Chapter 5 POLICIES / Vibrant Community Policies HIM10 - 14

Comment

Representation ID: 167732

Received: 19/06/2019

Respondent: Mr Chris Meadows

There will be a new primary school on the southern edge of Buxhall Farm. But this is only just inside the 800m boundary mark of the northern city centre (the post office). So does the 800m guideline need adjusting, or does the centre need moving?
The same 800m boundary is referred to with respect to housing. But with the new school being at Buxhall farm, shouldn't sites that are near to the new school (specifically North and East of the new school) be encouraged rather than prevented?

Support

Representation ID: 167937

Received: 12/07/2019

Respondent: Moira Neal

Policy HIM13

Support inclusion of Site V2 ' Croft Close Set Aside' for protection in this policy.

Evidence of history of this field . Should be protected for future generations as has outstanding richness and diversity of fauna and flora.

Object

Representation ID: 167948

Received: 17/07/2019

Respondent: Mr Chris Meadows

The map on Page 105 identifies land that I own as being 'Other non-important Natural Habitat area providing ecological connectivity', yet no ecological survey has been undertaken on said land. There is no evidence to support this.

Comment

Representation ID: 168080

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Open Space

Several policies relating to protecting open space in Plan. Would help user if one comprehensive map showing all different designations proposed in Plan and those in Local Plan. Could have had Green Infrastructure / Green Corridor strategy with a policy in Plan to prepare such a scheme. Table 4 lists open spaces referenced in plan but does not show how they may be spatially linked. Could identify where there are gaps in this network / importance of green corridors. Map 17 has been added to Submission version of Plan it does not include all the green space policies for the villages.

Comment

Representation ID: 168083

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM10 Bypass Farm

a)Safeguarding element is a repeat the policy in Local Plan Could be deleted.

b)Number of criteria included relate to facility with % figures attached to them -how were these figures were decided upon. Reasonable? Evidence to support and justify them?

c)Final criterion looks to provide a safe and direct off-road access - is this achievable.

d)Would help user of Plan if Map 14 indicated where a sports hall could be located and car parking. It could also illustrate where a safe cycle link could be from the village. Would enhance policy providing certainty for local residents that might be impacted by proposals.

e)Design brief outlining the spatial parameters could help explain policy.

Comment

Representation ID: 168087

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM11 School Hill Garden

a)SCDC welcomes this policy but suggests it could be more clearly worded if the following wording had been used ... 'In accordance with Policy NH/11 in the adopted Local Plan this site is designated as a PVAA ....'

b)It may have been simpler if Map 15 had showed only the new PVAA rather than all those within the villages.

Comment

Representation ID: 168088

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM12 Local Green Space

SCDC welcomes this policy but suggests it could be more clearly worded if the following wording had been used...... 'In accordance with Policy NH/12 in the adopted Local Plan these sites are designated as LGS ....' The sites could then be listed within the policy.

Comment

Representation ID: 168089

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM12 Local Green Space -
V4 north Buxhall Farm

This site is adjacent to the area that is to be developed for a new primary school. SCDC had asked the parish council to liaise with the County Council to ensure that the requirement for the development of the school had been allowed for in designating this LGS. Once a LGS is included in a made neighbourhood plan it does not allow for flexibility of its boundary and can only be reviewed as part of the review of a neighbourhood plan or local plan. SCDC in designating LGS in the Local Plan had a principle whereby it did not identify school playing fields as this could cause problems in the future if a school wished to expand. Should this have been proposed as a PVAA to allow for flexibility?

Comment

Representation ID: 168090

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM12 Local Green Space
V14 Infant school field

SCDC has similar concerns to those for V4 north Buxhall Farm regarding designating this as a LGS if it impacts on the future development of the school. Should this have been proposed as a PVAA to allow for flexibility?

Comment

Representation ID: 168092

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM12 Local Green Space
V33 Cawcutt's Lake and adjacent land

Unclear from Table 4 the boundaries of this site. It would appear to have a number of separate areas which are not contiguous. Map 16 needs to clearly show a precise boundary line for this LGS. As shown currently it would appear that this site comprises of a number of parcels of land. Do they all have the same character? Would this LGS benefit from being considered as more than one area and would all meet the tests for LGS? Concerns that boundaries of these areas may overlap with red line boundary of DCO for A14 upgrading scheme being carried out by Highways England. Once within a made neighbourhood plan a LGS designation would have an impact on any future development works alongside A14.

Comment

Representation ID: 168093

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM13 Important Natural Habitats

Table 6 sets out a schedule of all the important natural habitats. SCDC welcomes the evidence of this detailed assessment but considers that it would be better placed in an evidence document rather than within the Plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 168094

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM13 Important Natural Habitats
V33 Calcutt's Lake and adjacent land

It is not clear why it has been necessary to include this area within the protection of this policy as it already is within the Green Belt and is proposed as LGS.

Comment

Representation ID: 168097

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM13 Important Natural Habitats
V33 & V34

Concerns that it is not clear on Map 18 which parcels of land belong to which of these two sites. Appear that some parts of the sites are within the red line boundary of the DCO of the A14 upgrading scheme Although this is stated in Table 4 for V34ii) SCDC is confused by the boundaries. Map 18 needs to have clear boundary lines so there is no doubt to the user of the Plan as to the exact extent of each site. Having separate parcels of land is very confusing.

Comment

Representation ID: 168098

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Policy HIM14 Maximising Recreational Space

a)Management initiative set out in the second paragraph of this policy is beyond the scope of policy planning and could be deleted;

b)Not clear how a green linkage will be established as no explanation in supporting text to policy. Would help user of Plan if it were illustrated on Map 19.

c)Policy does not need to include the final section as the Local Plan has policies to consider this (Policy SC/8 and Policy NH/8). If this section is retained SCDC suggests that it be reworded. ' .. schemes that encroach on the playing field will be assessed in respect of the level of harm to the playing field'.

Comment

Representation ID: 168171

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: British Horse Society

Suggested amendments to the Plan to include equestrians

Comment

Representation ID: 168184

Received: 30/07/2019

Respondent: Chivers Farms Ltd

Agent: Bidwells

Policy HIM13 Important Natural Habitats in Histon and Impington

The policy requires current amenity and biodiversity value to be maintained and enhanced. Chivers Farms Limited is supportive of this policy and would be willing to discuss with the Parish Council opportunities to contribute to this. The proposed site detailed in the MDVD (enclosed) could incorporate green links across the site to encourage ecological corridors, helping to increase bio-diversity.

Object

Representation ID: 168234

Received: 31/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

Policy HIM10 Bypass Farm

Cambridgeshire County Council, as landowner, objects to Policy HIM10 which safeguards the land (Ref: V1) for community recreational use. It is currently agricultural land which is let on a Farms Business Tenancy. Cambridgeshire County Council submitted this site as part of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan 'Call for Sites' and will continue to promote it in the future. If the land is not allocated for residential development in the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, it is currently intended that the land will remain in agricultural use. Cambridgeshire County Council would be willing to work with the community to provide recreational space as part of a wider future development.

Object

Representation ID: 168237

Received: 31/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

HIM12 - Local Green Space

Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC), as landowner, objects to both allocation of Infant School Field on New School Road (Ref V14) and northern part of Northern Buxhall Farm site (Ref V4) as designated Local Green Spaces as defined in NPPF.

Infant School Field already designated as PVAA under Local Plan. Regarding northern part of Northern Buxhall Farm site: to be designated as a Local Green Space, land needs to meet tests set out in NPPF. Northern part of Northern Buxhall Farm site currently outside of village envelope , remote from village core; is not readily accessible on foot; and holds little significance in terms to historic significance, recreational value or beauty. Already green belt.

CCC wants to work with community to provide recreational/amenity space as part of a wider future development. CCC already provides permissive access to Histon Wood and Girton Wood (Table5: HIM12 V12, V13). CCC submitted southern area of Buxhall Farm Site as part of Greater Cambridge Local Plan 'Call for Sites' and will continue to promote it in future.

Object

Representation ID: 168238

Received: 31/07/2019

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

HIM13 - Important Natural Habitats

Cambridgeshire County Council, as landowner, objects to designation of northern part of Buxhall Farm (including the permission path and green infrastructure corridor off the B1049 and around Buxhall Farm Fields) (Map 18 - HIM13 - V4) as an area to be included under Policy HIM13. CCC is willing to work with local and agricultural communities to enhance and protect wildlife where appropriate. CCC actively encourages its agricultural tenants to enter into schemes to improve farms environmental features. This area of land is currently used for commercial arable farming, with all attendant responsibly used fertiliser and sprays required to produce a crop. Not an important natural habitat.