Question 35. How should we ensure a high standard of housing is built in our area?

6.7 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insultation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive for precisely how it will be accomplished; it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a host of options to achieve the target. 6.8 The promoters of the site, Peterhouse, is an established institution with experience of promoting and delivering sites for high quality residential development. It is expected that Land south of Hattons Road, Longstanton would come forward in partnership with a delivery partner selected by Peterhouse, to ensure that a high quality scheme and homes are delivered. The Council’s ambition for the Local Plan to ensure that high quality developments and homes are delivered aligns with Peterhouse’s values and the development of the site would contribute to the delivery of high quality housing across the area.

Please see our response to Question 8.

6.7 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insulation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive as to precisely how it should be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a range of options to achieve the target.

4.23 As set out in the NPPF, the creation of high-quality buildings and places is fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve. 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 (NPPF, paragraph 124). 4.24 The Issues and Options consultation document questions whether the new Local Plan should maintain the National Space Standards, as applied within the 2018 Local Plans. It also questions whether there should be specific standards for energy efficiency, accessibility and adaptability and a range of other design issues. 4.25 Hill has a reputation for delivering high quality homes, incorporating good and innovative design and creating sustainable homes and communities. Hill has a strong vision to minimise the impact of development on the environment, with health, safety, energy and environmental goals that seek to reduce energy use, reduce water use and divert waste from landfill. 4.26 Hill homes are created with an awareness of residents’ wellbeing, designed to promote the use of sustainable travel through walking and cycling and also with social and recreational areas to enjoy the wider environment whilst also incorporating the highest standards of sustainable technology, supporting biodiversity and benefiting local ecology and wildlife. 4.27 Hill is an award-winning housebuilder, leading the way in introducing measures to improve the environmental performance of new residential developments in reducing carbon emissions, providing gains in biodiversity and improving green infrastructure and the wider environment. 4.28 At the national level, measures such as the Future Homes Standard and Biodiversity Gain are being implemented as new regulatory targets for residential development. The construction industry and their representative groups face a significant amount of research and development to ensure that the required standards can be adopted and implemented within the timeframes required. A national approach to achieving high quality design and improved environmental performance is considered preferable to local authorities setting their own standards. 4.29 If the Councils seek to adopt any of the optional technical standards in the Local Plan then they will need to ensure that they provide the necessary evidence on the need for such homes and their impact on development viability, as required by PPG. Such standards should not require a higher standard than the optional technical standards, and they should be robustly justified. 4.30 We would caution against the Greater Cambridge Local Plan seeking to adopt standards that are overly ambitious, or which respond directly to current market trends. When setting policy requirements for the entire plan period, it is important that the standards are realistic and achievable for all developments across the area and the timeframe. Otherwise the policies could have the unintended consequence of constraining future development – or fuelling further escalating house prices – with a negative impact on achieving the Local Plan’s strategic policy objectives. 4.31 Hill and Chivers are committed to supporting the new and existing community in Hardwick through the delivery of a high-quality and sustainable village extension.

6.7 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insulation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive as to precisely how it should be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a range of options to achieve the target.

6.13 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insultation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive for precisely how it will be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a host of options to achieve the target. A high standard of housing can also be achieved through requiring Health Impact Assessments on developments of a scale that can deliver meaningful health improvements to the built environment. 6.14 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.

3.43 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high-quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insultation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive for precisely how it will be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a host of options to achieve the target.

6.11 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insulation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive for precisely how it will be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a host of options to achieve the target. 6.12 Health impact assessments on developments of a scale that can deliver meaningful health improvements can create a higher level of built environment in housing developments.

6.7 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insultation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive for precisely how it will be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a host of options to achieve the target. 6.8 Health impact assessments on developments of a scale that can deliver meaningful health improvements can create a higher level of built environment in housing developments.

Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insultation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive for precisely how it will be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a host of options to achieve the target. Health impact assessments on developments of a scale that can deliver meaningful health improvements can create a higher level of built environment in housing developments. A site such as that to the east edge of Linton, to the north of Horseheath Road, can help to enhance the quality of housing delivered. It is a site promoted by Pembroke College as a well established Cambridge-based institution with a long-term commitment to Greater Cambridge with an ambition that aligns with the Council’s values and four big themes.

2.47 Ensuring that a high standard of housing is achieved is crucial as part of the housing delivery. This relates to the consideration of design and the guidance that is appropriate to how innovative design can be treated in areas where the natural inclination is to build in ‘conventional’ patterns and forms perpetuating establish (and not necessarily optimum or desirable) forms of development. 2.48 As part of this high-quality provision ensuring that the space standards are established and adhered to on all developments, in addition to standards being set for energy efficiency, accessibility and adaptability. Furthermore, designing to reflect health and wellbeing is a key consideration and should be considered as part of the layout and amount of social interaction that is proposed on the site. It would also include the provision of green space or landscaping. New homes should also energy efficient features that provide adaptability in relation to climate change.

6.7 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high-quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insultation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive for precisely how it will be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a host of options to achieve the target. 6.8 Health impact assessments on developments of a scale that can deliver meaningful health improvements can create a higher level of built environment in housing developments.

2.61 Again, many of the issues raised by question 35 have been addressed elsewhere within our response in terms of the potential for a high quality development that with the inclusion of later living provision, will meet demand across generations, contributing to wellbeing and social inclusion. The later living proposals in particular will reduce water and energy consumption. The Vision Document in particular provides some examples of high-quality care village developments undertaken by providers who we are in conversation with to bring forward the provision on this site, also considered in more detail in response to question 34. 2.62 Dwellings will be designed to comply with the National Space Standards, as well as providing energy efficiency throughout the development including water saving technology and adaptable dwellings which can take into account modern needs such as working from home.

6.10 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high-quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insultation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive for precisely how it will be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a host of options to achieve the target.

7.3.1 Whilst Gladman recognise the importance of ensuring high quality design it is also important to ensure that the new Local Plan does not impose overly onerous design policies which could unnecessarily restrict sustainable development from coming forwards. Optional Standards 7.3.2 With regards to optional technical standards for accessible and adaptable homes, if the Councils wish to include a policy in the Local Plan adopting these optional standards, M4(2) and M4(3), then this should only be done in accordance with the NPPF (2019) specifically paragraph 127.f, footnote 46 and the guidance contained in the PPG. 7.3.3 Footnote 46 states “planning policies for housing should make use of the Government’s optional technical standards for accessible and adaptable housing where this would address an identified need for such properties.” Any such policies would need to be based on relevant and up to date evidence to justify specific policy requirements. 7.3.4 Gladman refer to the PPG which sets out the evidence necessary to justify a policy requirement for M4(2) and M4(3). Specifically paragraph ID 56-007 which states: “There is a wide range of published official statistics and factors which local planning authorities can consider and take into account, including: • The likely future need for housing for older and disabled people (including wheelchair user dwellings). • Size, location, type and quality of dwellings needed to meet specifically evidenced needs (for example retirement homes or care homes). • The accessibility and adaptability of existing housing stock. • How needs vary across different housing tenures. • The overall impact on viability.” (ID: 56-007-20150327) 7.3.5 Gladman also note that it may be the case that any policy relating to optional standards may need to vary in different locations across the plan area, as the justification for requirements may differ. It may not be justified or appropriate, based on the up to date evidence, to set a blanket approach across the plan area. Nationally Described Space Standards (NDSS) 7.3.6 The Councils will need clear and robust evidence to justify the inclusion of any policy requirement for the NDSS and will need to undertake viability testing in relation to any specific requirements which they wish to impose. 7.3.7 The Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) dated 25th March 2015 confirms that “the optional new national technical standards should only be required through any new Local Plan policies if they address a clearly evidenced need, and where their impact on viability has been considered, in accordance with the NPPG”. 7.3.8 Furthermore, with reference to the nationally described space standard the PPG (ID: 56-02020150327) confirms “where a need for internal space standards is identified, local planning authorities should provide justification for requiring internal space policies”. If the Council wishes to adopt this standard it should be justified by meeting the criteria set out in the PPG including need, viability and impact on affordability. 7.3.9 The identification of a need for the NDSS must be more than simply stating that in some cases the standard has not been met, it should identify the harm caused or that may be caused in the future.

6.8 Local Plan policies can require a high standard of design for new residential development, leading from Government policy and guidance. Appropriately worded design policies should require a high quality design for new dwellings. This could include sustainable design principles including measures to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, water saving measures, use of efficient insultation material and heating systems, the reduction and recycling of construction materials, provision of appropriate amenity space and accessibility. Policy should not be prescriptive for precisely how it will be accomplished, it can set a policy-level, but developers should be able to use a host of options to achieve the target. 6.9 The promoter of the site, Trinity College, is an established Cambridge institution with a vested interest in the wider community and experience of promoting and delivering sites for high quality residential development. It is expected that Land to the west of Mill Street, Gamlingay, would come forward in partnership with a delivery partner selected by Trinity College, to ensure that a high quality scheme and homes are delivered. The Council’s ambition for the Local Plan to ensure that high quality developments and homes are delivered aligns with Trinity College’s values that includes the delivery of high quality places and spaces.

L&Q Estates Ltd and Hill Residential Ltd have vast experience of promoting and delivering sites for high quality new communities. The Council’s ambition for the Local Plan to ensure that high quality developments and homes are delivered aligns with the values of the promotors and the development of the Site would contribute to the delivery of high-quality housing across the area.

Persimmon would emphasise the need for any review of the current nationally-described space standards (NDSS) in Greater Cambridge to be accompanied by sensible and proportionate evidence to understand whether these still need to be applied through the new local plan. In most cases introduction of NDSS reduces market choice and affordability to the detriment of consumers. More floorspace per residential unit does not necessarily equate to more space per person. As house prices are driven up by policy burdens such as the NDSS, individuals (particularly those in need of smaller housing types such as single working professionals) tend to over-occupy the current housing stock (e.g. HMOs) resulting in less space per person than if smaller, more affordable unit types were available. Centre for Cities, an independent, non-partisan urban policy research organisation, published research looking into this issue and found that: “ Reintroducing national minimum space standards would not ensure people have more space per person, because people make choices abou t how much space they want to buy depending on their local housing market. A national minimum standard would have a limited effect in cities where housing is inexpensive and people can afford to buy lots of space. But in expensive cities, minimum floor are as would force people to either pay for bigger (and thereby more expensive) homes than they would wish to, or share a too - large dwelling with other households to save money. ” The research shows that introduction of NDSS in unaffordable places such as Greater Cambridge can have the opposite of its intended effects by reducing housing quality and choice. We would encourage the councils to undertake a wide ranging review of NDSS in the area to understand how well these are working and if they are indeed delivering significantly more space-standard compliant dwellings than would’ve been the case anyway. In terms of other optional technical standards, we would highlight the need for these to be supported by appropriately robust evidence which demonstrates the need for such standards in Greater Cambridge and allow for considerations such as viability and feasibility. Wherever additional housing standards are introduced, their impact on the viability of specific site allocations will need to be appropriately assessed at the local plan stage and infrastructure/affordable housing policy requirements framed accordingly.

• Developers who wish to operate in the Greater Cambridge area must sign up to the Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth. Other quality initiatives, like Building Better, Building Beautiful, include recommendations for ensuring high standards, and these should be adopted by the Councils. • Many leading construction companies have now committed to either the Better Buildings Partnership or the UK’s industry-wide campaign, Advancing Net Zero, as part of their response to climate change. Developers supporting these initiatives should be favoured. • Introducing high standards at the planning stage is meaningless unless they are enforced during implementation. This raises the problem of the resourcing of the Councils’ Planning Departments, and their capacity to handle a near doubling of the house completion rates. It is appreciated that Local Authorities are grossly under-resourced for the scope of activities expected of them, but priority in budget allocations must be given to ensure adequate supervision and enforcement of planning policies at a time when pressures will inevitably increase.

Minimum space standards are required for domestic garages

• Poor standards of cycle parking prevent people from cycling. Accessible, high-quality, secure and plentiful cycle parking is a critical element of high-standard housing and will enable more people to cycle regularly. • Good cycle parking is a factor in house buying and renting decisions. • Cycle parking standards (Cambridge City Council, 2010) must be updated to increase the number of cycle parking spaces required for developments, and the design standards have to be updated with modern, inclusive cycle parking specifications (Wheels for Wellbeing, 2019). • Cycle parking policies must be absolutely clear about the need for accessible cycle stands that can be used by people of all abilities and specific about the design and installation requirements (Wheels for Wellbeing, 2019). • There must be a proportion of cycle stands that are suitable for cargo cycles, tricycles, adapted cycles and recumbents (Wheels for Wellbeing, 2019). • Vertical and semi-vertical cycle parking racks must be absolutely prohibited (Wheels for Wellbeing, 2019). • Two-tier racks must not be allowed for residential uses, and must be accompanied by a suitable proportion of Sheffield stands in non-residential uses for people who cannot use the two-tier racks. • Cycle parking should never be referred to as ‘cycle storage’, because ‘parking’ implies frequent usage and ‘storage’ does not; we want the design of cycle parking to be as convenient as possible in order to enable frequent usage. • Cycle parking should be at least as close to entry doors as any car parking. Convenience for everyday usage is paramount. • Highways design and car storage arrangements must not be allowed to dominate the design of housing (Carmona, 2020). “[A] lack of [parking] for bicycles can make this highly sustainable and healthy mode of travel all but impossible for residents.” (Carmona, 2020) Evidence for our response to Question 35. • Cambridge City Council (2010). The Cycle Parking Guide for New Residential Developments. Transport Initiatives, LLP. • Wheels for Wellbeing (2019). A Guide to Inclusive Cycling. 3rd Edition. • Carmona, Matthew, et al (2020). A Housing Design Audit for England. Place Alliance.

Developers must support the idea. If an application does not meet a criterion of high standard, you should be able to refuse on that basis. Where a design does not meet certain environmental criteria, an additional tax should be considered to encourage developers to choose a good eco-friendly standard. With regards to affordability, the current 40% must be enforced. Where a developer states they cannot afford to do this, if it is proven excess profits have been made after the homes are built and sold, the developer will have to pay a proportion into a fund for future affordable housing projects.

1.37 The Government is already implementing significant increases in building regulations standards at a national level and our clients believe that national standards rather than local ones are more appropriate. Moreover, where councils have specific standards for energy efficiency, accessibility and adaptability it can have a negative impact on affordability. This is especially important for an area like Greater Cambridge where affordability issues are already entrenched. 1.38 The Councils will need to ensure that they provide the necessary evidence, as set out in the National Planning Policy Guidance, on the need for any increased percentage of adaptable homes and the impact on development viability of such a requirement if it is to be included as a policy in the emerging Local Plan.

1.36 The Government is already implementing significant increases in building regulations standards at a national level and our client believes that national standards rather than local ones are more appropriate. Moreover, where councils have specific standards for energy efficiency, accessibility and adaptability it can have a negative impact on affordability. This is especially important for an area like Greater Cambridge where affordability issues are already entrenched. 1.37 The Councils will need to ensure that they provide the necessary evidence, as set out in the National Planning Policy Guidance, on the need for any increased percentage of adaptable homes and the impact on development viability of such a requirement if it is to be included as a policy in the emerging Local Plan.

If the Council is considering adopting any of the optional technical standards in the GCLP the Council will need to ensure that they provide the necessary evidence, as set out in PPG, on the need for such homes and their impact on development viability to support their adoption in the GCLP. The Council should not seek to adopt higher/ different standards outside of the optional technical standards. We note that the Council suggest that residential development could be required respond to trends such as increased working from home. However, such trends are for the market to respond to and not for the Council to require through the local plan. However, as we stated earlier in this response, the HBF considers the most effective approach to improving standard and maintain the delivery of new development is through consistent national guidance on technical standards relating to both environment performance and other standards. It seems likely that these will be delivered through the future homes standard and we would advise that until such time as these are introduced that the Council does not seek to set higher standards than those in the current building regulations. In terms of these new regulatory targets applying to new development from 2025 onwards – to deliver the objectives of the Future Homes Standard – the industry, with the leadership of the HBF, will be commissioning work to consider what the industry can do, taking into account developments in research and product development within that time-frame, and what new standards can feasibly be adopted and implemented by the industry.

• High density housing is not an issue in and of itself if public green space is available and accessible. This is the sort of development I would like to see. I fear that the worst of both worlds: high density housing with no green space access might occur. Vienna is a model for good quality social housing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6DBKoWbtjE • Poor standards of cycle parking prevent people from cycling. Accessible, high-quality, secure and plentiful cycle parking is a critical element of high-standard housing and will enable more people to cycle regularly. • Good cycle parking is a factor in house buying and renting decisions. • Cycle parking standards must be updated to increase the number of cycle parking spaces required for developments, and the design standards have to be updated with modern, inclusive cycle parking specifications. • Cycle parking policies must be absolutely clear about the need for accessible cycle stands that can be used by people of all abilities and specific about the design and installation requirements. • There must be a proportion of cycle stands that are suitable for cargo cycles, tricycles, adapted cycles and recumbents. • Vertical and semi-vertical cycle parking racks must be absolutely prohibited. • Two-tier racks must not be allowed for residential uses, and must be accompanied by a suitable proportion of Sheffield stands in non-residential uses for people who cannot use the two-tier racks. • Cycle parking should never be referred to as 'cycle storage', because 'parking' implies frequent usage and 'storage' does not; we want the design of cycle parking to be as convenient as possible in order to enable frequent usage. • Cycle parking should be at least as close to entry doors as any car parking. Convenience for everyday usage is paramount.

In terms of the potential for high-quality development, the Meldreth scheme will be designed to a high standard and the proposed dwellings will be designed to comply with the National Space Standards, as well as providing energy efficiency throughout the development including water saving technology and adaptable dwellings which can take into account modern needs such as working from home.

High standards of housing can be achieved through use of the preparation of development briefs or design codes. The recent changes to the national planning policy guidance and the introduction of a national design guide prescribe that local ‘design codes’ be produced which are informed by the traditions of an area, assisting in creating identity and distinctiveness. MGH endorses this approach to design.

Recent national government initiatives are seeking to raise the standards of design, build and useage. New policies within the GCLP (based on the four big themes) is likely to require a very high standard of design for new development. Thakeham plan, design, and deliver high quality/zero carbon homes that supports the promotion of sustainable design principles within new plan policies. However, new policy formulation should not be overly prescriptive as it could make good development unviable. Developers should be able to use a range of good design measures in order to achieve the necessary policy remit.

Demand best quality, future proof housing. The highest access, energy and resource conservation standards. Don’t be fooled by viability projections, review previous builds to see how viability concerns matched financial outcomes.