Policy S/GB: The Cambridge Green Belt

1. A Green Belt will be maintained around Cambridge with the specific purposes to: 

  a. preserve the unique character of Cambridge as a compact, dynamic city with a thriving historic centre. 

  b. maintain and enhance the quality of its setting; and 

  c. prevent communities in the environs of Cambridge from merging into one another and with the city 

2. The detailed boundaries of the Green Belt in Greater Cambridge are defined on the Policies Map. New development in the Green Belt will only be approved in accordance with Green Belt policy in the National Planning Policy Framework. and having regard to the Cambridge Green Belt purposes set out above. 

The Government attaches great importance to Green Belts as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. The fundamental aim of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open and a specific function of some Green Belts, such as the one around Cambridge, is to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns. Cambridge has had a Green Belt since the 1965 Development Plan, and it covers about 26% of the land within Greater Cambridge. 

A number of factors define the special character of Cambridge and its setting, which include: 

• Key views of Cambridge from the surrounding countryside; 
• A soft green edge to the city; 
• A distinctive urban edge; 
• Green corridors penetrating into the city;
• Designated sites and other features contributing positively to the character of the landscape setting;
• The distribution, physical separation, setting, scale and character of Green Belt villages; and
• A landscape that retains a strong rural character.

The 'Cambridge Green Belt Purposes', were established by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan (2003) and were taken forward in the Cambridge Local Plan (2006 and 2018) and South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (2007 Core Strategy and 2018). They continue to provide appropriate recognition of the particular role and function of the Cambridge Green Belt. The Cambridge Green Belt Assessment (2021) assesses the contribution of different parcels of land to these purposes and to identify grey belt land to inform plan making in line with the NPPF and national guidance. 

National policy set out in the NPPF will be applied when considering proposals for development in the Green Belt. This establishes that some forms of development are not inappropriate in the Green Belt and sets out where this applies. The NPPF sets out the contributions or ‘Golden Rules’ that should be complied with for major development involving the provision of housing in the Green Belt. These relate to the provision of higher levels of affordable housing, improvements to local or national infrastructure, and the provision of new or improvements to existing green spaces that are accessible to the public. Where development is inappropriate it will not be approved except in very special circumstances. 

National planning policy also requires local planning authorities to plan positively to enhance the beneficial use of Green Belts, such as looking for opportunities to provide access; to provide opportunities for outdoor sport and recreation; to retain and enhance landscapes, visual amenity and biodiversity; or to improve damaged and derelict land. Such opportunities are considered in the green infrastructure policies in this plan. 

• Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Strategy Topic Paper 2025
• Greater Cambridge Green Belt Assessment 2021

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the Local Plan.

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