The SPD requires that all new residential developments must address the need for new library provision with further detail set out within the Cambridgeshire County Council Draft Planning Obligations Strategy. Whilst we understand the Council’s aim to promote life-long learning, Pigeon questions the continued appropriateness of funding this initiative through new residential development when there is no clear evidence to demonstrate that this is necessary to make all residential developments acceptable in planning terms. Indeed, this is particularly so now that so much information is widely available on-line and this the reliance on libraries for reading and as sources of publicly accessible information is diminishing.

Notwithstanding the policy provisions set out within the Adopted Plans, we would stress that the Local Planning Authorities and the County Council will still need to demonstrate that additional capacity/provision will be required having regard to the use and capacity of existing facilities within the two authority areas and that any new development will directly impact upon the use and capacity of those particular facilities to ensure that the statutory and policy tests in Regulation 122 and the NPPF are met.