Greater Cambridge Local Plan Preferred Options

Huntingdonshire District Council consider that the Greater Cambridge vision is commendable as it sets a clear theme which runs through the proposed policy suggestions for the Local Plan. This is especially so in relation to a reduction in climate impacts, minimising carbon emissions, increasing nature, wildlife and green spaces.

Many of the housing and mixed-use allocations that have been outlined in the First Proposals document (Figure 4) have been carried forward from the Councils’ existing Local Plans. As these sites have already been through an examination process Huntingdonshire District Council have no objections to the location of these developments.

Figure 4 also identifies accelerated delivery at Waterbeach and Northstowe. At Northstowe, supporting documents identify that this will be as a result of using modern methods of construction Huntingdonshire District Council concur that off-site modular construction can assist in accelerating delivery on sites. The Council would like to ensure that faster delivery on sites does not impact on infrastructure provision and services in the surrounding areas, this would include access to GP surgeries, transport networks etc and recreational pressure on green infrastructure e.g. Fen Drayton Lakes.

The Councils’ major locations for growth are directed towards “where it has the least climate impact, where active and public transport is the natural choice, where green infrastructure can be delivered alongside new development, and where jobs, services and facilities can be located near to where people live.” Huntingdonshire District Council agree that this is the most sustainable growth option and can reduce the climate impact of commuting. The Council concurs that 2041 is an appropriate date for this plan period given the level of uncertainty over the routing and delivery timeframes of major transport infrastructure projects including East-West Rail and the Oxford to Cambridge expressway. It is considered that it may be appropriate for subsequent plan reviews to consider a longer plan period to reflect these major infrastructure projects and to consider other large scale strategic sites to reflect these opportunities.

It is also agreed that growth in rural areas should be based around where there are good public transport links and services. This provides opportunities to promote reduced car travel. To encourage a shift towards more sustainable modes of travel these principles must be fully integrated into the design of new development and available by the time the first residents occupy properties or businesses move in (as appropriate). This will help to ensure that residents and employees adopt sustainable transport choices from day one, reducing the draw towards car usage as a result of an initial lack of alternatives.

Greater Cambridge has proposed a medium growth scenario. In establishing the housing and jobs figures the Council must take into account any needs arising within neighbouring areas. Huntingdonshire District Council adopted Huntingdonshire’s Local Plan to 2036 in May 2019 and can therefore confirm that they are not currently looking towards neighbouring authorities to assist in meeting their housing or jobs need.

Greater Cambridge’s Medium Growth Scenario plans for 58,500 jobs and 44,400 homes, reflecting an annual objectively assessed need of 2,111 homes per year. It is considered that this is a sensible approach and takes into account the need to reduce commuting to the economic hubs within the authorities’ areas. However, as mentioned in the First Proposals document there is further work to be done to confirm whether this target could be achieved, especially in relation to water supply infrastructure. A letter 30 June 2021 titled ‘Greater Cambridge Local Plan – Green belt and the Duty to Cooperate’, sets out Huntingdonshire District Council’s response to meeting any additional need from Greater Cambridge. In summary it was urged that full consideration is given to all possible locational choices during the course of the preferred options consultation. Only if it is demonstrated that Greater Cambridge cannot meet its standard method (minimum) housing need, rather than any higher aspirational target would Huntingdonshire District Council give further consideration to this issue.

Huntingdonshire District Council support Greater Cambridge’s intention to continue development at existing strategic sites as allocated in previous plans, for example Darwin Green, North West Cambridge, Northstowe, Waterbeach, Cambourne, Bourn and The Genome Campus. These strategic developments will deliver housing and employment over an extended time period providing long-term certainty of delivery. The addition of a 10% buffer also provides security in the event of stalled or slowed delivery as a result of unexpected market fluctuations.

National planning policy says at least 10% of an Authority’s housing requirement should be accommodated on sites no larger than 1 hectare, unless it can be shown that there are strong reasons why this cannot be achieved. Greater Cambridge notes that “The site commitments we have and new proposals suggested in this consultation, together with windfall sites expected to come forward would mean we exceed this requirement by some margin.” Huntingdonshire District Council supports this statement as long as delivery on development sites for the plan period can be achieved.


There appears to be some uncertainty regarding the delivery of the strategy set out in the First Proposals Document. Two key examples included in the document are identified on:
• page 44, where it is stated that the proposed strategy is “heavily informed by the location of existing and committed public transport schemes. For example, locating growth at Cambourne takes advantage of the proposed East West Rail station and Cambourne to Cambridge Public Transport Scheme; equally, North East Cambridge is made more sustainable by the presence of Cambridge North Station, the proposed Waterbeach to Cambridge North Public Transport Scheme, and Waterbeach Greenway. Beyond this, we have undertaken transport modelling to understand whether additional infrastructure and policies, beyond these proposals, would be required to address the transport impacts of the preferred development strategy. Transport infrastructure and policy requirements associated with specific proposed allocations are set out in each allocation policy within this chapter.”;
• Page 42 which notes that “The Councils have been, and continue to, engage with the relevant bodies responsible for water supply planning, including Water Resources East, the Water Companies and the Environment Agency to ensure they understand the significance of the issue. We are taking every opportunity to raise this at the most senior level with all key parties, including government through its focus on the Oxford-Cambridge Spatial Framework, that will also have to address this issue. If it is concluded that it is not possible to demonstrate an adequate supply of water without unacceptable environmental harm to support development ahead of strategic water infrastructure being in place, there may be a need for the plan to include policies to phase delivery of development; and
• Relocation of Marshall Airport to fully deliver Cambridge East (Policy S/CE)

Taking these key delivery issues into consideration it is suggested that a stepped trajectory and phased delivery of development would be the best approach to delivering the strategy for Greater Cambridge and the surrounding areas. This is especially so in relation to the issue regarding water supply, this is not solely a Greater Cambridge issue and will be likely to affect all surrounding districts to varying degrees, therefore it would be difficult to justify that level or speed of delivery in or around the Greater Cambridge area, if the issue is not resolved.

Additionally, any unresolved issues regarding the transport impacts of the preferred development strategy, would also provide similar issues in neighbouring authorities.

Huntingdonshire District Council supports Greater Cambridge’s focus on employment uses such as Life Sciences (including healthcare, biotechnology and biomedical activities) associated research and development laboratory space and life science related advanced manufacturing.

Huntingdonshire District Council agree to Greater Cambridge’s approach to a settlement hierarchy. The approach supports proportionate levels of growth focusing on larger growth in areas with public transport provision. Minor Rural Centres, Group Villages and Infill Villages are afforded smaller development quotas to meet local need and organic growth (providing choice in the housing market). This approach is supported as it should facilitate local development without overwhelming services and facilities and minimising increased carbon emissions as a result of increased commuting by car due to a lack of public transport provision.

Greater Cambridge has taken a sensible approach to settlement boundaries by taking into account present and proposed development. Periodic reviews may need to be made to the policies map to ensure that the boundaries remain up to date in the event of windfall or rural exceptions development. Huntingdonshire District Council agree that small clusters of buildings, isolated properties and hamlets should not be provided with a settlement boundary and should be considered as countryside. This will enable the character of the area to be preserved and countryside and landscape impact to be minimised.

Huntingdonshire District Council agree that Greater Cambridge should look towards Cambridge to create new neighbourhoods on larger brownfield sites such as North East Cambridge. As the economic hub of the authorities, the impact of commuting within the area and in the surrounding districts is substantial. This strategy will enable the Councils to work towards their vision to create a “big decrease in climate impacts” and minimising carbon emissions and reliance on the private car. This will also have a positive impact on the surrounding districts.

Huntingdonshire District Council’s response to the North East Cambridge Development was submitted as part of the North East Cambridge Area Action Plan consultations.

Careful consideration will have to be given to the timing of delivery in relation to the relocation of the WasteWater Treatment Works and whether this will slow delivery on site.

Huntingdonshire District Council would like assurance that the Councils have additional sites to meet their housing need if delivery slows as a result of the relocation of the WasteWater Treatment Works to ensure that additional demands are not placed on the wider housing market due to under delivery within Greater Cambridge.

Huntingdonshire District Council has no comment on this matter.

Huntingdonshire District Council has no comment on this matter.