Greater Cambridge Local Plan Preferred Options

We support the general approach of the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The core thrust should however be framed, in line with the requirements of the NPPF, that being the presumption in favour of sustainable development, including on under utilised previously developed sites.

Such sites, are considered sustainable, being as they are close to sustainable modes of transport, and accessible by walking and cycling, which in turn, heavily reduces the reliance on the private car.

Support the need to deliver 58,500 jobs, including for the education section. This should include all education sectors. We also support the target of 44,000 new homes up to 2041, which should include all types of housing, including student accommodation.

We support the role smaller sites can play for housing and employment, where they are well-integrated with existing neighbourhoods. This should relate to all types of housing and recognise the role mixed use housing and employment/education plays in achieving the Government’s aims of achieving sustainable development on previously developed sites, including the role those types of sites within the urban area play in reducing pressures for greenfield development.

We also support windfall development, especially where it assists in achieving the above aims, including the 11,640 homes to be identified. It is considered that the site (St Matthew’s Centre, Sturton Street, as identified in the Eastern Gate Supplement Planning Guidance as a potential development site {page 9}) should be included now as a mixed use education/student housing development capable of delivering 80 new purpose built student homes and enhanced and purpose built facilities for the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts.

As set out in Policy H/SA, any student accommodation delivery on the site will assist in the delivery of overall housing as required by the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, as it potentially releases existing private housing stock used by students.

We support the continuation of existing Opportunity Areas, especially, S/OA/ Policy 23. It is however considered that the Policy and the Eastern Gate Development Framework, Supplementary Planning Document could be updated to provide specific guidance on the sites contained therein, especially given that the SPD was formulated in 2011 and in line with the then adopted Local Plan (2006).

Moreover, some of the proposal sites shown therein (Figure 2 of the SPD) have since come forward for development. Other sites, shown as ‘Other Potential Development Site’s, have also come forward through the planning application process, and are considered to play an important role in assisting with the delivery of Greater Cambridge Local Plan’s housing, employment and other land use needs over the plan period.

An update of the SPD will provide a useful baseline of the current position on the ground and to guide development proposals moving forward to 2041.

For example, Figure 39 of the SPD sets out the ‘Built Form, Scale and Massing Strategy’ for the SPD study area, including indicated building frontages and storey heights. The redevelopment of the Cambridge College for Further Education site on Young Street is shown as delivering 3 plus 1 storeys along New Street and 2 plus 1 storeys on at the corner of New Street and Sturton Street.

However, planning permission with reference: 12/0489/FUL, as developed on site, shows 3 plus 1 storeys at the corner of New Street and Sturton Street and along the New Street frontage leading to East Road.

It is therefore considered that the SPD been updated to reflect the above building form and height, and continue this along the remainder of New Street at 3 plus 1 storeys.

Moreover, the development has corresponded with the traditional building frontages in line with the SPD.

These indicative building frontages, are continued along New Street (Figure 39 of the SPD) along the St Matthew’s Centre site, which is supported. Nevertheless, the SPD should recognise that the St Matthews Centre site frontage is constrained by setback tree planting to its New Street and Sturton Street frontages, and protected open space to its York Street frontage. In order to facilitate the potential development and aspirations of the SPD, especially for the St Matthew Centre site, and to reflect the prevailing street frontage character of New Street, the SPD should development that faces New Street, whilst ensuring the protected open space is maintained and enhanced.

The St Matthew Centre site is an important facility for the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts, and has the potential to assist with the delivery of modern enhanced facilities for the college as it grows.

In light of the above, it is considered that some or all of the sites highlighted as ‘Other potential development sites’ should be included as proposed sites, in particular the St Matthews Centre, Sturton Street site.

In light of the comments provided to other policy directions contained within the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan, it is considered that the St Matthews Centre site should be identified at Figure 22 and allocated accordingly as a site capable of delivering mixed use education and student accommodation facilities.

We support the proposed policy direction. The policy direction should apply to the delivery of new floorspace only. The policy should also allow for viability considerations, as not all developments will be able to meet other requirements and obligations required by the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

We support the proposed policy direction. The policy direction should apply to the delivery of new floorspace only. The policy should also allow for viability considerations, as not all developments will be able to meet other requirements and obligations required by the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

We support the proposed policy direction. The policy direction should apply to the delivery of new floorspace only. The policy should also allow for viability considerations, as not all developments will be able to meet other requirements and obligations required by the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

he policy should apply to major developments only. For minor developments, commensurate requirements should be outlined in the policy.

The policy should provide a balanced approach to ensure that the other aims of the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan i.e. delivery of homes and jobs are not overly restricted by the aims of biodiversity and green space protection and enhancement.