Greater Cambridge Local Plan Preferred Options

The MWPA welcomes the inclusion of minerals as an objective, albeit noting the negative and uncertain result for most options considered. The MWPA would encourage the consideration of “Sustainable resource use” or “Waste minimisation” when considering objectives for future local plans.

(Transport) On Page 18 the definition of sustainable development is very welcome but given the importance of sustainability in the document we feel that this section should have greater prominence. There is also a significant infrastructure requirement to deliver the proposed Local Plan, so it is going to be a challenge to deliver this in a sustainable way.
Welcome the emphasis on active and public transport, and planning development at sites where public transport is the natural choice. We would recommend clear reference to ensuring new future development meets LTN 1/20 and other appropriate policies and measures.

(Education) The plan proposes that sites are developed at densities with recognition that ‘using less land for development reduces carbon emissions and allows more space for nature and wildlife’. Whilst the Council accepts these principles, sufficient land would need to be made available for educational purposes.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People Committee have previously approved the site sizes which would be required to deliver a new school. These ensure that there is sufficient flexibility for sites to be developed in line with space per pupil/area guidelines provided by the Department for Education (DfE) (DfE Building Bulletins 103 and 104 for mainstream and special provision respectively), and allows for on-site early years and childcare provision, in line with Council policy. Whilst the Council will endeavour to explore different options for delivery or education provision, and in keeping with the surrounding area, there would need to be clear reasoning for any request to deviate from its policy and published national DfE’s Building Bulletins’ guidance for full consideration by members of the relevant committees.
The proposed strategy is heavily informed by the location of existing and committed public transport schemes. The Council is fully supportive of this but would also insist that footpaths and cycle routes are taken into consideration, to ensure that schools are centrally located and easily accessible to families living within the catchment area and to fulfil the objective that ‘developing sites can be well-integrated with existing communities’. This ensures that children and their families can attend them by either walking or cycling rather than through local authority provided transport or car and fulfil health and well-being expectations for children, e.g., around ‘healthy schools’

(Transport) From the evidence of the options tested at the time S01 performed best in transport terms. It should be noted that not all transport mitigation had been tested. Transport however is not the only consideration when developing a Local Plan and there are numerous other factors that require consideration. Therefore we are happy to support S09 Preferred Option growth level Preferred Option spatial strategy for the Emerging Local Plan. S09 emerged from including sites that performed well in transport terms in earlier testing. Section 15 of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Transport Evidence Report October 2021 provides a good summary of the transport impacts.
It is noted that North East Cambridge and Cambridge Airport, Waterbeach and existing new town development lead to better performance in transport terms and greater internalisation of trips. Generally, the larger the development the greater the chance of trips being internalised, and the settlement is likely to have a greater chance at being able to provide key services and facilities.
Cambourne was the best performing in transport terms of the free-standing new settlements of those tested at stage one- with the Cambourne to Cambridge public transport scheme and East West Rail included. Any development in the Cambourne / Bourne Airfield area needs to have good links to the existing community to enable greater access to services and to reduce the potential transport impacts of any new development.

(Education) The Council appreciates the wish to raise Babraham to a ‘Group Village’ as it has a primary school consistent with infrastructure in other Group Villages. The school is currently full to its capacity of 0.5FE/84 places and operates with four classes (it operates a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 12). The school’s site and context mean that it has previously been determined that there is no scope for significant expansion beyond its current size.

Some children currently attend from within Sawston catchment, so displacement of places back to Sawston should be borne in mind with development at Babraham.

(Mineral and Waste) Has implications for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Local Plan (July 2021) (MWLP) Policy 5. Consultation with the mineral planning authority (MPA) is not needed for development proposals within a settlement boundary or where they are consistent with an allocation in the development plan for the area.

(Transport) Section 2.2 - the term unnecessary private car use is very subjective would recommend something with a clearer definition is used.
Link to Cambourne and East West Rail need to maximum the benefits. Consider setting our policy specific to EWR with the LPA’s vision, objectives, and requirements (e.g. for stations, connectivity etc) should this project come forward.
Welcome engagement with Network Rail to ensure that Cambridge South station maximises use of Active Travel and that provision of drop off and collection points are suitable, and do not cause a negative impact on the surrounding area.

(Education) Based on the housing mix that has informed the North East Cambridge Area Action Plan, the development is expected to generate approximately 1,362 early years’ children, 790 primary-aged pupils (3.8FE) and 205 secondary-aged children (1.4FE). This would require delivery of up to two primary schools on site, both with early years’ provision. Additional sites would also need to be allocated and marketed for full day care provision. This is partly to ensure sufficient EY places, which could not be provided on the school sites alone, but also to promote choice of type of EY provision for families who are not entitled to funded childcare but still wish to access provision. At this stage, it is for illustrative purposes only. The Council will not be able to confirm its education requirements, land and contributions until later in the planning process when the housing mix is finalised.
The Council remains committed to working in collaboration with South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council during the Area Action Plan making process and is supportive of the view that the detailed planning framework containing site specific policies will be of equal status to those in the Local Plan once adopted.
The policy states that formal sports facilities will be largely delivered off-site. Whilst the Council does not object to this approach, it would insist that school playing fields are located on-site to ensure that high-quality PE curriculum can be delivered without the requirement to travel.

(Minerals and Waste) No comments – covered in Area Action Plan Statement of Common Ground.

Continuation of AMCs noted

(Education) The Council is supportive of the objective for the Opportunity Areas in Cambridge. The new Opportunity Areas, S/OA/NR (Newmarket Rd Retail Park) and S/OA/BC (Beehive Centre) both fall within the St. Matthew’s Primary School catchment. St. Matthew’s is a restricted site. Whilst the existing school cannot expand any further to mitigate any potential children from potential housing in the OAs, the intention to ‘improve…infrastructure delivery’ in the OAs could enable longer-term solutions for the school’s needs, e.g., new-build and relocation as part of the holistic approach outlined.

(Education) The Council notes the intended use for S/C/SCL Land South of Coldham’s Lane as for commercial purposes, which will not impact on existing Land North of Cherry Hinton/Cambridge East education plans.

(Minerals and Waste) Site S/C/SCL – within a Mineral Safeguarding Area (MSA) for chalk. Former landfill so it is assumed that mineral has already been extracted. Within the settlement boundary.