Policy BG/PO: Protecting open spaces

1.

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

proposals will not be permitted where they would harm the character of, or lead to the loss of, protected open space of environmental and/or recreational importance as identified on the policies map, or undesignated areas that fulfil the criteria used to assess protected open space, unless the existing open space can be satisfactorily replaced to an equivalent or better standard in terms of quality, quantity and accessibility. 

2. Where replacement open space is to be provided in an alternative location, the replacement site must be; 

  a. located within a suitable distance of the original site having regard to the Natural England Accessible Greenspace Accessibility Standards; and 

  b. fully available for use before the area of open space to be lost can be redeveloped. 

3. In the case of school, college and university grounds, development may be permitted on existing open space where it meets a demonstrable educational need and does not adversely affect playing fields or other formal sports provision on the site. 

4.

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

will not be permitted within or adjacent to areas identified as Protected Village

Element of a location or neighbourhood that helps to make it attractive or enjoyable for residents and visitors such as parks, gardens, peaceful environments or access to community services and facilities.

Areas on the Policies Map if it would have an adverse impact on the character, amenity, tranquillity of the village. 

5.

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

will not be permitted within or adjacent to areas identified as Local Green Space on the Policies Map if it would adversely impact on the character and particular local significance placed on such green areas which make them valued by their local community. 

Our settlements contain a wide variety of open spaces. Within this policy open space types include but are not limited to, Orchards, Allotments & Community Gardens,

Element of a location or neighbourhood that helps to make it attractive or enjoyable for residents and visitors such as parks, gardens, peaceful environments or access to community services and facilities.

Greenspace, Cemeteries and Churchyards, Civic Spaces, Natural & Semi Natural Green Spaces, Outdoor Sports Facilities, Parks and Gardens and Provision for Children and Teenagers. These spaces make significant contributions to the character of places but also provide important local amenities, recreational capacity and environmental value. Access to a range of open spaces for different activities, for all ages is an essential part of sustaining healthy communities, supporting the local environment, and encouraging social interaction with local people. 

It is important that these spaces are protected from development that could have an adverse impact on these qualities. Different types of open space have differing characteristics and therefore require varying types of protection. It is recognised that in some cases the development of an open space may be appropriate if the open space has limited quality, or the development would lead to overall quality or quantity improvement. 

Protected Open Spaces have been designated on sites within defined development extents which have been assessed to have recreational or environmental importance. The designation is broad and all-encompassing and has been applied to a variety of open space types. Not all designated protected open spaces are publicly accessible. 

School playing fields outside the defined development extents and previously unidentified sites can qualify as protected open space if the Council assesses that the open space would meet the environmental importance and/or recreational importance criteria for designation. For the assessment of environmental importance, sites need to make an important contribution to the setting, character, structure and environmental quality of the city or local area. Sites which also contribute to the wildlife value and biodiversity of the city or local area are also assessed as environmentally important. 

For the assessment of recreational importance, sites need to make an important contribution to the recreational resources of the city or local area. The full criteria used for assessing protected open spaces within this plan can be found in the GCSP Protected Open Space Evidence Review 2025 (see the

The variety of life in all its forms. This includes the plant and animal species that make up our wildlife and the habitats in which they live.

and Green Spaces Topic Paper). If an application is received which affects a site that may be worthy of protection, an assessment will be made of the site against the assessment criteria. 

Where a protected open space is to be replaced, replacement sites should be a suitable distance from the site that is to be replaced. A suitable distance will be informed by the Natural England Accessible Greenspace Accessibility Standards. A replacement site/facility must be fully available for use before the area of open space to be lost can be redeveloped; this will be enforced through the use of planning conditions. 

Protected Village

Element of a location or neighbourhood that helps to make it attractive or enjoyable for residents and visitors such as parks, gardens, peaceful environments or access to community services and facilities.

Areas (PVAAs) have been designated on sites within defined development extents in order to safeguard those areas of mainly undeveloped land within villages which are important to retain. Some of the PVAAs may have an important amenity role in providing a setting for buildings or offer tranquil areas where there is minimum activity. Not all PVAAs have public access as some primarily undeveloped areas which are important may be private gardens. They also vary from those which are very open to visual penetration to those which may be enclosed or semi enclosed. 

Local Green Space (LGS) is a designation which is for green areas of particular importance to local communities which once designated can prevent new development other than in very special circumstances. A LGS must hold a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife. The green area must be in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves. It must be local in character and not be an extensive tract of land. These Spaces can protect land outside of a development framework. 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

  : Topic Paper 3:

  The variety of life in all its forms. This includes the plant and animal species that make up our wildlife and the habitats in which they live.

  and Green Spaces

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Includes transport, energy, water, waste, digital/smart, social and green infrastructure.

  Oppotunity Mapping Baseline Report (2020)

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Includes transport, energy, water, waste, digital/smart, social and green infrastructure.

  Oppotunity Mappping Final Report (2021)

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

  Strategy

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.