Question 24. How important do you think continuing economic growth is for the next Local Plan?

Very important

Without wealth nothing is possible

Neither important nor unimportant

There is clearly a trade-off between growth and sustainability. But the balance between the two must now be adjusted in favour of sustainability, in the light of the climate emergency which the Council has acknowledged has become a more significant and urgent issue than has been the case in previous versions of the Local Plan. In the light of this new reality, the Council should be seeking to adjust the terms of the deal on growth which it has previously made with central government

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of new housebuilding if there is not a related level of job growth and economic development. Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that key rural village should play a role in accommodating some of the future economic growth through appropriate land allocations.

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved. There is no point in planning for high levels of new housebuilding if there is not a related level of proximate job growth.

Somewhat unimportant

While successful businesses and research establishments will and should continue to grow, aiming for a large amount of growth will ultimately harm our area and make it a much less attractive place to live. There is little unemployment so new economic growth means that more housing has to be provided for people coming into the area to work. There are limits to how much further growth can be accommodated in Cambridge and inside the greenbelt. We risk ending up with a circle of urban development outside the greenbelt, surrounding Cambridge. A significant part of this area's attraction is a historic city situated within a largely rural area. That rural area will disappear all too quickly if growth is allowed on the scale apparently envisaged.

Not at all important

If anywhere in the country is going to show a realistic response to the climate energy, let it be here.

Very important

Continuing economic growth is a vital ingredient of any Local Plan.

Not at all important

Presently there are a large number of smaller villages now incorporating unsustainable development that was approved while no local plan was in force until 2018. We think the priority should be allowing the provision of sustainable transport and green infrastructure to catch up rather than fuelling more growth and further increasing housing demand.

Somewhat unimportant

We shouldn't be so economic growth focused - the important things to grow are people's health, wellbeing, sense of purpose in life, connections to each other and to nature - if work can feed those things, great, but they should be the most important and not pushed to the sidelines

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of job growth and economic if there is not a related high levels of new housebuilding Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that key rural villages such as Whittlesford, due to its proximity to major employment and on a public transport corridor, should play a role in accommodating some of the future housing and economic growth through appropriate land residential allocations.

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of job growth and economic if there is not a related high levels of new housebuilding Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that key rural villages such as Duxford, due to its proximity to major employment and on a public transport corridor, should play a role in accommodating some of the future housing and economic growth through appropriate land residential allocations.

Very important

Lowering rates for smaller independent businesses in the city centre. Stand up to Cambridge university high prices. Letting spaces go to waste or building more costas and Starbucks

Very important

Economic growth is extremely important to the Local Plan given the current political climate and economic uncertainty. Economic growth provides the means by which people can improve their quality of life and helps them to make more sustainable choices be that in terms of energy, food or transport decisions.

Very important

Economic growth is extremely important to the Local Plan given the current political climate and economic uncertainty. Economic growth provides the means by which people can improve their quality of life and helps them to make more sustainable choices be that in terms of energy, food or transport decisions

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of job growth and economic if there is not a related high level of new housebuilding. Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that key villages such as Sawston, due to its proximity to major employment and on a public transport corridor, should play a role in accommodating some of the future housing and economic growth through appropriate land residential allocations.

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of job growth and economic if there is not a related high level of new housebuilding. Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that key villages such as Sawston, due to its proximity to major employment and on a public transport corridor, should play a role in accommodating some of the future housing and economic growth through appropriate land residential allocations.

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of new housebuilding if there is not a related level of job growth and economic development. There are questions as to the affordability and delivery of housing which needs to be addressed prior to or in tandem with economic growth. This is also necessary to reduce the level of in-commuting from other Districts. Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that the release of land from the Green Belt at Stapleford and Great Shelford would play a role in accommodating some of the future housing growth arising from economic growth, thereby reducing out-commuting from more remote, non-Green Belt, locations to Cambridge.

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of new housebuilding if there is not a related level of job growth and economic development. There are questions as to the affordability and delivery of housing which needs to be addressed prior to or in tandem with economic growth. This is also necessary to reduce the level of in-commuting from other Districts. Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that the provision of employment land to the south of the A14 services will provide for businesses which require good access to the A14 and those firms seeking room to expand in the future whilst avoiding the issues associated with commuting into Cambridge. It will ensure that land is available which is affordable to all types and scale of business.

Very important

Greater Cambridge plays a pivotal role in the sub regional and wider economies by virtue of its positioning in the Oxford-Cambridge and London-Cambridge corridors. The College considers economic growth is an extremely important “big theme” for the new Local Plan. Cambridge’s reputation for innovation and technological hubs (much of it based on Cambridge University’s research and “spin-outs”) means there is continuing and in the College’s opinion, an accelerating need for the Local Plan to help facilitate new technological and economic clusters to drive growth and productivity and address growing challenges such as climate change. In this regard Cambridge University’s research and development capabilities should be an important consideration in delivering sustainable economic growth. The College’s “Call for Sites” proposals at Duxford are for a major mixed-use development which would deliver a new high-tech engineering-based hub focused on the rapidly expanding General Aviation and Aerospace sectors, which is supported by the University Engineering department – the largest department in the University. The Local Plan should therefore take the opportunity to support new technology clusters, especially those which will help achieve other major objectives such as dealing with the challenges of climate change and moving to lower carbon solutions. However, whilst the College considers the new Local Plan should facilitate new employment opportunities, it considers it equally important to ensure the benefits of growth are felt throughout the community.

Very important

The Government’s 2019 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that planning policies should create the conditions in which businesses can invest, expand and adapt and that 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. Paragraph 20 of the NPPF notes that strategic policies should set out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and quality of development, and make sufficient provision for housing, employment, retail, other commercial development and infrastructure amongst other matters. It is stated that this approach should allow each area to build on its strengths, counter any weaknesses and address the challenges of the future. It indicates that this is particularly important where Britain can be a global leader in driving innovation (paragraph 80). Paragraph 81 then goes on to state that planning policies should, amongst others: a) set out a clear economic vision and strategy which positively and proactively encourages sustainable economic growth, having regard to Local Industrial Strategies and other local policies for economic development and regeneration; b) set criteria, or identify strategic sites, for local and inward investment to match the strategy and to meet anticipated needs over the plan period; A City Deal was agreed between the Greater Cambridge Local Plan (GCLP) authorities and Cambridgeshire County Council with the Government in 2014 and was predicated on securing investment in the delivery of major new transport infrastructure to support substantial growth in new jobs and housing in the period to 2030. The GCLP area is situated within the Cambridge - Milton Keynes – Oxford Arc. In November 2017 ‘Partnering for Prosperity’ a report to Government was published by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) to provide proposals and options to maximise the potential of the Arc to secure the homes and jobs that the area needs. In 2018 the Government identified the Arc as a key economic priority and indicated that it will consider ways of maximising growth opportunities within it. In March 2019 a Joint Declaration of Ambition (JDA) was completed between Government and local authorities across the Arc; the JDA recognises that first and foremost the Arc is an area of significant economic strength and opportunity the potential of which should be realised. The GCLP planning authorities are both signatories to the JDA. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority was established in March 2017. In the accompanying Devolution Deal with Government, the seven Cambridgeshire local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnership committed the area to the delivery of substantial economic growth, including the doubling of economic output over the 25-year period to 2042. The Combined Authority established an independent Economic Commission in June 2017 to undertake research and provide it with expert advice in achieving this ambition. The Commission’s terms of reference, amongst others, is to ‘Inform choices on policy priorities and strategic investment that are made locally…’. It must be concluded that continued and ambitious economic growth is a hugely important issue for the GCLP area. The local plan must set out planning policies that will assist in delivering the identified target for economic growth of doubling GVA. We consider that this must involve the identification of strategic scale sites in sustainable locations that will meet the need for continued growth of KI businesses and supporting supply chain industries (see our response to Q27 below) e.g. high-tech manufacturing and logistics.

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of job and economic growth if there is not a related high level of new housebuilding. Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that key rural villages such as Balsham due to its proximity to local employment should play a role in accommodating some of the future housing and economic growth through appropriate residential land allocations

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. We think it is important to plan for high levels of job and economic growth along with related high levels of new housebuilding. We consider that key rural villages such as Great Abington due to its proximity to major employment should play a role in accommodating some of the future housing and economic growth through appropriate land residential allocations.

Somewhat unimportant

Of course, the Plan should cater for some growth eg existing businesses need to be able to expand, but doubling the level of economic growth is not an appropriate target nor can it be sustainable. There will not be the infrastructure to support it and it will change and damage this area irreparably. The level of growth envisaged means attracting businesses to relocate here. As this is an area where there is little or no unemployment, this also means that employees come into the area with the result that more housing has to be built. More and more land is lost to development and the district becomes more and more urbanised. The target of doubling the level of economic output over 25 years is far too high. The area is attractive because Cambridge is a historic city surrounded by a rural landscape.

Somewhat important

No answer given

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of new housebuilding if there is not a related level of job growth and economic development. There are questions as to the affordability and delivery of housing which needs to be addressed prior to or in tandem with economic growth. This is also necessary to reduce the level of in-commuting from other Districts. Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that the release of land from the Green Belt at Fulbourn and a substantial housing allocation at Abington Park Farms would play a role in accommodating some of the future housing growth arising from economic growth, thereby reducing out-commuting from more remote, non-Green Belt, locations to Cambridge.

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of new housebuilding if there is not a related level of job growth and economic development. There are questions as to the affordability and delivery of housing which needs to be addressed prior to or in tandem with economic growth. This is also necessary to reduce the level of in-commuting from other Districts. Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that the Northstowe development should play a role in accommodating some of the future economic growth through appropriate land allocations, thereby reducing out- commuting to Cambridge.

Neither important nor unimportant

I am 100% certain that it will be important IN and TO your (not our!) Local Plan, because that’s what this is all about, isn’t it. Local residents don’t necessarily want or need any more growth - we have had more than enough already and are choking on it.

Somewhat unimportant

Economic growth should not be a goal in itself. Of course the plan must take into account current projections of economic growth and adapt to them, but it must not assume that growth will continue indefinitely (it certainly won't), and it should prioritize healthy communities over mere wealth creation.

Very important

It is very important if the levels of growth contemplated are to be achieved, including the Combined Authority vision of doubling economic output. There is no point in planning for high levels of job growth and economic if there is not a corresponding high level of housebuilding Furthermore, and as set out under various other questions, we consider that key rural villages such as Fulbourn, due to its proximity to major employment and on a public transport corridor, should play a role in accommodating some of the future housing and economic growth through appropriate land residential allocations.

Very important

The Greater Cambridge economy, driven by its world leading hi-tech and life sciences cluster is of significant importance to the UK economy, with Cambridge lying at the centre of three economic growth corridors. In particular, Cambridge lies at the eastern end of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc which was recognized as ‘an area of significant economic strength and opportunity’ as part of the ‘Government ambition and joint declaration between Government and local partners’ in March 2019. It is therefore vital that the National significance of the Greater Cambridge economy is fully recognized by the two Councils and that its growth continues to be supported. Its success cannot and must not be taken for granted. The next Local Plan should therefore facilitate the continued growth and success of the Greater Cambridge economy and the continuing demand for modern, high quality employment premises in the Cambridge area. Such an approach would also be supported by the evidence provided by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Review (2018) for instance. The Local Plan should provide sufficient land and policy support for locally as well as regionally or internationally generated employment development to be located where residents and services can reach them sustainably and the culture of success can be nurtured.