Planning in Cambridge

Protection of public houses

Safeguard public houses, only allowing their loss to other uses where they are no longer needed within the community as a public house or other form of community facility, demonstrated by evidence of effective marketing and exploration of options to make it viable. Support diversification of public house uses to help them remain viable, such as the use of part of a pub for another use that would support its viability while respecting the site's prevailing character.

Visitor accommodation, attractions and facilities

Proposals for new hotels and other types of dedicated visitor accommodation within Cambridge (including its urban area extending into South Cambridgeshire) would need to be focused on accessible city centre locations, other mixed-use and large employment areas, on public transport corridors and where they assist with place-making. Where planning permission is needed, the conversion of residential properties to permanent visitor accommodation use within Cambridge (including its urban area extending into South Cambridgeshire) will be allowed only in exceptional circumstances where it does not adversely affect: - the supply or affordability of local housing including rental values; - residents' amenity and sense of security; and - the local area's character or community cohesion. Existing visitor accommodation in Cambridge will be protected from conversion subject to evidence on the viability of the current use. Proposals for visitor accommodation within settlement boundaries in South Cambridgeshire will be supported where the scale and type of development is directly related to the role and function of the centre and supports its vitality. Outside settlement boundaries new visitor accommodation through the change of use / conversion / replacement of suitable buildings and by small scale new developments appropriate to local circumstances will be supported. New visitor attractions in Cambridge City Centre and South Cambridgeshire's countryside will be supported subject to criteria such as sustainable travel. Proposals for new or extended tourist facilities and visitor attractions (excluding accommodation) in the countryside of South Cambridgeshire should utilise and enhance the area's existing tourism assets, and show an identified need for a rural location.

Community, sports, and leisure facilities

This policy will support the development of new facilities in appropriate locations where there is a local need for the facilities, and they are in close proximity to the people they will serve. They will also need to take account of what already exists in the area and should not undermine their long-term viability. New or replacement major facilities serving the city, or where appropriate the sub region, would need to follow the sequential approach to main town centre uses established by national planning policy, and be located in sustainable, accessible locations. Existing facilities and services will continue to be protected, where the loss would cause an unacceptable reduction in the quality, capacity or access in the locality. The loss of facilities will only be supported if they are either suitably replaced or it can be satisfactorily proven they are no longer needed. The Local Plan will require appropriate community, cultural, education, sports and leisure provision to meet the needs generated by new developments. The scale and range of this provision or contribution will need to address a wide variety of needs, maximising access for all ages and abilities. These also need to reflect changing approaches to service delivery, for example with community hubs where a variety of different complementary services can be grouped together efficiently. In large scale developments and new communities, community development strategies will be required, to explore how places will become communities, and how early residents will be supported. These strategies may include cultural and public art activities, to help bring together new communities at an early stage of their development and should help foster greater community interaction and place making. It is also important that social infrastructure, provided to support new residential developments is provided in both appropriate locations and a timely manner.

Creating healthy new developments

Health Impact Assessments will be required to accompany planning applications (at a level of detail appropriate to the scale and nature of the application) with an updated approach to reflect good practice. We also propose to explore a policy which restricts the development of new hot-food takeaway premises close to schools or leisure centres and limits the concentration of hot food takeaway premises in city, town, neighbourhood and village centres.

Meanwhile uses during long term redevelopments

This policy will seek meanwhile uses on vacant sites or in underused buildings as part of the phased development of major development sites and within other vacant sites and premises where a longer-term use is still being resolved. These meanwhile uses will support the local community and contribute to the vibrancy of the area as new communities develop.

People and place responsive design

Development proposals will be supported that: Respond to Greater Cambridge's communities by: ■ Identifying and responding positively to their context, including existing physical features and characteristics of natural, historic, social or local importance. ■ Ensuring that proposals meet the principles of inclusive and healthy design, and in particular meet the needs of disabled people, older people and those with young children. ■ Be designed to remove the threat or perceived threat of crime and improve community safety, especially those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act. ■ Using community engagement to inform design decisions. Improve Greater Cambridge's connectivity by: ■ Being well connected to, and integrated with, the immediate locality and wider area including existing or planned social, environmental, and transport infrastructure. Support the climate emergency response by: ■ Being designed to be long lasting and low impact in delivery and maintenance. Enhance the character of Greater Cambridge by: ■ Having a positive impact on their setting in terms of location on the site, height and skyline, scale and form, townscape and landscape impacts and available views, to create a legacy of beautiful buildings and spaces in Greater Cambridge ■ Using appropriate local characteristics to inform the siting, massing, scale, form, materials and landscape design of new development. ■ Tall building proposals must be of exceptional quality and ensure that the character or appearance of Cambridge, as a city of spires and towers emerging above the established tree line, is maintained.

Achieving high quality development

This policy will require proposals to demonstrate how they meet the following expectations: Designed with communities in mind: • Ensure that buildings are orientated to provide natural surveillance and maximise opportunities to create active ground floor uses. • Create active edges on to public space by locating appropriate uses, as well as entrances and windows of habitable rooms next to the street. • Use design to minimise adverse impact on neighbouring buildings and spaces in terms of privacy and overlooking, sunlight and daylight, overshadowing and other micro climate considerations, artificial lighting, vibration, noise, fumes and odour, and other forms of pollution. • Introduce mixed uses proposals in a way that can benefit all occupants where appropriate, avoiding the mixing of incompatible uses. Create local connections: • Ensure building entrances and exits are convenient, safe and accessible for all users throughout the day and night, with lighting and security features successfully integrated into the design. Are climate-positive: • Create robust and adaptable building forms that can be successfully adapted and reused, extending their lifespan and reducing the carbon impacts of demolition. • Successfully integrate functional needs such as refuse, recycling, and bicycle parking does not negatively impact on the existing building or the amenity of neighbouring properties. Contribute and respond to local character: • Provide a comprehensive design approach that achieves the successful integration of buildings, routes and spaces between buildings, topography, townscape and landscape. • Create attractive and appropriately-scaled built frontages to positively enhance streets and/or public spaces in both urban and rural settings. • Use materials and details that are of high quality, that will age well and be easy to maintain, and if an extension or alteration, reflect, or successfully contrast with, the existing building form, through the use of materials and architectural detailing. • Ensure that development proposals successfully integrate functional aspects such as waste and recycling, bicycle parking and car parking. • Any proposal for a structure that breaks the existing skyline and/or is significantly taller than the surrounding built form will need to demonstrate through visual assessment or appraisal with supporting accurate visual representations, how the proposals enhance the existing landscape and townscape and do not cause unacceptable impact on the historic environment. Major schemes should share a native 3-D file for assessment.

Establishing high quality landscape and public realm

Developers will be required to demonstrate how their proposals meet the following expectations: Enabling local communities: • Ensure new and enhanced existing routes are designed inclusively, prioritising a pedestrian led movement hierarchy including generous and level footways that avoids street clutter. • Include seating, drinking water fountains, shade and shelter, bicycle parking, street lighting, signage and public art, designed in a coordinated and needs-led approach which does not obstruct the public realm or create street clutter. • Parking should not reduce the functionality of open spaces, and if on street should be inset in an expanded footway to allow pedestrian movements when not occupied. Enhance connectivity: • Ensure that new and existing public realm seamlessly connects, and that the quality and function of existing routes are enhanced. • Establish streets and open spaces that are well defined, and which clearly demarcate public and private space. • Create streets that respond to their levels of use while not allowing vehicular traffic to dominate. Respond to climate: • Be landscape led, by retaining and enhancing existing features including trees, natural habitats, boundary treatments and historic street furniture and/or surfaces that positively contribute to the quality and character of an area. • Ensure species are selected that enhance biodiversity through the use of native planting and/or species capable of adapting to our changing climate. • Integrate surface water management through design to enable pedestrian accessibility and planting, retaining existing natural features where possible, do not pave over front gardens if this is compromised. • Factor microclimate into design proposals and that public spaces receive adequate sunlight. Integrate with local character: • Respond to its context and relate to the character and intended function of the spaces and surrounding buildings through the use of high quality and well detailed materials that are easily maintained. • Ensure that the right growing conditions and future management regimes for landscape schemes are secured and implemented, and ensure that space for trees and other planting is incorporated that is appropriate to the scale of buildings. • Provide appropriate types of open space whether in urban or more rural places that link into other sequences of existing or new landscape spaces and wider settings.

Affordable workspace and creative industries

It is proposed to require affordable workspace to be delivered as a proportion of larger commercial developments. Affordable workspace can be defined as workspace that has a rental value below the market rate (generally, 80% of the market rate or less). If on-site provision is not possible, it is proposed to require financial contributions for equivalent off-site provision. To help new communities develop, major mixed use developments should incorporate an element of affordable workspace. They should also include provision for creative and artists' workspace, rehearsal and performance space and makerspace.

Supporting a range of facilities in employment parks

Support appropriately scaled leisure, eating and social hub facilities where they support the functioning of an employment area, and they are primarily aimed at meeting the needs of workers on site and help to manage the transport impacts of the development.

Faculty development and specialist / language schools

We propose to support new faculty and specialist facilities / development in Greater Cambridge which meet the following requirements: • make effective use of land, including a mix of uses on larger sites to meet the needs of the relevant institution, and • take reasonable opportunities to improve circulation for pedestrians and cyclists, together with public realm improvements, reductions in car parking provision and the introduction of active frontages at ground floor level. We propose that the development of existing and new specialist colleges and/or language schools will be permitted where they provide residential accommodation, social and amenity facilities for all non-local students (students arriving to study from outside Cambridge and the Cambridge sub-region), with controls in place to ensure that the provision of accommodation is in step with the expansion of student places. The use of family dwelling houses to accommodate students of specialist colleges and/or language schools only is not appropriate.

New employment development proposals

Employment development (classes E(g), B2 and B8) will be supported: ■ In Cambridge at sites set out in the Strategy section of this consultation, and within appropriate mixed use areas of major change and opportunity areas. Other employment proposals to be considered on their merits where they are of an appropriate scale, character and accessible location. ■ Within towns and villages, where it is of an appropriate scale and character to the location and scale of settlement. The policy would cover both new premises and the expansion of existing premises. ■ Close to but outside settlement boundaries of villages subject to a number of criteria (described below). ■ In defined 'established employment areas in the countryside' (listed below). ■ In the countryside only where the expansion of existing businesses fulfils a number of criteria (described below). Large scale national and regional warehousing and distribution centres will not be supported in Greater Cambridge.

Protecting existing business space

The Local Plan will seek to protect employment land from loss to other uses in Greater Cambridge, including specific protection for industrial sites in Cambridge. Where loss is proposed, it will need to be justified by evidence that it is no longer needed (by being effectively marketed, with the plan setting out what this would entail). The following industrial sites in Cambridge will be protected from development that would result in the loss of employment floorspace or land: ■ Cheddars Lane, Cambridge ■ Beadle Industrial Estate, Ditton Walk, Abbey ■ Henley Road and Coldham's Road, Cambridge ■ Mercers Row Industrial Estate (including Swanns Road), Abbey ■ North of Coldham's Lane, Cambridge (including Church End Industrial Estate and College Business Park). ■ King's Hedges Road – Kirkwood Road / Kilmaine Estate, King's Hedges ■ Ronald Rolph Court, Ditton Walk, Abbey ■ Coldham's Lane Business Park, Cambridge ■ Barnwell Business Park, Abbey

Supporting the rural economy

Support proposals for diversification schemes which enable continued operation of agricultural and other land based rural businesses particularly where they are engaged in sustainable land management or renewable / low carbon energy, where they are appropriate in scale to their location and, where possible, reuse existing buildings. Support the re-use of rural buildings in the countryside for employment purposes, where they are of permanent and substantial construction and in keeping with their surroundings. Allow the replacement of such buildings where it would bring about environmental improvement and a more sustainable development.

Enabling remote working

Policies will support the creation of local employment hubs, outlining acceptable types, scale and location of development. They will also support the partial conversion, extension or change of use of residential dwellings to enable the residents to work at or from part of the dwelling, subject to criteria addressing, for example, the impacts on neighbours of traffic, noise and disturbance and the character and appearance of the proposals.

Babraham Research Campus

■ Remove the developed area of the Campus from the Green Belt. ■ Remove from the Green Belt and allocate an additional area for employment development (research and development) of 17.1 hectares within and adjoining the existing built area of the campus. ■ Identify the whole site release from the Green Belt as a Policy Area, requiring any proposals to: ■ Restrict development to research and development (use class (E(g)(ii) Research and development of products or processes) and appropriate supporting ancillary uses and infrastructure. ■ Protect and enhance the landscaped setting of the site ■ Preserve the appearance of the conservation areas, and the setting of the Grade II Listed Babraham Hall and the Grade I Listed St Peters Church. ■ Protect and enhance the corridor of the River Granta (recognised as a county wildlife site) ■ Take steps to include sustainable travel opportunities, including the opportunities provided by the planned Cambridge South East Transport Scheme. ■ Retain the area of The Close as key worker and affordable housing to support the needs of the Campus. Any future renovation or replacement should retain the low density character, which responds to the sensitive village edge location.

Cambridge Biomedical Campus (including Addenbrooke's Hospital)

The Greater Cambridge Local Plan will support development on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus to meet local, regional or national health care needs or for biomedical and biotechnology research and development activities, related higher education and sui generis medical research institutes, associated support activities to meet the needs of employees and visitors, and residential uses where it would provide affordable and key worker homes for campus employees. An updated masterplan will be required for the Campus, to improve the overall experience of the site for workers and visitors. This should maximise opportunities to improve the 'legibility' of the Campus by providing a network of cycle and pedestrian routes, high quality new public realm and open space, but in particular explore opportunities to enhance connections with the proposed Cambridge South Railway Station. An additional area adjoining Babraham Road (S/CBC-A on the map) is identified as a potential area to be released from the Green Belt specifically to meet the long-term needs of the Campus. Any release would be subject to the following: Significant Green Belt enhancement in adjoining areas of White Hill and Nine Wells will be required to provide green infrastructure and biodiversity improvements supporting the objectives of the Strategic Green Infrastructure Initiative 3: Gog Magog Hills and chalkland fringe. These areas would remain within the Green Belt and are included in the Area of Major Change to highlight that future proposals for built development on the allocated areas must also include green infrastructure and biodiversity improvements within this adjoining open area. A comprehensive landscaping plan, including the delivery of new publicly accessible green space will need to be delivered, to create a soft green edge of the city, to minimise the urbanising effects of the development and help compensate for harm to the Green Belt. Design parameters regarding the scale and height of buildings will be established, to respond to the landscape and townscape of Cambridge. Development is dependent on the successful implementation of a Trip Budget approach, to ensure that the level of vehicle trips is limited to an appropriate level for the surrounding road network. Development on the additional land will only be allowed to take place when evidence is provided that opportunities on the existing campus have been fully explored and utilised before development takes place on the released land. Given the existing piecemeal development on the biomedical campus, any proposed release must contribute towards improving the wellbeing of campus users and surrounding communities, as well as addressing the spill over impacts on individuals and communities of this intensive employment location.

Genome Campus, Hinxton

The Genome Campus, Hinxton will be identified as a Policy Area. The policy will include: ■ Supporting development which relates to the campus and its role as a centre for genomics and associated bioinformatics industries ■ Proposals for B2 (industry) and B8 (warehousing) uses will need to be justified by a needs assessment which sets out the specific requirements of the intended occupier to locate onto the site ■ Requiring supporting uses to consider impact in terms of vitality and viability on local or minor rural centres in the area. ■ Enabling opening up of the Campus to members of the public, as part of delivering wider social benefits. ■ Ensuring environmental and other impacts are fully considered by any future proposals.

West Cambridge

Continue to provide a policy for future development of the West Cambridge site, refined to better reflect the themes of the new Local Plan, including providing an element of flexibility to include some new homes where it would support the vibrancy of the campus. The University through the recent resolution to grant planning permission has ambitions for the West Cambridge Area to become an 'innovation district.' The proposed allocation would therefore carry forward the allocation of the West Cambridge site from the 2018 Local Plan, to support the site in meeting the needs of the University, for uses related to education, associated sui generis research, academic research, commercial research, and development of products or processes, where it will support knowledge transfer and/or open innovation from these for the wider Cambridgeshire and UK economy. Future development of the site should seek a comprehensive approach to the area, that responds to the location, and the opportunities to create a thriving environment for people, as well as playing a significant role supporting the high technology economy of Cambridge. Development should provide a mix of complementary uses to go with the work buildings if it is to operate as a successful campus. Development should provide high quality walking and cycling connections, and should maximise the opportunity provided by public transport improvements such as the proposed Greater Cambridge Partnership Cambourne to Cambridge scheme. The policy provides flexibility to allow an element of residential, focused on affordable housing and key workers, where it would support making the campus to become a more vibrant employment location, and not harm employment availability.

Creating inclusive employment and business opportunities through new developments

It is proposed to require appropriately scaled developments to contribute to local training, skills and employment opportunities, for example apprenticeships, to help to ensure that the local community benefits from the development. In addition, appropriately scaled developments would be required to provide access for local businesses to supply chain opportunities in various stages of development.

Renewable energy projects and infrastructure

The policy will: 1. Provide a positive policy framework for the development of stand-alone renewable energy projects including associated infrastructure such as battery storage and upgrades to grid capacity; 2. Identify broad areas of potential suitability for different types of renewable energy, informed by Cambridgeshire Renewables Infrastructure Framework and a Landscape Sensitivity Assessment; 3. Indicate support for community led projects. 4. Identify a set of criteria which will apply to all renewable energy projects including consideration of impacts on: i. Residential amenity and quality of life (resulting from noise, vibrations, shadow flicker or visual dominance); ii. Character and appearance of the landscape and surrounding area; iii. Biodiversity, geodiversity and water quality; iv. Historical, archaeological and cultural heritage; v. Highway safety and infrastructure vi. Aviation, telecommunications or other essential infrastructure (including the Mullard radio telescope) vii. The capacity of the landscape to accommodate renewable energy projects, the ability to mitigate visual intrusion and the cumulative impacts of individual sites. 5. In relation to wind energy, require that following community engagement, it can be demonstrated that the planning impacts identified by affected local community have been fully addressed and the proposal has their backing. 6. National planning policy states that in the Green Belt, elements of many renewable energy projects will comprise inappropriate development. In such cases developers will need to demonstrate very special circumstances if projects are to proceed. Such very special circumstances may include the wider environmental benefits associated with increased production of energy from renewable sources.

Net zero carbon new buildings

Net Zero Carbon Buildings – operational emissions 1. Part A: All housing and non-domestic buildings should achieve a specific space heating demand as follows: a. All new dwellings should have a space heating demand of 15-20 kWh per meter squared per year b. All non-domestic buildings should achieve a space heating demand of 15-20 kWh per meter squared per year 2. All heating should be provided through low carbon fuels (not fossil fuels). 3. No new developments should be connected to the gas grid. 4. Part B: Total Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets are achieved as per building type (set out in kWh per m2 per year), as follows: a. All dwellings should achieve an EUI of no more than 35 kWh per m2 per year. b. Non domestic buildings should achieve the following EUI of no more than the following, where technically feasible, by building type: ■ Offices: 55 kWh per m2 per year ■ Schools: 65 kWh per m2 per year ■ Multi-residential (e.g. student accommodation): 35 kWh per m2 per year ■ Retail: 55 kWh per m2 per year ■ Leisure: 100 kWh per m2 per year ■ Research facility: 150 kWh per m2 per year ■ Higher education teaching facilities: 55 kWh per m2 per year ■ Light industrial uses: 110 kWh per m2 per year ■ GP surgery: 55 kWh per m2 per year ■ Hotel: 55 kWh per m2 per year 5. Part C: Proposals should generate at least the same amount of renewable energy (preferably on-plot) as they demand over the course of a year. This should include all energy use (regulated and unregulated), calculated using a methodology proven to accurately predict a building's actual energy performance. 6. Where a development of multiple buildings is concerned, the renewable energy generation requirement should be calculated and demonstrated across the whole development so that buildings that are able to exceed the requirements do so in order to compensate for any buildings onsite that cannot meet the requirements. 7. Part D: Offsetting to only be used in certain circumstances (e.g. insufficient roof space to generate renewable energy) – money would only be used to invest in additional renewable energy generation to ensure net zero carbon buildings are delivered. Where a proposal cannot meet the requirements in full, in addition to offsetting, the development must be futureproofed to enable future occupiers to easily retrofit or upgrade buildings and/or infrastructure in the future to enable achievement of net zero carbon development. 8. All developments must demonstrate use of an assured performance method in order to ensure that the buildings' operational energy performance reflects design intentions and addresses the performance gap. Net Zero Carbon Buildings – construction 9. Residential developments of 150 homes or more and non-residential development of 1,000 m2 or more should calculate whole life carbon emissions through a nationally recognised Whole Life Carbon Assessment and demonstrate actions to reduce life-cycle carbon emissions. This should include reducing emissions associated with construction plant.

Water efficiency in new developments

Developments will be required to meet high standards of water efficiency: • Residential developments should be designed to achieve a standard of 80 litres/person/day unless demonstrated impracticable. • Non-residential development will be required to achieve full credits for category Wat 01 of BREEAM unless demonstrated impracticable.

Energy infrastructure masterplanning

We propose to require energy masterplans for residential developments and non-residential development of a scale and nature that would allow for the benefits of smart energy management to be identified and secured. It is proposed that the requirement would apply to developments of over 100 dwellings. Energy masterplans should include an assessment of the capacity of infrastructure to support the development, any necessary reinforcements and the approach to energy provision to support net zero carbon development, smart energy management to reduce peak loads and greenhouse gas emissions and the electrification of transport giving consideration to site wide approaches. The policy will also safeguard land required to support the reinforcement of existing electricity infrastructure, for example land adjacent to existing primary sub-stations, from other forms of development.

Green infrastructure

The policy will require all development proposals – appropriate to its type, scale and location - to include green infrastructure, providing the following varied benefits for people, wildlife and planet: ■ Reinforcing and enhancing landscape and townscape, ensuring that proposed green infrastructure is appropriate to its local context. ■ Supporting delivery of biodiversity net gain, including by providing links between habitats within and beyond the site boundary, and connecting where appropriate to the wider ecological network, whilst carefully balancing the needs of wildlife and people. ■ Promoting healthy living for all members of the community by providing spaces designed to be physically accessible and socially inclusive. ■ Protecting and enhancing the water environment. ■ Enhancing access and connectivity. ■ Providing environmental enhancement. ■ Supporting climate mitigation and adaptation. To support successful delivery of green infrastructure, the policy will require proposals to demonstrate that green infrastructure has been planned: ■ As an integral part of the development, so that it informs the overall development design. This should include identifying, retaining and enhancing existing natural features of value. ■ Across all phases of development. ■ To be successful for the lifetime of the development, including providing plans for management, maintenance and funding. The policy will also require development proposals to protect and enhance the wider green infrastructure network as follows: ■ Require all new development to protect the existing green infrastructure assets, which will be identified on the policies map which will accompany the Local Plan. ■ All new development to help deliver or contribute to support delivery of the green infrastructure strategic initiative objectives. Contributions will include the establishment, enhancement and the on-going management costs.

Reducing waste and supporting the circular economy

During construction, require Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMP). The level of information provided in the CEMP should be proportionate to the scale and nature of the proposed development but should include an outline of the approach to site waste management and how construction waste will be addressed following the waste hierarchy and the 5 r's of waste management: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle. All proposals must provide adequate, flexible and easily accessible storage space and collection systems in line with the requirements of the RECAP Waste Management Design Guide (or successor documents). Proposals that exceed these requirements or propose innovative approaches to waste management will be supported. All major developments should submit a Circular Economy Statement, either as a stand-alone document or as part of the CEMP, setting out: How materials arising from demolition and remediation works will be reused and/or recycled; How the proposals design and construction will reduce material demands and enable building materials, components and products to be disassembled and re-used at the end of their useful life, following design for disassembly principles.

Flooding and integrated water management

Development will be directed to the areas with the least likelihood of flooding from all sources and taking into account climate change (the policy will not need to repeat aspects covered by the National Planning Policy Framework). Developments will be required to provide integrated water management, including sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), where surface water is managed close to its source and on the surface where reasonably practicable to do so. SuDS and green /brown roofs should provide multiple benefits (such as biodiversity and amenity). All hard surfaces must be permeable where reasonably practicable. Appropriate measures for future management will need to be demonstrated and secured. Potential flood risk to developments will need to be fully addressed including demonstrating development is resilient or adaptive to flooding. Flood management policies will require that the risk of flooding is not increased elsewhere as a result of new development. The plan will set out the approach to runoff rates, including that peak runoff rate should be no greater for the developed site than it was for the undeveloped site.

Biodiversity and geodiversity

The policy will require development to achieve a minimum 20% biodiversity net gain, noting that: - Biodiversity net gain should be submitted using the Defra Biodiversity Metric 3.0 or its successor - Biodiversity net gain should be delivered on-site where possible, recognising that for smaller developments in particular, more significant and long-lasting biodiversity enhancements may be achieved via contributions towards off-site, larger scale projects. - Where it is agreed that off-site habitat measures would bring greater biodiversity benefits than on-site measures, these must be consistent with the strategic aims of the Greater Cambridge green infrastructure network strategic initiatives (see BG3) - The Councils will seek to use planning conditions to secure on site habitat creation and its long-term management, and obligations where BNG is on land outside the applicant's control The policy will also seek wider environmental net gains. Ways of measuring this are currently being developed at a national level, and at the draft plan stage we will review whether and how to implement this policy requirement. The policy will state that development proposals adversely affecting sites of biodiversity or geological importance will not normally be permitted. Exceptions will only be made where the public benefits significantly outweigh any adverse impacts. In such cases where development is permitted, we will require that the intrinsic natural features of particular interest are safeguarded or enhanced. The policy will require development to mitigate evidenced recreational impacts on designated biodiversity and geodiversity sites, including applying Natural England's Impact Risk Zones for Sites of Special Scientific importance.

River corridors

The policy will require development located along the River Cam and its tributaries to: - Protect, enhance and restore natural features, including: - Support the renaturalisation of the rivers themselves – supporting the aims of the Cambridge Chalk Streams project. - Restore natural floodplains and integration of green infrastructure to protect communities at risk of flooding. - Establish riparian habitats where appropriate. - Protect and enhance the existing landscape of river corridors, referring to the Greater Cambridge Landscape Character Assessment for guidance. - Ensure that the location, scale and design of development, protects and enhances the character, visual amenity and historic significance of river corridors and connected locations, including in particular considering views to and from rivers. - Support enhanced access to, from and along river corridors for walking and cycling, whilst balancing this with the need to protect and enhance habitats for biodiversity, including: - For the river Cam, supporting the delivery of a continuous Cam Valley Trail. - Enhancing connections between the rivers and other green spaces. - Providing improved wayfinding and interpretation resources. - Support tourism and recreation associated with river corridors, in appropriate locations, whilst ensuring that this does not impact negatively on our rivers' other roles.

Improving tree canopy cover and the tree population

The policy will require development proposals to: - Preserve, protect and increase the amount and distribution of tree canopy cover. - Protect and enhance the tree population on site, including its diversity and distribution. - Protect existing trees of value (including landscape, heritage, cultural, amenity, biodiversity, ecosystem service or aesthetic value) as measured by a recognised tool such as iTree. - Protect existing hedgerows and the surrounding land that supports them, and to require the planting of new ones where appropriate. - Provide sufficient space above and below ground for trees and other vegetation to mature. - Provide appropriate replacement tree or hedgerow planting, where felling is proved necessary. The policy will also encourage the provision of new woodland of locally appropriate species in appropriate locations.

Supporting land-based carbon sequestration

Support the creation of land and habitats that play a role as carbon sinks and protect existing carbon sinks from development in particular undisturbed or undrained peat. Promote approaches that minimise soil disturbance, compaction and disposal during construction projects

Designing for a changing climate

All new dwellings must be designed to achieve a low overheating risk using the Good Homes Alliance Overheating in New Homes Tool and Guidance, with more detailed modelling required for schemes identified as being 'at risk', using future climate scenarios such as those provided by 2050 Prometheus weather data for Cambridge. All non-domestic buildings must be designed to achieve a low overheating risk using the cooling hierarchy, with more detailed modelling required for major developments using future climate scenarios such as those provided by 2050 Prometheus weather data for Cambridge. All developments should take a design led approach to climate change adaptation with approaches integrated into architectural design. For overheating, proposals should follow the cooling hierarchy as follows: a. Passive design: minimise internal heat generation through energy efficient design and reduction of heat entering the building through consideration of orientation, overhangs and external shading, albedo, fenestration, insulation and green roofs. b. Passive/natural cooling: use of outside air, where possible pre-cooled by soft landscaping, a green roof or by passing it underground to ventilate and cool a building without the use of a powered system. Cross ventilation, passive stack and wind driven ventilation should be maximised and single aspect dwellings must be avoided for all schemes as effective passive ventilation can be difficult or impossible to achieve. Windows and/or ventilation panels must be designed to allow effective and secure ventilation. c. Mixed mode cooling: with local mechanical ventilation/cooling provided where needed to supplement the above measures using low energy mechanical cooling d. Full building mechanical ventilation/cooling system, ensuring the lowest carbon/energy options and only considered after all other elements of the hierarchy have been utilised. All development proposals must utilise site wide approaches to reduce climate risks, including the integration of sustainable drainage systems as part of landscape design, the use of cool materials and urban greening, for example through increased tree canopy cover and an enhanced treescape and integrating green spaces into new developments.

Flooding and integrated water management

Development will be directed to the areas with the least likelihood of flooding from all sources and taking into account climate change (the policy will not need to repeat aspects covered by the National Planning Policy Framework). Developments will be required to provide

Protection and enhancement of the Cambridge Green Belt

National planning policy places great importance on Green Belt and sets out specific requirements for how planning proposals in these areas should be considered. New development in the Green Belt will only be approved in accordance with Green Belt policy in the National Planning Policy Framework. The Greater Cambridge Local Plan will include the established local purposes of the Cambridge Green Belt, which are to: ■ preserve the unique character of Cambridge as a compact, dynamic city with a thriving historic centre; ■ maintain and enhance the quality of its setting; ■ prevent communities in the environs of Cambridge from merging into one another and with the city. Enhancement of the Green Belt, such as for recreation and biodiversity, will also be supported.

Protection and enhancement of landscape character

The Greater Cambridge Local Plan will require developments to: ■ Respect, retain or enhance local landscape character (as set out in the Greater Cambridge Landscape Character Assessment). ■ Fully consider cumulative effects of development and incremental change on landscape character. ■ Retain and enhance landscape features within new developments ■ Protect and enhance the setting of Cambridge, including the green corridors extending into the city and along the River Cam corridor, and strengthen or recreate the well-defined and vegetated edge of Cambridge, improve visual amenity and enhance biodiversity. ■ Protect and enhance the setting of the villages in South Cambridgeshire and continue to protect identified Important Countryside Frontages. ■ Protect important green gaps such as between Longstanton and Northstowe.

Protecting the best agricultural land

Restrict development which would lead to the irreversible loss of the best agricultural land (Grades 1, 2 or 3a) unless it is allocated in the Local Plan to meet development needs, or sustainability considerations and the need for the development are sufficient to override the need to protect the agricultural value of the land. In addition, the impact of development on soils and the protection of soil quality must be considered, through careful management during construction.

Pollution, health and safety

Development should take account of sources of pollution and should not lead to, or be subject to significant adverse effects as a result of noise, vibration, odour, and/or light pollution. Land contamination should be considered, to ensure that the land is suitable for the end use. Proposals will need to be appropriate for the air quality in the area, but also address their impacts on air quality (including requiring Air Quality Management strategies to be prepared where appropriate). Appropriate protection to and from hazardous installations will be applied. Planning applications for the development of hazardous installations/ pipelines and development close to hazardous sites or pipelines will be referred to the Health and Safety Executive and/or the Environment Agency.

Adapting heritage assets to climate change

Require retrofit works to be carried out in accordance with the BSI PAS 2035 framework and Historic England guidance for energy improvements to heritage assets. Require proposals to take a 'whole building' approach to undertaking works to heritage assets to enhance environmental performance. Support proposals which seek to undo the damage caused by previous inappropriate interventions (e.g. removal of cement render and replacement with breathable options). Give consideration to measures that will reduce carbon emissions and assist with adaptation to our changing climate (for example external shading or property level flood protection).

Conservation and enhancement of heritage assets

Proposals affecting heritage assets will be considered in accordance with the guidance set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. The policy will require that proposals properly consider the historic environment and make a positive contribution to local character. Development will be required to demonstrate how it preserves or enhances the significance of the heritage assets of the Greater Cambridge, their setting and the wider townscape, including views into, within and out of conservation areas. The Local Plan will also continue to recognise the importance of local heritage assets (including buildings of local interest). The policy will also require the appropriate treatment of archaeology.

Exception sites for affordable housing

This policy will support exception sites in appropriate locations, typically adjoining existing settlements, and that are proportionate in scale to those settlements where there is an identified need. A small amount of market housing will be allowed on exception sites where it can be justified on viability or deliverability grounds. The use of such market housing in the form of custom and self-build housing will be supported. Community-led housing will also be supported on exception sites where it meets an identified need for affordable housing. Rural exception sites will be allowed in the Green Belt only when it can be demonstrated that non Green-Belt alternative sites are not available. First Homes exception sites will not be allowed in the Green Belt. The Local Plan will encourage Neighbourhood Plans to consider the scope for further encouraging the development of schemes including through the use of community led housing initiatives such as community land trusts, co-housing and co-operatives. First Homes are a specific kind of discounted market sale housing and fall within the definition of affordable housing for planning purposes. The policy will be tailored to ensure First Homes exception sites are complementary to rather than compete with rural exception sites. This could be through, for example, the use of locally specific criteria to determine eligibility in rural parishes.

Affordable housing

On sites of 10 or more dwellings 40% of new homes will be required to be affordable, except where: there can be a proportionate reduction as a result of vacant buildings being re-used or re-developed (as set out in national planning policy), the development is solely for Build to Rent (see H/BR for the requirements relating to these developments), the development is for some types of specialist accommodation that fall within Use Class C2, or the development is solely for residential caravans (see H/RC and H/GT for the requirements relating to these developments). Affordable homes should be provided on-site except for in the circumstances set out in paragraph 63 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021. Mixed tenure developments that include Build to Rent homes should make up any shortfall in affordable homes within the Build to Rent element on the remainder of the development, so that overall the development delivers 40% affordable homes. The affordable housing tenures provided should include the requirements as set out in national planning policy and guidance – the first at least 25% of the affordable homes on the development to be First Homes, with at least 10% of all new homes on the development to be provided as affordable home ownership products.

Build to Rent homes

Proposals for Build to Rent developments, or the amount of Build to Rent within a mixed tenure development, should not create an over-concentration of this tenure in a local area, are distributed across the development (if part of a wider mixed use or mixed tenure development), and meet specific criteria in terms of ownership and management, covenants, and tenancies. Planning applications would need to evidence how the scheme would support the creation of successful places and promote mixed and balanced communities. Build to Rent developments should meet the requirements as set out in the Greater Cambridge Housing Strategy (Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, June 2021) or a successor document. The policy will require at least 20% of homes on a Build to Rent development of 10 or more homes to be affordable private rented, and make clear that these homes will contribute towards the overall 40% affordable homes to be provided on a mixed tenure development. Affordable private rented homes must be designed to be indiscernible from market homes and that the affordable homes should be distributed throughout the site in small groups or clusters. As new homes, all Build to Rent developments must meet the nationally described residential space standards and accessible homes standards, as set out in H/SS.

Self- and custom-build homes

5% of all new homes in residential developments of 20 dwellings or more will be required to be custom and/or self-build, provided that the Greater Cambridge self and custom build register is recording a demand for self and/or custom build homes when a planning application for 20 or more homes is considered. A mechanism will be included within the policy to allow for plots identified to be for self and/or custom build homes to be delivered by the developer or others if the plot has not been sold as a self or custom build plot after at least 12 months of appropriate marketing. Proposals for individual or small groups of custom and/or self-build homes will be considered against the policies that would apply to proposals for residential development in that location. The policy will also allow for 'community led' self and/or custom build projects where the 'community' has formed an organisation as required by the national self and custom build legislation and their proposed self and/or custom build development is compliant with the proposed policy approach.

Community-led housing

Recognise that community-led housing developments will be brought forward within Greater Cambridge, and set out that any proposals for these uses will be considered against the policies applicable to residential developments. Rural exception sites for affordable housing and self and custom build homes are examples of developments that can be brought forward as community-led housing developments.

Dwellings in the countryside

For replacement dwellings in the countryside, they will only be permitted where their design quality, scale, and impact on the countryside and local character are consistent with other policies within the Local Plan, and where a replacement dwelling in the Green Belt is not materially larger than the one it replaces. The replacement of caravans and mobile homes with permanent dwellings will not be permitted. For extensions to existing dwellings in the countryside, the extension must be in scale and character with the existing dwelling and must not materially change the impact of the dwelling on its surroundings. Where an original dwelling is subject to an occupancy condition, it must be demonstrated that the extension can be supported by the viability of the enterprise and that the cost of its occupation will not be unaffordable to workers that meet the occupancy condition. For the reuse of buildings in the countryside, the change of use and adaptation of redundant or disused buildings to residential use will be permitted where: the buildings are unsuitable for employment use, or it is demonstrated through marketing that there is no demand for their development for employment use, the buildings are structurally sound and are of permanent construction, there will be an enhancement to the immediate setting of the buildings, the form, bulk, design, landscaping and materials used in the change of use and adaptation are sensitive to the character and appearance of the building and locality, and there is a safe vehicular site access. For dwellings to support rural businesses, permanent dwellings will be permitted if it can be demonstrated that: there is a clear need for one or more workers to be readily available at most times, the enterprise has been established for at least three years and is financially viable, there is no other suitable or available accommodation within the site / holding, and the proposed dwelling is no larger than that required to meet the reasonable needs of the enterprise. The new dwelling will be subject to an occupancy condition, and the removal of the occupancy condition will only be permitted in specific circumstances. For dwellings of exceptional quality in the countryside, a single new bespoke dwelling of exceptional quality will be permitted provided that: the dwelling would reflect the highest standards in architecture and be recognised as truly outstanding or innovative, the dwelling would significantly enhance its immediate setting, the nature, size and design of the dwelling and site are sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area and to wider views, and that there are no existing dwellings on the site capable of being replaced.

Garden land and subdivision of existing plots

The policy will continue the approach of the adopted Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Local Plans by resisting inappropriate development of residential gardens and the subdivision of existing plots. This will be done by reference to a range of factors including potential harm to local character, adequacy of remaining amenity space, trees, heritage and biodiversity. The policy will also seek to stop development that would compromise the potential of other land to be brought forward for development.

Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites

Sites are capable of providing an appropriate environment for residents in terms of health, safety, and living conditions, sufficient space for accommodating and moving caravans and vehicles, safe vehicle and pedestrian access, and are capable of being provided with essential utilities. The number and nature of pitches or plots provided is appropriate to the site size and the location, and would not have unacceptable adverse impacts on the amenity of surrounding land uses, the countryside and landscape character, settlement character, heritage or biodiversity interests, rights of way, or from traffic generated, including taking account of cumulative impacts. The needs of residents of the site can be met appropriately by local facilities and services without placing undue pressure on them, and the scale of such sites does not dominate the nearest settled community, including considering cumulative impacts with other sites. The site is located within a reasonable distance of local facilities and services including schools and health facilities. Traveller sites are inappropriate development in the Green Belt. Any proposals in the Green Belt would have to comply with national policy regarding development in the Green Belt.

Housing density

The policy will seek to deliver site specific appropriate net densities across Greater Cambridge, taking advantage of opportunities to deliver higher densities on sites with good accessibility subject to local character considerations. A design-led approach to optimising site capacity requires consideration of design options to determine the most appropriate form of development that responds to a site's context and capacity for growth, existing and planned supporting infrastructure, local character, and other local circumstances.

Housing mix

New housing developments of 10 or more dwellings will be required to provide an appropriate mix of housing sizes (number of bedrooms), with the proportions of dwellings of each size to be guided by the housing mix for each tenure and for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire as set out in the recommendations from the Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk Housing Needs of Specific Groups study (2021) and the Housing Needs of Specific Groups – Addendum for Greater Cambridge (2021) or any future update to the Greater Cambridge Housing Strategy or housing mix evidence published by the Councils. As the proportion of dwellings of each size is provided as a range, this allows flexibility for local circumstances. Exceptions will be allowed where an alternative housing mix is justified by site specific circumstances, such as local character, the built form of the new development, affordable housing demand on the councils' housing registers, and the existing housing mix in the surrounding area. In some circumstances a condition(s) may be added to the planning permission to remove the permitted development rights for all or some of the dwellings if increasing the approved number of bedrooms for all or some of the dwellings through extensions would harm the housing mix that the development was responding to. Policy will also encourage the delivery of a mix of types of homes – houses, flats and bungalows – proportionally across all market and affordable tenures, taking account of local circumstances including character and built form, and up to date evidence of affordable housing need as demonstrated by the councils' housing registers. Applicants will be encouraged to work collaboratively with a Registered Provider, the relevant Councils housing team, and the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning service, to discuss the affordable housing mix for a new development ahead of the submission of a planning application.

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)

All new larger HMOs (sui generis use which require planning permission) will be required to meet the nationally described residential space standards and accessible and adaptable homes standards, and to provide direct access to amenity space as required for all new homes (see H/SS). All new larger HMOs must meet the internal space standards required for a HMO to be licensed, whether the HMO is required to be licensed or not. New HMOs must be provided in suitable locations with appropriate facilities and parking, a good standard of amenity for their occupiers, and will not have significant negative impacts on matters such as the local amenity of the surrounding area.

Residential caravan sites

The Local Plan will consider the need for residential caravan sites and/or mobile home parks, and set out that any proposals for these uses will be considered against the policies applicable to residential developments. However, make clear that the proposed approaches for affordable housing and residential space standards and accessible homes do not apply to residential caravan sites / mobile home parks.

Residential moorings

The criteria based policy for considering proposals for new residential moorings will be carried forward as included in the adopted Cambridge Local Plan 2018, but with the policy applying to the whole of Greater Cambridge. The criteria will ensure that new moorings are provided in suitable locations with appropriate infrastructure and will not have significant negative impacts on matters such as landscape and townscape, local amenity, and navigation of the river.

Student accommodation

New purpose-built student accommodation that reduces demand for private accommodation occupied by full-time students will be supported where consistent with other policies and suitable in location, type, layout, affordability and linked to at least one existing educational establishment within Greater Cambridge providing full-time courses of one academic year or more. Proposals will not be supported where they involve the loss of existing and planned residential accommodation. Existing student accommodation will continue to be protected to avoid increasing demand for housing in the private rental market. Any student accommodation provided either as self-contained units or bedspaces will contribute towards delivering the overall housing requirement for Greater Cambridge.

Specialist housing and homes for older people

Provision of specialist housing will be required as part of the housing mix of new developments, particularly at new settlements and within urban extensions, to create balanced and mixed communities and to meet the identified need for specialist housing. The policy will support the development of housing for older people and other groups in need of specialist housing. It is important to recognise that those in need of specialist housing are not a homogeneous group and the policy will need to support a broad range of specialist housing reflecting local needs. Proposals for new specialist housing will be considered via a criteria based policy similar to that in the adopted Cambridge Local Plan 2018, but with the policy applying to the whole of Greater Cambridge. The criteria will ensure that new specialist housing is provided where there is a need, in suitably accessible locations, and without resulting in an excessive concentration of such housing. Any specialist accommodation provided either as self-contained units or bedspaces for older people will contribute towards delivering the overall housing requirement for Greater Cambridge, but any specialist housing for other groups such as children and young people, or disabled people, will not contribute. The provision of some forms of specialist housing, such as general housing for older people, will be delivered through the requirements for all new homes to be accessible and adaptable homes as set out in Building Regulations M4(2) standard (see H/SS: Residential space standards and accessible homes).

Residential space standards and accessible homes

Gross internal floor areas for all new homes will be required to meet or exceed the nationally described residential space standard or its successor. Exceptions only where new homes are being provided to meet a specific evidenced need (e.g. accommodation for homeless, disabled people or specific young adults) and evidence is provided to demonstrate that meeting this nationally described standard would result in unsuitable homes for the identified occupants. New homes created through residential conversions and homes created by changes of use from non-residential land uses should seek to meet or exceed the nationally described residential space standards as far as it is practicable to do so. All new homes will be required to be Building Regulations M4(2) 'accessible and adaptable' dwellings. Exceptions only where it can be demonstrated that site specific circumstances, in addition to the other requirements for the development, make the proposed development impractical, unachievable or unviable. 5% of affordable homes on new developments that include 20 or more affordable homes will be required to be Building Regulations M4(3) 'wheelchair user' dwellings, to be provided as Building Regulations M4(3)(a) 'wheelchair adaptable' dwellings unless the Council has identified a need for Building Regulations M4(3)(b) 'wheelchair accessible' dwellings. Exceptions will only be permitted where it can be demonstrated that there is no evidence of need such as rural exception schemes addressing other specific needs. All newly created homes (through conversion, change of use, or new build) will be required to have direct access to private amenity space. We propose to develop revised minimum space standards for private amenity space for different types of dwellings and locations.

Cambourne

Identify Cambourne as a broad location for longer term strategic scale growth as an expansion to Cambourne, and will provide continued guidance for the development of the existing allocation at Cambourne West. The policy will set out the intention to identify Cambourne as a broad location for future growth in the 2030's to respond to the opportunity that will be provided by the proposed East West Rail that includes a station at Cambourne. The overall aim for an expanded Cambourne is to provide sufficient critical mass to perform the following role as a: ■ Well-connected place through high quality public transport, cycling and walking facilities ■ South Cambridgeshire town for the 21st century ■ growing employment centre to provide local opportunities for its residents and nearby communities ■ place that meets the day to day needs of its residents. Future development at Cambourne will need to consider: ■ How to integrate with and maximise the opportunity provided by East West Rail. ■ The role of the new development in Cambourne as a place, and how it can contribute towards the achievement of net zero carbon. ■ The relationship with Cambourne and Bourn Airfield, and how to make the area more sustainable, through the mix of services, employment and transport opportunities offered by the area as whole. ■ The economic role of the place, and which employment sectors would benefit from the location to support the needs of the Greater Cambridge economy. ■ How the place will develop over time, and the infrastructure needed to support different stages during its development. ■ Making effective connections within the new development and with Cambourne for public transport and active travel, as well as connections to surrounding villages so they can also benefit. ■ Be structured around and have local and district centres that can meet people's day to day needs within walking distance, including responding to changing retail and working patterns ■ How it can help deliver the Western Gateway Green Infrastructure project, and in doing so positively engage with its landscape setting, as well as recreation and biodiversity enhancement opportunities such as woodland planting. ■ Take opportunities to reduce flood risk to surrounding areas, that take innovative solutions to the management and reuse of water. The following existing allocation for a new mixed-use development at Cambourne West is proposed to be carried forward, but to be expanded to include the full extent of the planning permission: ■ SS/8: Cambourne West

Cambridge East

The Greater Cambridge Local Plan will allocate land for a major new eastern quarter for Cambridge, enabling development of the airport site which was safeguarded for longer term development in the 2018 adopted Local Plans: ■ For approximately 7,000 homes, including affordable homes, and 9,000 jobs on the 'safeguarded land' identified in the 2018 Local Plans at Cambridge Airport. It is anticipated that around 2,900 homes will be delivered by 2041. ■ Carry forward sites North of Newmarket Road (being built as Marleigh) and Land north of Cherry Hinton (with planning permission) and ensure a comprehensive approach to the eastern quarter as originally envisaged in the Cambridge East Area Action Plan. ■ Delivery of the full development will require the Greater Cambridge Partnership Cambridge Eastern Access scheme Phase B to be in place which will provide high quality public transport connections, with the amount of development that can come forward ahead of the scheme to be determined. ■ Development is also reliant on the successful implementation of a Trip Budget approach, to ensure that the level of vehicle trips is limited to an appropriate level for the surrounding road network. ■ The potential need for, or desirability of, other connections by new public transport, cycling and walking links to centres of employment and other sustainable transport connections, such as Cambridge North Station and North East Cambridge, Cambridge South Station and Cambridge Biomedical Campus, and Cambridge Station and the City Centre will be explored through the preparation of the draft local plan, including their deliverability. ■ A mix of employment uses, including offices, workshops and other uses, providing a variety of opportunities to support not only Cambridge's high technology clusters, but also industry and creative uses, including local jobs to provide for existing communities and help contribute to community integration. ■ A new centre for retail, cultural and other uses that will serve the urban quarter and wider area whilst complementing and not competing with the historic City centre. ■ All necessary supporting community infrastructure including primary and secondary schools ■ To retain a green corridor through the development to link the countryside with Coldham's Common and the heart of Cambridge, that lies within the Green Belt and has a landscaping, biodiversity and recreation function whilst also maintaining the individual identity of Teversham village. ■ Open space within the site, and green infrastructure within and adjoining the area, including providing additional wildlife habitat land surrounding the designated nature sites to the east of Cambridge, as part of the Eastern Fens green infrastructure initiative.

Other site allocations on the edge of Cambridge

The following existing allocations are proposed to be carried forward into the new Local Plan: Housing: S/EOC/R43: Land between Huntingdon Road and Histon Road (Darwin Green); S/EOC/SS/2: Land between Huntingdon Road and Histon Road (Darwin Green 2/3); S/EOC/GB1: Land north of Worts' Causeway; S/EOC/GB2: Land south of Worts' Causeway; S/EOC/R42d: Bell School, Babraham Road. Employment: S/EOC/E/3: Fulbourn Road East; S/EOC/GB3 & GB4: Fulbourn Road, West 1 & 2. The following existing allocations have been or are being built out and are sufficiently advanced that they do not need a policy framework any longer, and are therefore not proposed to be carried forward: Housing: R42a: Clay Farm, south of Long Road; R42b: Trumpington Meadows; R42c: Glebe Farm 1 & Glebe Farm 2. Continue the following Area of Major Change: S/EOC/Policy 20: Land between Huntingdon Road and Histon Road Area of Major Change.

New jobs and homes

We propose that the new Local Plan will meet the following objectively assessed needs for development in the period 2020-2041: ■ 58,500 jobs ■ 44,400 homes, reflecting an annual objectively assessed need of 2,111 homes per year, which is rounded for the plan. The homes will include all types, sizes and tenures of market and affordable homes, pitches for gypsy and travellers, plots for travelling showpeople, pitches for others residing in caravans, and residential moorings.

Other site allocations in Cambridge

Identify specific site allocations for development in the Cambridge urban area, mainly rolling forward sites from the 2018 Cambridge Local Plan with one new housing site and one refined employment site.

North East Cambridge

North East Cambridge will form an important part of the development strategy for the Local Plan. This site is one of the last few remaining significant brownfield sites within the city, where comprehensive redevelopment will support new homes and jobs as part of a new city district. We want North East Cambridge to be an inclusive, walkable, low-carbon new city district with a lively mix of homes, workplaces, services and social spaces, fully integrated with surrounding neighbourhoods. Separately to the joint Local Plan, the councils are also preparing an Area Action Plan for North East Cambridge which will provide a detailed planning framework containing site specific policies which will be of equal status to those in the Local Plan once adopted. A key component of the Area Action Plan is the Spatial Framework which will set out how this new city district should be planned. Once developed in full, which will extend beyond the Local Plan period of 2041, North East Cambridge is anticipated to deliver 8,350 new homes, 15,000 additional jobs as well as a wide range of necessary infrastructure to support the development including new schools, community and cultural facilities, open spaces as well as enhanced and new walking and cycling connections into and through the Area Action Plan area. This amount of development is predicated on the relocation of the existing Waste Water Treatment Works, a process being led by Anglian Water. It is also reliant on the successful implementation of the North East Cambridge Trip Budget, which has been calculated to ensure that there are no additional vehicle trips on Milton Road at peak times (from 2017 levels) and subsequently not result in queuing on the A14 at Milton Interchange (Junction 33). To achieve the vision of a compact, walkable and mixed-use city district, the policy approach for North East Cambridge is for a higher density development. This will create a critical mass of new residents and workers to support these new services. It will also seek to place more homes closer to existing and future employment areas as well as public transport. The North East Cambridge site is well served by public transport and active travel options, including Cambridge North Station and the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. It is expected that this will improve further with a number of planned projects such as the Chisholm Trail, Waterbeach to Cambridge Public Transport Corridor and Waterbeach Greenway. The key requirements for the site to come forward for development will be set out in the North East Cambridge Area Action Plan.

Existing new settlements

Confirm that the three new settlements of Northstowe, the new town north of Waterbeach, and Bourn Airfield new village, will continue to be developed during the period of the new Local Plan and beyond. Policies will provide a context for their development. The Local Plan will carry forward the existing allocations for the following new settlements in the 2018 South Cambridgeshire Local Plan: ■ SS/5 Northstowe ■ SS/6 Land north of Waterbeach ■ SS/7 Bourn Airfield The detailed policy wording will be reviewed as may be appropriate in the new Local Plan, including amending capacity assumptions where necessary to reflect planning permissions. The Northstowe Area Action Plan will remain part of the development plan, although standards adopted in the new Local Plan will apply to future applications. The Supplementary Planning Documents for Land north of Waterbeach and Bourn Airfield will be carried forward. Our evidence says that it is reasonable to assume that annual delivery rates at Northstowe and Waterbeach will be higher than so far relied on, meaning that more of the planned homes will be completed in the plan period, with less to follow after 2041. Notwithstanding, the updated policies will provide positive opportunities for enhanced development densities around transport hubs, whilst taking account of other policies in the plan. This could result in additional development over and above that currently permitted but at this stage no further development is assumed in the housing supply from this potential additional source.

North West Cambridge

This policy will guide the continued development of the University's North West Cambridge development, known as Eddington, including additional policy provision to accommodate the additional homes identified in the development strategy. The updated policy will enable the development of additional dwellings on the site beyond those identified in current plans, provided through changes to the dwelling mix and appropriate intensification of development areas that have yet to be built. This will be identified in the draft Local Plan following a detailed review of the site wide masterplan, but is anticipated to be in the region of 1,000 to 1,500 homes.

North West Cambridge

The updated policy will enable the development of additional dwellings on the site beyond those identified in current plans

Site allocations in rest of the rural area

Allocate sites for homes or employment that support the overall development strategy within the rural area, excluding the rural southern cluster.

Other site allocations in the Rural Southern Cluster

The following housing and employment allocations are proposed in or adjoining villages within the rural southern cluster. S/RSC/HW Land between Hinton Way and Mingle Lane, Great Shelford ■ Site area of 10 hectares ■ Maximum capacity limited to 100 homes, relating to Cambridgeshire Fire Service requirements for no more than 100 homes to be served via a single vehicular access. There may be potential for a higher capacity if an additional access could be provided. ■ Very well located in relation to existing railway station, with resulting excellent access to Cambridge, and to Cambridge Biomedical Campus once the new Cambridge South station is open, providing the exceptional circumstances required for Green Belt release. ■ Development should accommodate the following constraints: ■ Design of development should preserve key views from Stapleford Conservation Area including from Mingle Lane past St Andrew's Church and the adjacent vicarage. ■ Open space to be provided to the east of the built development to help provide compensatory improvements to the environmental quality and accessibility of remaining Green Belt. ■ Non-vehicle access only from the access adjacent to the vicarage to St Andrew's Church, Stapleford. S/RSC/MF Land at Maarnford Farm, Hunts Road, Duxford ■ Site area of 2 hectares ■ Capacity for approximately 60 homes ■ Well related to existing village – close to school, and within walking distance of Whittlesford Parkway Station. Site is supported by the parish council. ■ Development should accommodate the following constraints: ■ Provide space for existing telecoms mast ■ Space for substantial landscape edge S/RSC/CC Comfort Café, Fourwentways ■ Site area of 0.8 hectares ■ Suitable for employment Class E(g)(ii) (Research and development of products or processes) with ancillary E(g)(i) Offices (to carry out any operational or administrative functions) providing laboratory space for start-up and small businesses primarily. ■ A brownfield site meeting evidenced demand for start-up and grow on space close to existing research parks, in a sustainable location with close proximity to the proposed future travel hub for the South East Cambridge Transport Scheme. ■ Development should accommodate the following constraints: ■ Tree Preservation Orders located upon western boundary ■ Transport proposals in the area including the A505 study, the South East Cambridge busway and GCP Linton Greenway proposals (contributions will be expected).

Site allocations in rest of the rural area

Allocate sites for homes or employment that support the overall development strategy within the rural area, excluding the rural southern cluster.

Policy areas in the rural southern cluster

Provide a context for one new and one existing policy area within the rural southern cluster area.

Digital infrastructure

Applicants will be required to submit a 'Connectivity Statement' with a planning application to demonstrate how their proposed digital infrastructure will meet policy requirements outlined below: Broadband infrastructure Development proposals must provide gigabit capable connections, via multiple providers where available, to each premise. In locations where gigabit capable connectivity is currently available, the development will be expected to include the infrastructure to connect to these services and make them available to occupiers. In locations where gigabit capable connectivity is not currently available, applicants will be expected to demonstrate that they have engaged a range of providers to upgrade infrastructure to deliver gigabit capable connections. Where one or more providers have agreed to provide gigabit capable connectivity, the development should be designed to connect to this service and make it available to occupiers. Where no agreement can be reached to provide gigabit capable connectivity at the present time, Superfast Broadband may be considered as an alternative. In addition, the development will be expected to incorporate dedicated telecommunications ducting to enable the provision of gigabit capable connectivity in the future. In all cases, to encourage competition and consumer choice, this will include the provision of multiple ducts to enable several providers to access the site. Mobile phone infrastructure Major development proposals of 250 homes or 10,000m2 must carry out an assessment of whether the current mobile coverage and capacity is suitable for the proposed new development. In locations where mobile coverage is deemed suitable, no further action is required however the design of the development should consider the impact of building design on mobile coverage for existing and future occupants and take appropriate action to mitigate any adverse impacts. In locations where mobile coverage is either available but the quality is poor and/or is expected to be impacted by capacity constraints or where coverage is not currently available, applicants will be expected to demonstrate that they have engaged with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to determine a strategy to ensure that mobile coverage can be improved and maintained at the site. Where one or more MNOs agree to make improvements to their mobile coverage it must be confirmed whether this will be via: MNOs adjusting their existing assets to improve coverage for the new development; MNOs and the applicant agreeing a location for additional masts and/or aerials for which the applicant will facilitate installation including the provision of power, full fibre connectivity and maintenance access; or any other approach agreed with the MNO. Where no agreement can be reached to improve mobile coverage at the present time, the applicant must ensure that an appropriate location(s) for new mobile infrastructure is made available for future use, this can be in the form of roof-space, building frontage space, highways space or other land, all of which must have suitable access arrangements in place for installation and maintenance for the life of the installed asset. A suitable power supply and fibre connection must be made available to the location(s). Small cell mobile communications technology Development proposals of 30 homes or 1,000m2 employment space must include suitable infrastructure that would support any future rollout of the latest small cell mobile communications technology. For example: require the design of street furniture in such a way that the installation of telecoms equipment and other sensors can be included and easily maintained without causing disruption; ensure that fibre connections are easily accessible to enable connection to street furniture such as street lighting columns to facilitate future improvements. As the micro cell technology is still in development the Local Authority will provide the latest guidance on the design requirements. Publicly accessible Wi-fi We propose to encourage premises and spaces where there are significant levels of use by members of the public to have regular access to provide publicly accessible Wi-Fi.

Safeguarding important infrastructure

We propose to safeguard the following strategic and important infrastructure from being negatively impacted by development: ■ Lord's Bridge Radio Telescope ■ Existing rail freight facilities and sidings at Duxford, Foxton, Fulbourn and Whittlesford We propose to work with strategic infrastructure providers, regional and sub regional bodies to consider whether any planned strategic infrastructure should be safeguarded in accordance with any national or sub regional/regional policy or approval mechanism. Any future land identified that will be required for safeguarding purposes will be shown in policies maps at later stages of the Local Plan process.

Aviation development

At Cambridge Airport, whilst it remains operational, aviation development will only be supported where it would not have a significant adverse impact on the environment and on residential amenity. For other airfields, it is proposed to carry forward the aviation policy included in the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan which seeks to ensure aviation development does not negatively impact the environment, landscape and adverse lighting, noise, public rights of way, nature conservation interests or human health and safety, and impact of potential deliver of renewable energy. Any proposed development within an identified Airport Air Safeguarding Zones will be subject to consultation with the operator of the airport and the Ministry of Defence. Restrictions in height, or changes to the detailed design of development may be necessary to mitigate the risk of aircraft accident and maintain operational integrity.

Infrastructure and delivery

We propose to only permit development if there is, or will be, sufficient infrastructure capacity to support and meet all the requirements arising from the new development, at the time when they are needed. Developers will be required to deliver infrastructure directly, or contribute through planning obligations, community infrastructure levy or its successor. Infrastructure needs will be informed by an Infrastructure Delivery Plan and schedule which will accompany later stages of the Local Plan.

Safeguarding important infrastructure

We propose to safeguard the following strategic and important infrastructure from being negatively impacted by development: ■ Lord's Bridge Radio Telescope ■ Existing rail freight facilities and sidings at Duxford, Foxton, Fulbourn and Whittlesford We propose to work with strategic infrastructure providers, regional and sub regional bodies to consider whether any planned strategic infrastructure should be safeguarded in accordance with any national or sub regional/regional policy or approval mechanism. Any future land identified that will be required for safeguarding purposes will be shown in policies maps at later stages of the Local Plan process.

Areas of Major Change

Areas of Major Change are extensive areas of development comprising defined and known sites collectively shaping the spatial structure of Cambridge. They require a comprehensive approach to development and renewal that recognises the dependencies between sites in order to bring forward holistic change. They also need careful integration with existing nearby communities. They embrace mixed uses and multiple functions, and require significant infrastructure investment and support.

Development strategy

The proposed development strategy for Greater Cambridge is to direct development to 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, whilst ensuring all necessary utilities can be provided in a sustainable way. It also seeks to be realistic around the locational limits of some new jobs floorspace which is centred upon national and global economic clusters. We propose to reinforce the distinctive character of our city, towns and villages through developing sites that can be well-integrated with existing communities. Using less land for development reduces our carbon emissions, and allows more space for nature and wildlife, so we propose that sites should be developed at densities, and using appropriate forms and patterns of development, which make best use of land while creating well-designed, characterful places. The proposed development strategy takes up opportunities to use brownfield land and responds to opportunities created by proposed major new infrastructure. We propose to meet our housing and jobs needs by taking account of existing planning permissions alongside a limited number of new sites in the most sustainable locations. Within the Cambridge urban area our strategy proposes: - North East Cambridge – a compact city district on brownfield land already identified for development, including a mix of jobs and homes; - Smaller new sites for housing and employment well-integrated with existing neighbourhoods; - Continuing existing sites and areas of major change allocated in the previous plan that we still expect to be delivered; - Continuing existing opportunity areas and identifying new ones; - Windfall development – an allowance for homes on unallocated land, which would be consistent with the other policy requirements in the Plan. On the edge of Cambridge we propose: - Cambridge East – a new mixed-use district on the existing safeguarded land at Cambridge Airport; - Supporting the nationally important Cambridge Biomedical Campus, including through a limited release of land from the Green Belt; - Using land more effectively at North West Cambridge through intensifying development within the existing boundary of the site; - The University Innovation District centred on West Cambridge/Eddington – supporting the continued development of this area, including encouraging a mix of uses to create a vibrant campus; - Continuing development at existing strategic sites allocated in previous plans, for example at Darwin Green. For our new settlements, we propose: - Evolving and expanding Cambourne into a vibrant town alongside the development of the new East West Rail station, which will make it one of the best connected and most accessible places in the area; and - Continuing development at the new settlements of Northstowe, Waterbeach and Bourn Airfield allocated in previous plans – including faster housing delivery rates at the new towns of Northstowe and Waterbeach, so that more homes are provided by 2041 without an increase in the overall amount of development proposed. We propose some development in the rural area south of Cambridge, the Rural Southern Cluster, where homes and jobs can be located close to each other and served by good quality public transport, cycling and walking links, including: - Employment and tied housing at the Wellcome Genome Campus expansion – confirming the existing planning permission; - Additional employment at Babraham Research Campus, through releasing the Campus and a modest area of additional land from the Green Belt; - New smaller sites for housing and employment in villages that have very good public transport access and are close to jobs, some of which are through release of land from the Green Belt; and - Continuing allocations for existing sites allocated in previous plans. In the rest of the rural area, we propose a very limited amount of development: - Small new sites for housing and employment at villages that have very good public transport access, to help our rural communities thrive; - New employment sites in the countryside meeting specific business needs; and - Windfall development - an allowance for homes on unallocated land, which would need to be consistent with policy requirements in the Plan, including Policy SS/SH: Settlement Hierarchy, which sets out scales of development in different categories of village. Consistent with the new National Planning Policy Framework, our vision for Greater Cambridge looks not only to the plan period of 2041, but well beyond to 2050, reflecting that significant development identified in our strategy will continue beyond the plan period from the range of strategic sites identified, including the new settlements. In order to provide greater confidence that the identified housing needs in Policy S/JH New Jobs and Homes can be met, and that a continuing supply of housing can be demonstrated, we are proposing to allocate enough sites to provide approximately a 10% buffer so we have the flexibility to deal with unforeseen circumstances. We also propose to provide flexibility in the amount and type of employment land supply to help enable the Greater Cambridge economy to continue to flourish.

Opportunity Areas in Cambridge

Identify specific locations as Opportunity Areas that would benefit from a holistic approach to any future development that comes forward, to provide policy guidance for development that also improves public transport access and infrastructure delivery, and seeks improvements to the public realm. Opportunity Areas provide opportunities to enable development that can reinforce and create character and identity in key corridors and centres of the city, often through associated public realm improvements. Opportunity Areas embrace mixed uses and multiple functions, which provides opportunities and challenges, and requires a policy framework to promote and guide overall change during the life of the plan.

Settlement boundaries

Outside settlement boundaries, no development would be permitted except for: • allocations within Neighbourhood Plans that have come into force; • Rural Exception sites (see policy approach H/ES) which help meet local needs for affordable housing; • development for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, outdoor recreation and other uses that need to be located in the countryside; or • development supported by other policies in the plan.

Settlement hierarchy

Windfall proposals for residential development coming through planning applications within these settlements (see S/SB on settlement boundaries) will be subject to the following: • Cambridge: No limit on individual scheme size. • Town: No limit on individual scheme size. • Rural Centre: No limit on individual scheme size. • Minor Rural Centre: indicative maximum scheme size of 30 dwellings • Group Village: indicative maximum scheme size of 8 dwellings, and exceptionally consist of up to about 15 dwellings where this would make the best use of a single brownfield site. • Infill Village: indicative maximum scheme size of 2 dwellings, and exceptionally consist of up to about 8 dwellings where this would lead to the sustainable reuse of a brownfield site bringing positive overall benefit to the village.

Retail and centres

Support the retention of retail and leisure uses with the revitalisation of high streets. This includes encouraging small-scale units, to attract independent shops, leisure activities and small businesses to help diversify and improve the appeal of the high street as well as allowing local communities to meet their day-to-day needs with village shops and services. Seek to develop a specific approach for Cambridge city centre including its shopping centres. This will need to recognise the likely pressure for change. Through development of future guidance, the Council would seek to work through the issues with landowners with the objective of achieving vitality and vibrancy for these important parts of the City. Where planning permission is required, continue to resist the loss of retail or other town centre uses in existing centres and primary shopping areas where it would undermine their vitality or ability to serve local communities, and require proposals to support the character, safety, and vibrancy of existing centres and village high streets. Establish a hierarchy of centres across Greater Cambridge including rural village shopping areas. Proposals for new and existing shops and related high street services will be guided towards these centres first, followed by edge of centre locations. If neither of these are locations are available, then out of centre locations will be considered with a preference for those most accessible to a centre. New communities will be required to include new centres of appropriate scales to be created to meet the day to day needs of local communities.

Freight and delivery consolidation

We propose to seek opportunities to reduce the number of freight and servicing vehicles and their environmental impact on Greater Cambridge, particularly at peak times, while promoting movement of freight by rail and sustainable transport modes. We propose to support development / enhancement and safeguarding of local delivery hubs that help consolidate deliveries into Cambridge and reduce vehicle traffic, where they accord with other policies in the plan, provided they do not cause unacceptable impacts on Greater Cambridge's strategic road networks, and: ■ reduce road danger, noise and emissions from freight trips ■ enable sustainable last-mile movements, including by cycle and electric vehicle ■ deliver mode shift from road to rail where possible (without adversely impacting existing or planned passenger services). We propose to require development to facilitate safe, clean, and efficient deliveries and servicing. Provision of adequate space for servicing, storage and deliveries should be made off-street, with on-street loading bays only used where this is not possible.

Parking and electric vehicles

Cycle and Mobility Parking: Developments will be required to deliver, safe, secure, and convenient cycle parking at homes, businesses, and key destinations including travel hubs. It is proposed to continue to set minimum standards for numbers of cycle spaces. Cycle parking areas will need to accommodate non-standard cycles, mobility scooters, electric cycles, accessories, and should make provision for cycle maintenance. Where garages are intended to accommodate parking for both cars and cycles, they will need to be provided to a minimum size to ensure they are fit for purpose. Security is an important issue, and spaces should be internal where practicable and appropriate. Larger developments and those within accessible locations will need to be able to accommodate space for dockless cycle hire schemes, such as at travel hubs and key destinations. Car Parking: The quantity and type of car parking provided at a development will be informed by the mix of land uses, location and accessibility of the development by walking, cycling and public transport, to ensure an appropriate level to accommodate local needs (including the need for disabled people parking) whilst avoiding a proliferation of car parking in locations with good accessibility.

Sustainable transport and connectivity

This policy will 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. Developers will be required to submit a Transport Statement, and for larger developments Transport Assessment (integrating a Low Emissions Strategy) and Travel Plan, to demonstrate how many trips will be generated by the development, their impacts (including on health, environment and cumulative impacts), and how they will be accommodated and addressed, maximising opportunities for sustainable travel. Innovative and flexible solutions will be sought to internalising trips and reducing vehicle use, including through measures such as digital infrastructure and last mile deliveries. New developments should be designed around the principles of walkable neighbourhoods and healthy towns to encourage active sustainable travel; the policy will ensure priority is given to people over vehicular traffic (with low speeds), to make journeys by walking and cycling more direct and convenient than by car. They should also protect and enhance the public rights of way network. Developers will be required to contribute to improvements to public and community transport and to deliver new and improved sustainable active travel connections for non-motorised users including for equestrians appropriate to the scale and nature of the proposal. Additional guidance for developers on the quality of provision is being prepared in an Active Travel Toolkit. Improvements will include enhancements to existing routes to break down barriers to use and improve safety and capacity, as well as providing high quality new routes to improve connections to nearby communities, services and facilities. Planned infrastructure schemes (such as East West Rail, improvements to the A428, and schemes planned by the Greater Cambridge Partnership and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority) will provide significant and wide ranging improvements for active travel modes; to maximise their benefits high quality local connections will be needed to integrate them into the wider network and with local communities. This policy will require developments, appropriate to their scale and location, to deliver opportunities for seamless interchange between different modes, for example at travel hubs, and address the whole journey including the first/last mile. This includes accommodating new forms of mobility, innovative solutions, and future proofing technological changes, such as micromobility (including scooters/e-scooters), e-bikes and cycle hire, autonomous vehicles, Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Developments which would have unacceptable transport impacts will not be supported.