Greater Cambridge Local Plan Preferred Options

Swavesey Parish Council Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals: Consultation response 14th December 2021

Swavesey Parish Councillors have examined the proposals in the draft plan and are extremely concerned about the impact of the proposed growth on flooding and whether there is adequately planned infrastructure. Parish Councillors are also very concerned over the level of housing growth proposed and how the infrastructure, particularly in South Cambs, will cope, such as roads, increase in traffic, social services and health provision. Specific concerns are detailed below.

Flooding
Flooding in Cambridgeshire is increasing. The instances of prolonged heavy downpours of rain and the inability of the existing foul and surface water infrastructure to cope with this deluge of water is extremely concerning. Especially within village communities. Within the current growth of housing development in Cambridgeshire, the foul water infrastructure is already nearing capacity and the increased pressure on this will be unsustainable. The infrastructure required to deal with increased foul and surface water resulting from current developments is not sufficient. Foul water is being pumped long distances to existing treatment works and then treated water pumped through to the river via villages and communities which are miles away from the new developments. The flood risk in doing this increases for communities which are not in the new development areas. Swavesey in particular is having to cope with huge increases in treated water flowing through its drain system to the River Gt Ouse from development in Cambourne, Northstowe and yet to come from Bourn airfield site. These developments continue to increase and all of that water puts excessive flood risk on Swavesey.

Surface water management.
The existing surface water system is failing and often unable to cope with the changes we are experiencing in weather as well as increased development pushing more water into the system (rather than soaking into greenfield sites). This is happening now in Swavesey where properties have flooded due to surface and foul water systems unable to cope within the last year. Exacerbated by new development in the village. Proposals to continue to develop greenfield sites and increase housing and business development will increase flood risk. Proposals for new business development at land south of the A14 Cambridge Services (promoted by JAYNIC) raises strong concerns by Swavesey Parish Council. This will create increased foul and surface water flows into the Swavesey system on top of those already mentioned above. This is just not sustainable.

Water supply
Councillors are concerned about the level of housing being proposed and how those houses will be supplied with fresh water. The draft Local Plan states that ‘new sources of water supply, including potential new reservoirs, are being developed but won’t be built quickly enough to supply housing when it is needed. Without speeding up that process and additional interim action, development levels may have to be capped to avoid unacceptable harm to the environment, including the region’s important chalk streams. This may lead to housing in the area becoming even more unaffordable so that those who work in Greater Cambridge may have to commute from further afield, increasing carbon emissions and congestion. We are hoping for quick and decisive action on this from central government and the water industry.’ Additional information states that development won’t go ahead without a resolution to the water supply issue. We strongly urge the authorities to maintain this commitment.

Health and social care provision
Health and care services in Cambridgeshire are under severe pressure as they try to recover from the pandemic. There is a chronic shortage of workforce, particularly GPs, which means that waiting lists for consultations, treatment and care are long and increasing. We are concerned that the proposed increases in population will put more pressure on these already fragile and underfunded services. The current system for increasing provision is fragmented and frequently does not result in any increase.

Traffic and travel
Councillors are also concerned about transport and roads to and from new development sites. In Cambridgeshire if the new East-West Rail goes ahead a new rail station will be built at Cambourne. This will increase the traffic on the roads to/from Cambourne and many of these through and around the villages to the north cannot cope with existing traffic levels let alone increased levels. The funding to Cambridgeshire County Council for general highway maintenance cannot cope with existing demands.

Proposals for business development at land south of the A14 Cambridge Services will create increased traffic, particularly of HGVs in this area and around the already busy Swavesey A14 junction. Swavesey Parish Council has raised concerns with JAYNIC the proposer of the site, however these concerns must be considered within this Local Plan proposal and by Cambridgeshire Highways as the impact the increased traffic will have, will affect villages surrounding this site. This site is in addition to the already being developed business site at Bar Hill and another proposed business site at Slate Hall Farm, off the A14 and as well as the Northstowe development close by. The Parish Council cannot see how all of this is going to be sustainable in this area.

Quality of consultation information
We note the complexity of the information contained in the Local Plan and would observe that it is not easy for local people to understand the proposals sufficiently to meaningfully comment. We would ask that future consultations use simpler language and format. Testing readability of materials with non-planning people could help with this.

Swavesey Parish Council Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals: Consultation response 14th December 2021

Swavesey Parish Councillors have examined the proposals in the draft plan and are extremely concerned about the impact of the proposed growth on flooding and whether there is adequately planned infrastructure. Parish Councillors are also very concerned over the level of housing growth proposed and how the infrastructure, particularly in South Cambs, will cope, such as roads, increase in traffic, social services and health provision. Specific concerns are detailed below.

Flooding
Flooding in Cambridgeshire is increasing. The instances of prolonged heavy downpours of rain and the inability of the existing foul and surface water infrastructure to cope with this deluge of water is extremely concerning. Especially within village communities. Within the current growth of housing development in Cambridgeshire, the foul water infrastructure is already nearing capacity and the increased pressure on this will be unsustainable. The infrastructure required to deal with increased foul and surface water resulting from current developments is not sufficient. Foul water is being pumped long distances to existing treatment works and then treated water pumped through to the river via villages and communities which are miles away from the new developments. The flood risk in doing this increases for communities which are not in the new development areas. Swavesey in particular is having to cope with huge increases in treated water flowing through its drain system to the River Gt Ouse from development in Cambourne, Northstowe and yet to come from Bourn airfield site. These developments continue to increase and all of that water puts excessive flood risk on Swavesey.

Surface water management.
The existing surface water system is failing and often unable to cope with the changes we are experiencing in weather as well as increased development pushing more water into the system (rather than soaking into greenfield sites). This is happening now in Swavesey where properties have flooded due to surface and foul water systems unable to cope within the last year. Exacerbated by new development in the village. Proposals to continue to develop greenfield sites and increase housing and business development will increase flood risk. Proposals for new business development at land south of the A14 Cambridge Services (promoted by JAYNIC) raises strong concerns by Swavesey Parish Council. This will create increased foul and surface water flows into the Swavesey system on top of those already mentioned above. This is just not sustainable.

Water supply
Councillors are concerned about the level of housing being proposed and how those houses will be supplied with fresh water. The draft Local Plan states that ‘new sources of water supply, including potential new reservoirs, are being developed but won’t be built quickly enough to supply housing when it is needed. Without speeding up that process and additional interim action, development levels may have to be capped to avoid unacceptable harm to the environment, including the region’s important chalk streams. This may lead to housing in the area becoming even more unaffordable so that those who work in Greater Cambridge may have to commute from further afield, increasing carbon emissions and congestion. We are hoping for quick and decisive action on this from central government and the water industry.’ Additional information states that development won’t go ahead without a resolution to the water supply issue. We strongly urge the authorities to maintain this commitment.

Health and social care provision
Health and care services in Cambridgeshire are under severe pressure as they try to recover from the pandemic. There is a chronic shortage of workforce, particularly GPs, which means that waiting lists for consultations, treatment and care are long and increasing. We are concerned that the proposed increases in population will put more pressure on these already fragile and underfunded services. The current system for increasing provision is fragmented and frequently does not result in any increase.

Traffic and travel
Councillors are also concerned about transport and roads to and from new development sites. In Cambridgeshire if the new East-West Rail goes ahead a new rail station will be built at Cambourne. This will increase the traffic on the roads to/from Cambourne and many of these through and around the villages to the north cannot cope with existing traffic levels let alone increased levels. The funding to Cambridgeshire County Council for general highway maintenance cannot cope with existing demands.

Proposals for business development at land south of the A14 Cambridge Services will create increased traffic, particularly of HGVs in this area and around the already busy Swavesey A14 junction. Swavesey Parish Council has raised concerns with JAYNIC the proposer of the site, however these concerns must be considered within this Local Plan proposal and by Cambridgeshire Highways as the impact the increased traffic will have, will affect villages surrounding this site. This site is in addition to the already being developed business site at Bar Hill and another proposed business site at Slate Hall Farm, off the A14 and as well as the Northstowe development close by. The Parish Council cannot see how all of this is going to be sustainable in this area.

Quality of consultation information
We note the complexity of the information contained in the Local Plan and would observe that it is not easy for local people to understand the proposals sufficiently to meaningfully comment. We would ask that future consultations use simpler language and format. Testing readability of materials with non-planning people could help with this.

Swavesey Parish Council Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals: Consultation response 14th December 2021

Swavesey Parish Councillors have examined the proposals in the draft plan and are extremely concerned about the impact of the proposed growth on flooding and whether there is adequately planned infrastructure. Parish Councillors are also very concerned over the level of housing growth proposed and how the infrastructure, particularly in South Cambs, will cope, such as roads, increase in traffic, social services and health provision. Specific concerns are detailed below.

Flooding
Flooding in Cambridgeshire is increasing. The instances of prolonged heavy downpours of rain and the inability of the existing foul and surface water infrastructure to cope with this deluge of water is extremely concerning. Especially within village communities. Within the current growth of housing development in Cambridgeshire, the foul water infrastructure is already nearing capacity and the increased pressure on this will be unsustainable. The infrastructure required to deal with increased foul and surface water resulting from current developments is not sufficient. Foul water is being pumped long distances to existing treatment works and then treated water pumped through to the river via villages and communities which are miles away from the new developments. The flood risk in doing this increases for communities which are not in the new development areas. Swavesey in particular is having to cope with huge increases in treated water flowing through its drain system to the River Gt Ouse from development in Cambourne, Northstowe and yet to come from Bourn airfield site. These developments continue to increase and all of that water puts excessive flood risk on Swavesey.

Surface water management.
The existing surface water system is failing and often unable to cope with the changes we are experiencing in weather as well as increased development pushing more water into the system (rather than soaking into greenfield sites). This is happening now in Swavesey where properties have flooded due to surface and foul water systems unable to cope within the last year. Exacerbated by new development in the village. Proposals to continue to develop greenfield sites and increase housing and business development will increase flood risk. Proposals for new business development at land south of the A14 Cambridge Services (promoted by JAYNIC) raises strong concerns by Swavesey Parish Council. This will create increased foul and surface water flows into the Swavesey system on top of those already mentioned above. This is just not sustainable.

Water supply
Councillors are concerned about the level of housing being proposed and how those houses will be supplied with fresh water. The draft Local Plan states that ‘new sources of water supply, including potential new reservoirs, are being developed but won’t be built quickly enough to supply housing when it is needed. Without speeding up that process and additional interim action, development levels may have to be capped to avoid unacceptable harm to the environment, including the region’s important chalk streams. This may lead to housing in the area becoming even more unaffordable so that those who work in Greater Cambridge may have to commute from further afield, increasing carbon emissions and congestion. We are hoping for quick and decisive action on this from central government and the water industry.’ Additional information states that development won’t go ahead without a resolution to the water supply issue. We strongly urge the authorities to maintain this commitment.

Health and social care provision
Health and care services in Cambridgeshire are under severe pressure as they try to recover from the pandemic. There is a chronic shortage of workforce, particularly GPs, which means that waiting lists for consultations, treatment and care are long and increasing. We are concerned that the proposed increases in population will put more pressure on these already fragile and underfunded services. The current system for increasing provision is fragmented and frequently does not result in any increase.

Traffic and travel
Councillors are also concerned about transport and roads to and from new development sites. In Cambridgeshire if the new East-West Rail goes ahead a new rail station will be built at Cambourne. This will increase the traffic on the roads to/from Cambourne and many of these through and around the villages to the north cannot cope with existing traffic levels let alone increased levels. The funding to Cambridgeshire County Council for general highway maintenance cannot cope with existing demands.

Proposals for business development at land south of the A14 Cambridge Services will create increased traffic, particularly of HGVs in this area and around the already busy Swavesey A14 junction. Swavesey Parish Council has raised concerns with JAYNIC the proposer of the site, however these concerns must be considered within this Local Plan proposal and by Cambridgeshire Highways as the impact the increased traffic will have, will affect villages surrounding this site. This site is in addition to the already being developed business site at Bar Hill and another proposed business site at Slate Hall Farm, off the A14 and as well as the Northstowe development close by. The Parish Council cannot see how all of this is going to be sustainable in this area.

Quality of consultation information
We note the complexity of the information contained in the Local Plan and would observe that it is not easy for local people to understand the proposals sufficiently to meaningfully comment. We would ask that future consultations use simpler language and format. Testing readability of materials with non-planning people could help with this.