Greater Cambridge Local Plan Preferred Options

We support the proposals for peatland restoration in parts of the plan area where there are significant areas of peat which have become degraded. In other areas, we would like to see the plan advocate significant expansion of tree canopy cover, either through planting of woodland, natural regeneration or planting of standard trees in streets or other locations as part of new development.

The leaders group for the Oxcam Growth Arc has recently agreed a set of environmental principles to guide development in the Growth Arc and two of these which are relevant are doubling of land managed for nature and an expansion of tree canopy cover from the current 7.4% up to 19%. Given that Cambridgeshire has the lowest woodland cover of any county in England, we believe that it is particularly important that expansion of tree cover is seen as a priority in the Greater Cambridge area, recognising the important role which trees and woods can play in tackling both the climate and biodiversity emergencies.

We support the intention to require at least 20% net gain in biodiversity from new development. This is necessary to ensure that each development makes a significant contribution to reversing the decline in biodiversity which has occurred in Cambridgeshire and across the country in recent decades.

However, we believe that the proposed policy on protection of important habitats needs strengthening. When considering irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees, it is not sufficient to say that development will be allowed if the need for it significantly outweighs the biodiversity benefit of retaining it. In 2019, the wording on ancient woodland protection in the NPPF was significantly strengthened to say that loss should only be permitted in "wholly exceptional" circumstances (para 175c). So the wording in your plan needs to be at least as strong as that in the NPPF.

S/RRP/E/6 Papworth Hospital Papworth Everard Proposed Special Policy Area 5.31 Ha
We have concerns about possible development at this site as our research shows that it is adjacent to an area of ancient woodland known as Papworth Wood at TL29116299 (8.5 Ha). We would therefore like to see a suitable buffering strip put in place to protect this woodland if development takes place on the site

S/NWC North West Cambridge (Eddington) Cambridge Existing mixed use (Research Institutes) Contains Ancient Tree Contains:
Tree Id: 96156 Oak

This development site contains an ancient tree at the location listed above. We therefore request that any development on this site take place with appropriate measures being taken to retain and protect this tree and its root system; ie by putting in place appropriate buffering around the tree.