Greater Cambridge Local Plan Preferred Options

With regards to the conservation of the historic environment, Gladman refer to the NPPF (2021), paragraphs 199-204, which outline the policy tests which should be applied where development affects designated and non-designated heritage assets. The Councils need to ensure the policy within the GCLP reflects the national policy and aligns with these varying tests.
Specifically, the NPPF (2021) states that developments leading to substantial harm of a designated heritage asset should be refused unless it is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh the harm, where proposals would lead to less than substantial harm then this harm should be weighed against the public benefits. With regards to proposals impacting on non-designated heritage assets, a balanced judgement will be required.

The provision of affordable housing should be a key priority for the new Local Plan. Affordability of housing across the Greater Cambridge area is a significant issue, with the Median Affordability ratios being 12.95 and 10.25 for Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire district respectively.
It will be important that the affordable housing requirement set through the new Local Plan is tested through the Local Plan Viability Assessment and that it is set at a deliverable level, whilst also ensuring that the housing needs are met.
It may be necessary for the Local Plan to include varied affordable housing requirements based on site type and location. This will need to be considered further through the preparation of the Plan. Gladman support the provision of affordable housing through a balanced and robust spatial strategy.

In terms of housing mix, Gladman would recommend that the Local Plan avoids a prescriptive housing mix requirement, rather that the policy should allow for schemes to determine the most appropriate housing mix for the particular location. The Plan could include an indicative mix which may be encouraged if appropriate rather than a strict requirement. The housing provided will need to reflect the needs across the area and any policy will need to be flexible and recognise that the specific housing needs may change over the course of the plan period.

Gladman are supportive of the efficient use of land, as required by paragraph 124 of the NPPF (2021):
“Planning policies and decisions should support development that makes efficient use of land, taking into account:
a) the identified need for different types of housing and other forms of development, and the availability of land suitable for accommodating it;
b) local market conditions and viability;
c) the availability and capacity of infrastructure and services – both existing and proposed – as well as their potential for further improvement and the scope to promote sustainable travel modes that limit future car use;
d) the desirability of maintaining an area’s prevailing character and setting (including residential gardens), or of promoting regeneration and change; and
e) the importance of securing well-designed, attractive and healthy places.”
Paragraph 125 also highlights that, ‘where there is an existing or anticipated shortage of land for meeting identified housing needs, it is especially important that planning policies and decisions avoid homes being built at low densities, and ensure that developments make optimal use of the potential of each site.’

Gladman would welcome the addition of a policy in relation to self-build housing within the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. This would be in line with current government thinking and objectives. It is key that the development industry is able to understand the implications of any such policy requirement, to assist with the design of schemes and the consideration of financial viability.
Gladman recommend that any policy requirement in relation to self-build housing has an element of flexibility built in to allow for negotiation over self-build plots on the basis of identified demand and also viability to ensure that site delivery is not delayed or prevented from coming forward. Any specific requirement to include self-build plots should be tested through the Councils’ viability assessment of the Local Plan policies to ensure that the cumulative impacts of all proposed local standards and policy requirements do not put the implementation of the Plan as a whole at risk.
Further to this, Gladman urge the Councils to ensure the policy has added flexibility as there is no guarantee that these units will be delivered and there may be situations when they are difficult to deliver which may result in the non-delivery of otherwise sustainable land for housing. Therefore, Gladman recommend that any policy specific requirement needs to include a mechanism whereby if the self-build plots are not taken up within a given time period, then these revert back to market housing to be provided as part of the wider scheme. This would provide flexibility and help to ensure that the required housing is delivered.

Land at Balsham Road, Linton
Gladman are promoting a site in Balsham Road, Linton. The site is 3.07 hectares and capable of delivering approximately up to 65 dwellings. We would welcome an opportunity to discuss the site with the Councils and the development it could deliver.
The site is capable of delivering up to 65 new homes, including up to 26 affordable homes, a programme of ecological and biological enhancement, and new green infrastructure and recreation routes. The site is suitable for development as it is sustainably located near to local services and facilities, within Flood Zone 1, well contained by existing landscape features and will not adversely impact any heritage assets. Measuring 3.07 hectares, the site is an ideal opportunity to provide much needed market and affordable housing in Linton, alongside recreational green space, and wider economic benefits such as increased spending in local shops.
The site is sustainably located within the settlement, with the secondary and infant schools, pharmacy, pub, newsagents, health centre and Co-op food store all being between 0.8-1.6km from the site, meaning that many will be accessible by foot. A bus stop is located in the centre of the village where buses to Cambridge and Haverhill are available.

Land at Back Road, Linton
Gladman are promoting a site in Back Road, Linton. The site is 3.98 hectares and capable of delivering approximately up to 95 dwellings. We would welcome an opportunity to discuss the site with the Councils and the development it could deliver.
Gladman consider that the development could deliver 95 homes, including 38 new affordable homes and a programme of ecological enhancement. The provision of recreational green space and the potential economic benefits of development in this location makes this an ideal sustainable location for growth. Safe access can be achieved off Back Road and the site is within Flood Zone 1.
The site is sustainably located within the settlement, with the secondary and infant schools, pharmacy, pub, newsagents, health centre and Co-op food store all being between 1.1-1.6km from the site, meaning that many will be accessible by foot. A bus stop is located 1.2km away where buses to Cambridge and Haverhill are available.

Land at Brook Road, Bassingbourn
Gladman are promoting Land at Brook Road, Bassingbourn. The 6.46ha site is suitably and sustainably located adjacent to Bassingbourn, near to key facilities such as the Primary School, Village College and Sports Centre. The site would provide for a high-quality design led scheme of up to 80 homes, of which up to 32 would be affordable, within a green network of ecological enhancements.
The site offers a unique opportunity to create a naturalistic green corridor, improve biodiversity on site through wetland creation, hedgerow planting, native planting and provision of new bird nesting opportunities. Landscaping will be provided on site to ensure local character is retained and enhanced, whilst providing much needed market and affordable housing in Bassingbourn.

Land at Whitecroft Road, Meldreth
Gladman are promoting 3.77ha of land at Whitecroft Road, Meldreth. The site is capable of delivering 90 homes, up to 36 of which will be affordable. Development at this location offers significant opportunities for community benefits through CIL-compliant financial contributions and increased local spending through new residents.
The site is in a highly sustainable location, well contained by residential dwellings to the east and Whitecroft Road to the west. The settlement is served by excellent transport links, including a train station with regular services to Cambridge and London. The site presents no harm to heritage assets and is not at risk of flooding, as demonstrated in the Modelling Report attached to Gladman’s submission. Details of the modelling results are included in the ArcGIS StoryMap for this settlement.

Land at New Road, Melbourn
Gladman are promoting 5.88ha of land for residential development at New Road, Melbourn. The site is capable of delivering 140 new homes, up to which 56 will be affordable whilst maintaining and enhancing existing vegetation, allowing the new development to integrate into the wider existing landscape.
The site is within Flood Zone 1, presents no harm to heritage assets and compliments the recent developments to the north and northwest of the site. The site can also provide ecological enhancements through recreational green space, biodiversity net gain and new habitats created through the provision of a sustainable drainage system.