Greater Cambridge Local Plan Preferred Options

This policy has begun to consider the mix of homes that are needed across Greater Cambridge to support the area’s needs. The policy identifies some broad ranges as recommendations for housing mix, but encourages applicants to work collaboratively with a Registered Provider, the relevant Councils housing team, and the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning service, to discuss the final mix (market and affordable) for a new development ahead of the submission of a planning application. Marshall welcomes this approach.

– including student accommodation and purpose built Build to Rent (B2R) options for those working or studying at the university or in shorter term roles at the research hub or with businesses. There are also a range of affordable flats and houses to meet the needs of those on lower incomes. The range of units is also being developed to accommodate the needs of the middle earners who may not qualify for affordable housing options, but nonetheless require high quality but affordable options. The work is being been developed with a view to maximise internalisation (the number of people who live and work on site) as much as possible; as such there would be are a range of sizes of flats and houses to accommodate the diverse needs generated by the site and its local context.

The work that Marshall has undertaken so far on housing mix broadly aligns with this policy, but the deliverability and viability of these requirements may need to be reviewed as development proposals emerge.

The policy intent in relation to housing density confirms that there will not be a blanket requirement, but instead housing densities will be determined on a site specific basis. This is largely justified on the basis of site specific constraints (historic character) and opportunities (transport accessibility).

Marshall is supportive of a design-led approach to density that encourages each site to make the best use of land, whilst remaining sensitive to local character. Marshall has recently appointed specialist landscape architects who will be advising on the opportunities and constraints across the Cambridge East site and what these mean for densities and heights that can be supported across the development. It is intended that this work will feed into the discussions that Marshall will continue with the GCSP in order to help in demonstrating the capacity of the site and begin to establish design principles and draft local plan site allocation policies.

Paragraph 22 of the NPPF states “Strategic policies should look ahead over a minimum 15 year period from adoption, to anticipate and respond to long-term requirements and opportunities, such as those arising from major improvements in infrastructure. Where larger scale developments such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns form part of the strategy for the area, policies should be set within a vision that looks further ahead (at least 30 years), to take into account the likely timescale for delivery.”

In addition, the NPPF (at paragraph 73) states that the supply of large numbers of new homes can often be achieved through planning for larger scale development, including significant extensions to existing towns, provided they are well-located and designed, and supported by the necessary infrastructure and facilities.

The spatial development of Cambridge to date partly reflects a lack of transport investment; therefore, Marshall supports the GCSP’s policy intent to focus on planning for the right services, facilities and transport opportunities in the right place, and bringing these forward at the right times to support the delivery of housing and employment.

Marshall extends it support to the Local Plan’s intention to distribute development to locations that can make the most of existing infrastructure and that present opportunities to address any infrastructure deficits. The infrastructure deficit in the east of the city can only be transformed through a partnership of co-ordinated public sector working and high quality new development planned on a scale to incorporate infrastructure of real value.

Cambridge East is identified in the transport evidence base reports as offers the opportunity to plan for both housing and employment at a scale which would provide a substantial contribution to the future needs of the city. The site provides an opportunity to deliver transformational solutions that unlock the investment needed in transport infrastructure to fix its economic geography. It provides the opportunity to improve connectivity to the city centre via a segregated link to the station, as well as improved connectivity to the existing clusters in the north and the south. This would result in benefits to residents – reduced journey times and reduced congestion – but also would create economic benefits by increasing the effective density of the city, making jobs effectively closer to each other, resulting in productivity benefits. The level of transport improvement that is possible will depend largely on the scale of development at Cambridge East. Commercial space and homes result in more transport journeys and therefore require more investment in transport, whilst making that investment more viable.

As set out in the NPPF, the supply of large numbers of new homes can often be best achieved through planning for large scale development, provided that this development is supported by the necessary infrastructure. In order to ensure there is a genuine switch from car use towards sustainable modes of transport, new development must be supported by convenient, regular and affordable public transport, as well as safe and accessible pedestrian / cycle links.

Marshall supports the principles of sustainable transport and the aims of this policy which “seek to deliver sustainable and inclusive communities by minimising the need to travel and reducing travel distances, whilst ensuring there is effective and sufficient sustainable transport mode choice and improved connectivity for everyone of any ability. It will require development to be located and designed to reduce the need to travel, particularly by car, and promote sustainable travel appropriate to its location.” (Page 304, ‘First Proposals’ consultation document)

By locating growth in the most sustainable locations, that are well-connected to transport links and a short distance from key services and facilities, this delivers the tools to start generating a modal shift towards the use of sustainable travel methods. Marshall recognises this and have been developing a transport strategy, in collaboration with the County Council, GCP and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, that supports the level of growth that Cambridge East is allocated for within the ‘First Proposals’ document, but that also considers and explores what could be achieved if the scale of the opportunity at Cambridge East is maximised. The Site represents a significant opportunity to integrate and provide cross-city connectivity with the wider Greater Cambridge transport network and thus can interact with the city as a whole.

The transport evidence base documents are clear that Cambridge East is one of the best performing locations in transport terms. The site reduces the need to travel by car and generally contributes less to congestion in the peak periods than sites in other broad locations. Cambridge East would also achieve low mode shares of car use even without mitigation, linked to the proximity of the site to the city and the ability to access jobs and services on the site itself and nearby via non-car modes. This helps to establish good sustainable transport characteristics for the site. The use of active modes and public transport combined at Cambridge East can be a fundamental component of the transport strategy. The level of Park & Ride trips modelled indicates there may be scope to refine the assessment of the Cambridge Eastern Access scheme to achieve a higher proportion of trips from the site that use direct Public Transport services rather than drive to a Park & Ride site.

Cambridge East is a catalyst for growth that can unlock the sustainable movement strategy for east Cambridge and contribute significantly towards a holistic solution for the city as a whole. It is only through intelligent growth, rather than a restricted approach to development, which can change the unsatisfactory status quo and bring transformational change in line with the Local Plan objectives.