Waterbeach New Town Supplementary Planning Document

Comment

Representation ID: 167557

Received: 25/10/2018

Respondent: Natural England

1. INTRODUCTION
Strongly support SPD, spatial framework, and aims to support a comprehensive sustainable development, and a collaborative and coordinated approach to delivery. SPD should be adopted prior to determining planning applications.

Strongly support preparation of SPD to guide development of new town and, in particular, provide a spatial framework for future masterplanning to support a comprehensive sustainable development. SPD encourages a collaborative and coordinated approach to delivery of development and associated infrastructure. Strong emphasis on creation, integration and enhancement of rich biodiversity of the local fenland landscape, sensitively incorporating existing green and blue infrastructure into the new town and creating new ecology corridors.

Our advice is that the principles and guidance for development of the site should be agreed and the final SPD adopted prior to the determination of any planning application. SPD should ensure all planning applications take a strategic and consistent approach to development including delivery of mitigation to address impacts to designated sites, delivery of net biodiversity and implementation of a comprehensive and well connected green infrastructure network.

Support comments made by the National Trust and Wildlife Trust. SPD should promote the use of Natural Cambridgeshire Local Nature Partnership's Developing with Nature Toolkit.

Comment

Representation ID: 167558

Received: 25/10/2018

Respondent: Natural England

2. SITE CONTEXT
Support recognition of sensitive location in relation to designated sites - provided detailed advice on potential for mitigation of impacts of recreational pressure to the planning applications but doesn't appear in SPD.

Welcome recognition of the sites location in the context of a fenland landscape and close proximity to Wicken Fen SSSI and Ramsar Site, a component of Fenland SAC and Cam Washes SSSI.

Provided detailed advice on mitigation increased recreational pressure on designated sites through planning applications, but not included in SPD - should be included in Section 2.8 Constraints and Opportunities.

Also provided response on HRA and SA screening.

Subject to mitigating increased visitor pressure, development provides unique opportunity to enhance connectivity with the wider countryside. Should be explored further with relevant parties.

Comment

Representation ID: 167559

Received: 25/10/2018

Respondent: Natural England

3. VISION
Fully support vision and aspirations including creation of a sustainable, resilient and well connected development incorporating an enhanced ecological network, and multi functional green infrastructure network. But SPD is missing a key objective of landscape scale environmental enhancement including net biodiversity gain.

Particularly support proposed multi functional green infrastructure network including strategic landscape area / North Park which delivers multiple benefits.

Given the scale of development a key objective should be the delivery of landscape scale environmental enhancement including net biodiversity gain. As a Local Plan document the SPD should demonstrate delivery of net biodiversity gain in accordance with NPPF and DEFRA 25 year environmental plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 167560

Received: 25/10/2018

Respondent: Natural England

3.2 STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES
Particularly support strategic objective 3: Access to Open Space and Natural Environment but should explore opportunities to enhance connectivity to wider rural area.

Comment

Representation ID: 167561

Received: 25/10/2018

Respondent: Natural England

4.2 KEY STRUCTURING ELEMENTS (FIXES)
Generally support promotion of strategic walking and cycling connections and public informal open spaces connected by greenways and corridors but should explore opportunities to enhance connectivity to wider rural area.

Generally support the Key Structuring Elements including the promotion of the creation of strategic walking and cycling connections and public informal open spaces connected by greenways and corridors.

Figures 23, 24, and 27 should indicate connectivity to off-site open spaces including the river and the Cam Washes and Wicken Fen. Should explore opportunities to enhance connectivity to wider rural area.

Comment

Representation ID: 167562

Received: 25/10/2018

Respondent: Natural England

5. GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Especially support guiding principles to create mutli-functional green infrastructure network an integrated approach to biodiversity, and requirements on applicants to demonstrate protection and enrichment and long term management.

Welcome requirement for applicants to demonstrate protection and enrichment of habitat and biodiversity across site are capable of delivery.

Support requirement for accompanying landscape and ecology plan to set out how impacts on newly created habitats will be mitigated and managed. Integrated and coordinated approach to long term management will be critical to successful delivery of long-term benefits for people and wildlife.

Comment

Representation ID: 167563

Received: 25/10/2018

Respondent: Natural England

6. DELIVERING THE PLACE
Comment that as the development will take over 20 years to complete, welcome recognition of the need for the managed delivery of development and related infrastructure to be coordinated, comprehensive and in accordance with Local Plan and SPD.