Policy GP/HD: Housing density

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 must make efficient use of land through applying appropriate development densities that reflect local character and context through a design led approach. In determining an appropriate density, a development proposal will need to demonstrate the following requirements: 

  a. Provides a balanced mix of housing types and sizes; 

  b .Positively responds to the prevailing character of the area, topography and the wider landscape and/or townscape setting; 

  c. Protects and enhances heritage assets and their setting through a thorough understanding of the impacts of development on their significance; 

  d.

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.

, outlook, daylight, sunlight, noise and disturbance can be satisfactorily addressed; and 

  e. Other considerations such as car and cycle parking and waste storage can be suitably provided and managed. 

Subject to satisfactorily demonstrating the above, higher density development that exceeds local prevailing densities will be supported provided the site is: 

  f. Within walking and cycling distance of Cambridge City Centre or a Town, District or Local Centre; 

  g. In close proximity to active travel provision including high quality cycling infrastructure; and 

  h. Well served by existing or proposed high quality public transport such as the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, a transport interchange or railway station. 

The National Planning Policy Framework requires local plan policies to make efficient use of land. That land should be used effectively and appropriately, whilst being sensitive to local character. It also highlights that city and town centres and other locations that are well served by public transport provide opportunities for higher densities, promoting sustainable travel modes that limit future car use. 

Across

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

, the scale and character of settlements varies considerably including rural villages set within agricultural landscapes, modern new towns and the Cambridge Historic Core. The policy requires proposals to carefully consider the prevailing character and context when preparing a design led approach to development which is important for placemaking. 

Enabling more people to live in locations that are well-served by public transport and have good access to local facilities such as city, town and local centres will support the achievement of reducing road traffic, promote a higher quality of life and create the critical mass of people to sustain local services and facilities. Making the most efficient use of land will also help to minimise, both now and in the future, the need to release parts of the

A statutory designation made for the purposes of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, preventing neighbouring towns from merging into each other, assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, preserving the setting and special character of historic towns and assisting in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. Specific Green Belt purposes have been set out for Cambridge.

or countryside encroachment to meet development requirements for housing. However, it is important that higher density development does not result in over-development and the policy sets out a number of criteria that need to be addressed in order to demonstrate conformity with this policy and the other relevant policies set out within 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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The Councils intend to further develop the evidence for this policy, exploring how density should be applied in different locations, and including identifying specific locations where higher density development would be appropriate. 

• 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 5: Great Places

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.