Policy S/RRA: Other site allocations in the rest of the rural area

1. The following sites identified on the Policies Map are allocated for housing, employment or mixed uses in the rest of the rural area. 

2. The site allocations will be developed in accordance with: 

  a. all relevant national and local planning policy requirements, including making appropriate contributions towards mitigation measures or infrastructure requirements that are necessary to make the development acceptable; and 

  b. the site-specific development requirements identified for each site, including the site-specific spatial framework where provided. 

3. An indicative dwelling or floorspace capacity is identified for each of the site allocations. The number of homes or amount of floorspace granted planning permission on each site may be higher or lower than the indicative capacity and should be determined through a design-led approach.

Policy S/RRA identifies the list of sites that are allocated for housing, employment or mixed uses in the rest of the rural area, and the specific development requirements for each site that should be met alongside all other relevant

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.

policy requirements. It highlights that the number of homes or floorspace included in the policy is indicative and that what is permitted should be determined through a design-led approach at the planning application stage. 

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.

must allocate sites for new housing and employment development to meet the long term housing needs of

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

and support the forecast new jobs in the area. The majority of new homes and jobs will be delivered at the strategic sites on the edge of Cambridge and at the new settlements. However, to help support the vitality of villages and the delivery of smaller sites within the area, sites have been allocated for housing, employment and mixed use developments within the rest of the rural area. The number of sites is balanced against the sustainability considerations of the overall strategy, as set out in the Strategy Topic Paper. 

Within the rest of the rural area, sites have been allocated: 

• In locations with sustainable access – considered to be Rural Centres, Minor Rural Centres, and Group villages with very good public transport access, 
• Acknowledging 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.

  – through site testing we considered sites in 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.

  , but determined there were no exceptional circumstances to meet general need in light of alternatives available; 
• Informed by the

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

  Employment and Housing Evidence Update (2023),

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

  Growth Sectors Study: Life science and ICT locational, land and accommodation needs (2024), and

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

  Industrial and Warehousing Sector Study (2025) – provides evidence on the locational demand of different sectors, and the rest of the rural area can respond to the need for local warehousing and distribution with good access to the highway network; 
• Accounting for existing committed development – for parishes with lots of existing committed development the aim is for the existing sites to have been built and the new communities bedded in before further development is identified, and considering where there is community aspirations and support for further development. 

  

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.

Sites Topic Paper

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.