Policy J/EP: Supporting a range of facilities in employment parks

1. Appropriately scaled facilities including indoor and outdoor leisure, eating, social and collaboration spaces will be supported in business parks and employment areas where: 

 a. The use is ancillary or complementary to existing or proposed Employment Uses and supports the functionality of the employment area. 

  b. The use would not have an unacceptably adverse impact on existing businesses, future business use of the site or nearby centres. 

  c. The facilities are intended to primarily serve the needs of workers in the business park and do not attract significant levels of visitor traffic. 

2. Proposals for new or expanded employment sites or business parks must consider and demonstrate how the needs of workers and visitors will be met, and ensure that any new facilities do not have unacceptable impacts on nearby centres. 

The success of many business parks and employment areas in

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

is not solely due to their employment buildings but also the mix of services and facilities that support them. Providing amenities such as cafes, restaurants, indoor and outdoor social spaces and leisure facilities, changing facilities and creches, green spaces, and collaboration and networking spaces helps create high-quality working environments that attract and retain talent, foster collaboration, and support employee well-being. 

Integrating these facilities into employment sites also contributes to sustainable transport patterns by reducing the need for off-site travel during the working day. Helping to manage the peak arrival and departure of workers travelling to and from the site, can contribute to managing peak-time congestion, easing pressure on infrastructure, and improving air quality. 

At the same time, it is important that these facilities are appropriately scaled, proportionate to the employment park, so they enhance employment areas without undermining the role of nearby district and local centres.

• 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 6: Jobs (2025)
• Greater Cambridge Employment Land and Economic Development Evidence Study (2020)
• Greater Cambridge Employment and Housing Evidence Update (2023)
• Greater Cambridge Warehouse and Industrial Space Needs Study (2025)

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.

.

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