Nederland. • Wheels for Wellbeing (2019). A Guide to Inclusive Cycling. 3rd Edition. • Taylor, Ian and Sloman, Lynn (2011). Thriving cities: integrated land use and transport planning. • Cambridge City Council (2009). Review of the Orchard Park Development and Lessons to be Learnt for Future Major Developments. • Carmona, Matthew, et al (2020). A Housing Design Audit for England. Place Alliance.

Effective design panels, detailed design guides - and all before the developers are over-committed to their ideas. There are some great architects in our communities that deliver small/one-off developments - help them contribute to bigger ones. Make available information for people who are promoting and implementing new development. Decrease cost of best materials and carbon neutral materials, so that people feel able to make the best choices. Northstowe 2 and 3 demonstrates what can be done but Northstowe 1 and Orchard Park show the perils. Greater Cambridge needs to gather some best practice guidance and promulgate BEFORE the developers start producing their plans. Once they have invested in a design, they have financial imperatives to reduce costs of re-designing.

• In the words of the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission (BBBBC) Report Living with Beauty (30 January 2020): “Ask for Beauty. Refuse Ugliness. Promote Stewardship”. • Beauty in a well-designed development is not subjective. Most people know and appreciate beauty when they see it even if they cannot articulate it. That is why people make a bee-line for particular cities and towns, or particular parts of them. Beauty is there in a sense of place, a feeling of a spirit of community, and in the promotion of a healthy and happy life, as well as in a well-designed building. • Developers should be made aware of this ‘pursuit of beauty’ at an early stage, and particularly at any pre-application engagement. Applications should fully conform to VDGs and NPs. Bland, poorly designed, and ugly buildings should be refused – policies in the Local Plan need to make it easier for the LPA to refuse schemes which are not well designed. Might the BBBBC Report help facilitate that objective?

1.16 Where development is located within or on the edge of existing settlements it is important that is pays attention to the local vernacular so as to best integrate new homes into the existing urban grain of the settlement. 1.17 The development of our clients’ site will successfully interpret the vernacular of Comberton and ensure that streets and public open space are well overlooked by new homes. The development of our clients’ site will build on the design themes of other recent developments in Comberton and the surrounding villages and accommodate new homes in this well screened site in a sustainable location on the edge of this Minor Rural Centre village. 1.18 Notwithstanding the above, the introduction of arbitrary design standards has the potential to delay the delivery of sites. Whilst the District Council’s Design Guide SPD 2010 is a useful starting point for considering design matters it is now a decade old and does not reflect the policies of the adopted Local Plan. Any successor document to this SPD should clearly identify that the recommendations within it are for guidance only and are not planning policy requirements. Whilst design matters are important there are often other material considerations, such as viability, that need to be taken into account when assessing planning applications. Design guidance that is applied too rigidly without identifiable outcomes can have negative impacts upon the timing and delivery of new developments.

1.16 Where development is located within or on the edge of existing settlements it is important that is pays attention to the local vernacular so as to best integrate new homes into the existing urban grain of the settlement. 1.17 Our client’s existing site at Bennell Farm has successfully interpreted the vernacular of Comberton and ensures that streets and public open space are well overlooked by new homes. The development of land to the west and north of the approved development will build on the design themes of approved scheme and accommodate further homes in this well screened site in a sustainable location on the edge of the Minor Rural Centre village of Comberton. 1.18 Notwithstanding the above, the introduction of arbitrary design standards has the potential to delay the delivery of sites. Whilst the District Council’s Design Guide SPD 2010 is a useful starting point for considering design matters it is now a decade old and does not reflect the policies of the adopted Local Plan. Any successor document to this SPD should clearly identify that the recommendations within it are for guidance only and are not planning policy requirements. Whilst design matters are important there are often other material considerations, such as viability, that need to be taken into account when assessing planning applications. Design guidance that is applied too rigidly without identifiable outcomes can have negative impacts upon the timing and delivery of new developments.

• Provide well insulated homes which meet Passive House standards. https://passivehouse-international.org/index.php?page_id=150 New builds should have air source heat-pumps, solar panels and electric boilers as standard. • Stop luxury developments, build social and genuinely affordable housing. Put prohibitively high council tax rates on unoccupied homes (with exceptions for homes undergoing renovation works, etc). • New developments must follow design standards for high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure that is accessible for people of all ages and abilities. • The design of new developments must be led by a requirement to achieve a fully-permeable, high-quality, first-class cycling and walking network, including safe and attractive surroundings, along with direct and convenient public transport routes. • Where new developments or changes touch existing cycle routes, those cycle routes must be protected and must maintain their quality, priority and accessibility. If diverted, the diversion must be of high-quality and fully accessible to people of all abilities throughout the construction process. Any damage to the original cycle route must be fixed once it is reopened.

Developments on key sites should be prepared in accordance with a development brief or design code. The recent changes to the national planning policy guidance and the introduction of a national design guide envisage that development will be led by local ‘design codes’ which are informed by the traditions of an area, assisting in creating identity and distinctiveness. MGH endorse this approach to design as well as the involvement of local residents and other stakeholders via an open and transparent consultation process.

Be imaginative and innovative. Don’t accept more of the same. Involve communities at design stage and employ creative people.