Object
Draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document re-consultation - 2025
Representation ID: 200905
Received: 17/10/2025
Respondent: Pigeon
Agent: Strutt & Parker
The respondent believes that the section lacks justification and clarity, failing to meet statutory and policy tests.
There is no clear policy basis for the requirement of new residential developments to provide social and community support services.
The impact of new development on social and community services is unclear and overlaps with other health and community services in the SPD.
Concerns were raised about potential 'double-counting' of services and insufficient evidence linking new development to increased impacts.
The respondent is worried that new policy approaches exceed the requirements of the adopted Development Plan, contrary to Planning Practice Guidance.
Insufficient evidence is provided to justify the use of planning obligations for these services, suggesting the section should be deleted.
Pigeon considers that this section of the SPD lacks justification and clarity and therefore does not currently meet the statutory and policy tests referred to above. The requirement for new residential development to make provision for new social and community support services has no clear policy basis for the specific nature of the obligations being sought.
It is considered that the impact of new development on the social and community support services referred to is not particularly clear or distinct from other forms of health and community services referred to in other parts of the SPD (notably Chapters 7, 9, 11 and Chapter 22). Therefore, the justification for new provision or financial contributions for these particular services is not sufficiently made. Pigeon is concerned that the overlap with other healthcare, community and education services will lead to ‘double-counting’ and that there is insufficient evidence and justification provided to demonstrate a clear and quantified link between new development and increased impacts on these particular services.
Pigeon is therefore concerned that the Councils appear to be introducing new policy approaches which go beyond the requirements of the adopted Development Plan, contrary to Planning Practice Guidance. It is also considered that there is insufficient evidence to justify the use of planning obligations for these services. As such, it is considered that the proposed approach within the draft SPD would not meet the statutory and policy tests within Regulation 122 and the NPPF. Accordingly, it is considered that this section should be deleted in its entirety.
Object
Draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document re-consultation - 2025
Representation ID: 200920
Received: 17/10/2025
Respondent: Strutt & Parker on behalf of Endurance Estates
Endurance is concerned that the requirement for financial contributions towards Social and Community Support Services goes beyond the requirements of the adopted Development Plan, contrary to the PPG.
Endurance considers that there is insufficient policy support to justify the use of planning obligations for these services and is concerned that the Councils appear to be introducing new policy approaches which go beyond the requirements of the adopted Development Plan contrary to the PPG. As such, it is considered that the proposed approach within the draft SPD would not meet the statutory and policy tests within Regulation 122 and the NPPF.
Endurance is concerned that the requirement for financial contributions towards Social and Community Support Services goes beyond the requirements of the adopted Development Plan, contrary to the PPG.
Endurance considers that there is insufficient policy support to justify the use of planning obligations for these services and is concerned that the Councils appear to be introducing new policy approaches which go beyond the requirements of the adopted Development Plan contrary to the PPG. As such, it is considered that the proposed approach within the draft SPD would not meet the statutory and policy tests within Regulation 122 and the NPPF.