Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options 2020

Good design comes in a number of ways. Zero carbon is critical. Even if central government is not prepared to go far enough can we run a local scheme? Could we make planning cheaper if you are creating a zero carbon development? Could we create an awards scheme where zero carbon developments get a plaque or properties that have retrofitted get a plaque etc? Could all public buildings have their epc certificate on the outside? Diversity is essential to create an attractive and varied environment to live in, I like Rosehip Lane in Orchard park but think that some of the pastel cladding on other properties there has aged badly. The question must be not how will this look when built but how will it look in 10 years time and 50 years time? Plants always look good can we soften more properties with plants? The new Park Street Car Park in Cambridge is spectacularly bland and ugly for such a beautiful city. If that had been designed with big boxes for planting which draped up and down the building it could have been beautiful. Finally it is critical that we design developments that fulfil the essential requirements of living. - How we do move about our communities can we do it without cars and is it safe to park expensive electric bikes here? Do buses provide the necessary service? - How do we eat – talk to the supermarkets about their visions of how to feed people in the future. Perhaps it’s a community hub with refrigerated lockers where groceries could be dropped off in one go. - What do people do – are there spaces for recreation outside and inside. If I want to reduce my carbon footprint what am I going to do instead? If I’m not spending my weekends going on mini breaks to Europe what am I going to do? Is there a makers space locally? Can I start a sewing club? Is there a pub? Orchard Park doesn’t have a pub that’s bad design. - Where will I get my health care? Do I need a car to get there and is there a space on the patient list for me? Get this in place from the start.

Nothing chosen

To me sustainability is the biggest issue way above continuing economic growth, I think the collapse of the High Street is demonstrating a mind shift in how we spend money. So looking at the past is not necessarily that helpful for the future. Fundamentally it all revolves around creating good places where people want to live and can live happily and creating space and appropriate opportunity for new types of business to be started and grow. Set aside these spaces and put covenants on them so that they can never be developed for housing.

I think this area is appalling for SME’s absolutely appalling. There are no starter spaces, no low rent units from the council. You have to look to the commercial world when you start a business and that can be really challenging – what wants to sign a 3 year lease when you’ve not made a penny from your business yet? I think this district is absolutely appalling for starting and running a small business which isn’t a consultancy and it is one of the main things that makes me question why I live here. Small units with flexible usage which are not always vulnerable to development are essential. Development is always one way, shops and units turned into housing. Force new spaces to be redesigned more creatively or allow some applications to go the other way housing to commercial space, or shared commercial/residential space.

Yes, if you develop it replace it elsewhere within say 2 miles. You are creating a homogenous dull tech and science suburb which is unrepresentative and makes it difficult for people who live here and don’t have those skills to find a role. It is also very challenging to run a business here. There are loads of sectors needed to support the acts of living and it is hard for many of those to function here.

Mending and making jobs locally here. Small scale jobs. These are the types of jobs critical for a low carbon future but it is just too expensive to find a premises to run somewhere like this. There is a second hand childrens clothes and toys place in Fulbourn but due to the terrible public transport I’d have to drive to get there with god knows what completely unnecessary carbon footprint. There are almost no other second hand furniture or clothing places around apart from charity shops. We need to find spaces for people to run businesses which make enough to support their family but may never be the next ARM. Small businesses which are critical for communities. The fact that almost the only places you can buy second hand stuff locally are the charity shops tells you something very damning about the economics of running a small business around here. In Ely and St Ives it’s different, around Cambridge it’s terrible.

There must be space for business within our communities and any new large scale development should be required to organise public transport – that might be an electric mini bus to a park and ride car park or whatever. Building a business park people have to drive to is a total disaster.

Very flexible

More flexible. If you want people to reduce their carbon footprint let them work from home. Let them run small businesses from home but be very specific about what you do and do not allow. At this point in time decisions are determined by the arbitrary decision of a planning inspector there is no clarity about what is and is not allowed in the process, no guidelines on your website even though central government implies that running a small non disruptive business from home is fine as long as you pay the appropriate tax. Provide clarity about what is and is not acceptable then people can build and grow with confidence then be in a position to move on as their business expands. If you do not have affordable alternatives available (you do not here) you need some flexibility about people working from home.

sustainability

Build close to Cambridge, build on the green belt, if you are going to expand communities make sure the community wants to be expanded and if not build stand alone communities. Work out how people are going to move around in the community. Don’t build anywhere that can only be accessed by car. The Cam is running dry this is a tragedy we need to resolve this as a matter of urgency. So there should be a moratorium on all building until the water issue is resolved.

Nothing chosen

No not at the moment – we will run out of water and all the homes particularly to the east and north east of Cambridge will become vulnerable to flooding. You need to sort out water first.