Policy S/SHF: Land north of A1307, Bar Hill (Slate Hall Farm)

Vision and identity 

1. Land North of A1307, Bar Hill (Slate Hall Farm) will be a masterplanned employment- led development that responds sensitively to the local landscape, and secures access to new green infrastructure for future workers and the local community. It will provide a range of logistics and industrial uses which can support the long-term needs of residents and businesses in

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

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2. The site’s proximity to Northstowe, Cambridge and nearby villages will provide active travel opportunities for employees and visitors and sustainable last-mile delivery opportunities, as well as providing good access to the strategic road network, critical to support the proposed employment uses. 

3. The development of the site will be landscape-led, with new buildings set within a mature landscape setting. The protection and enhancement of wildlife habitats will be prioritised alongside the creation of new open spaces for recreational use by workers and local residents. The site’s design will respond to its landscape setting in terms of the height, design and placement of buildings. 

Uses 

4. Land North of A1307, Bar Hill (Slate Hall Farm) (site area of 113.3 hectares) is allocated for a major new employment site, as shown on the Policies Map and indicative Spatial Framework. It has capacity for approximately 220,000 metres square (GIA) of commercial uses providing a flexible range of small- to medium-scale units that can support a wide range of businesses and that can be adapted to accommodate changing business requirements within the following uses classes: 

  a. Class B2 (General Industrial); 

  b. Class B8 (Storage or Distribution) serving local needs; and 

  c. Supporting amenities to meet the needs of staff. 

The development of Land North of A1307, Bar Hill (Slate Hall Farm) must do the following: 

Context 

5. Take a positive approach to managing and mitigating impacts on the surrounding landscape, including long-range views of the site, by: 

  a. retaining and reinforcing existing mature trees and tree belts; 

  b. maximising opportunities to create new landscape areas and corridors, ensuring that new buildings are set within a mature landscape context; and 

  c. preparing and implementing a landscape-led

A masterplan describes how proposals for a site will be implemented. The level of detail required in a masterplan will vary according to the scale at which the masterplan is produced.

for the site, which must be submitted and approved by the Local Planning Authority as part of the first planning application for the site. 

6. Retain and respond to the setting of Oakington Brook and its associated flood zone by including substantial areas for green infrastructure and water management. 

7. Mitigate the impact of the development on Slate Hall Farm, a potential non- designated heritage asset, and its setting. 

8. Prepare appropriate archaeological assessments which consider the extent, character and condition of the archaeological resources and the likely impact of the development on archaeological remains. 

9. Maintain the usability of the bridleways which run through and around the site. 

Built form 

10. Take a comprehensive approach to the planning and delivery of the site, including: 

  a. Ensure the landscape-led

A masterplan describes how proposals for a site will be implemented. The level of detail required in a masterplan will vary according to the scale at which the masterplan is produced.

addresses the whole site, ensuring broad alignment between land in different ownerships; and 

  b. Prepare a site-wide

A set of illustrated design requirements that provide specific, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site or area. The graphic and written components of the code should build upon a design vision, such as a masterplan or other design and development framework for a site or area.

to ensure a design-led approach to the site, which must: 

    i. address building heights, massing and scale to ensure development proposals fit into their context and respond to and reduce impacts on key views and vistas; and 

    ii. ensure high-quality design of buildings, including through use of appropriate materials and colour palettes. 

11. Focus built form on the north-west part of the site, with the area to the south-east providing substantial green infrastructure, and water management features along the Oakington Brook. 

Public space 

12. Create new parkland and amenity spaces, creating spaces for people working and visiting the site, and spaces focused on biodiversity enhancement. 

Nature 

13. Prepare and submit, for approval by the Local Planning Authority as part of the first planning application, a site wide biodiversity strategy with an overarching approach to ecology and the environment. 

14. Protect, positively plan for and deliver dark corridors for bats and other nocturnal species particularly within the Oakington Brook corridor, including (but not limited to): 

  a. Preparing a site-wide lighting strategy to keep lighting to a minimum, which where necessary should be directional and movement sensitive if appropriate. 

  b. Incorporating appropriately sized buffers around woodlands and along the extent of Oakington Brook, which is an important bat corridor. Buffers must be subject to appropriate positive management to maintain biodiversity value including habitats for water vole and otter populations. 

Movement 

15. Secure active travel and public transport improvements, ensuring sustainable access to the site for workers and local residents, and ensure the site integrates successfully with the highways network by: 

  a. Providing new and improved active travel infrastructure and a Mobility Hub to maximise sustainable methods of travel to, from and around the site, including from larger settlements such as Cambridge, Northstowe, Bar Hill, Cambourne North, Girton, Histon and Impington; 

  b. Maximising opportunities for sustainable last mile deliveries through cargo bikes, e-vehicles and other sustainable modes; and 

  c. Providing safe and adequate road access to the site from the Strategic Road Network following engagement with the Highways Authority and National Highways, including junction improvements where required. 

16. A trip budget based on detailed evidence must be agreed with the Local Highways Authority prior to planning applications for further development. A monitor and manage approach will be taken to ensure that the development remains within the agreed trip budget for the site throughout its delivery. 

17. The applicant must submit a comprehensive

A comprehensive and systematic process that sets out transport issues relating to a proposed development. It identifies measures required to improve accessibility and safety for all modes of travel, particularly for alternatives to the car such as walking, cycling and public transport, and measures that will be needed deal with the anticipated transport impacts of the development.

, Traffic Management Plan and

A long-term management strategy for an organisation or site that seeks to deliver sustainable transport objectives and is regularly reviewed. 

for the whole allocation with the first planning application. The Traffic Management Plan must include a traffic routing plan and arrangements for enforcement. 

18. To support delivery of the agreed

A masterplan describes how proposals for a site will be implemented. The level of detail required in a masterplan will vary according to the scale at which the masterplan is produced.

, a strategic and local transport mitigation plan must be prepared by the developer in consultation with the Local Highways Authority and Local Planning Authority. 

Resources 

19. Develop a comprehensive approach to water management strategy, including appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures to address fluvial and surface water flood risk, and which takes opportunities for betterment by controlling run off from the site to reduce flood risk downstream both to Longstanton Brook and Oakington Brook. 

20. Provide appropriate space for the ongoing maintenance of the watercourses. 

21. Planning conditions will be imposed to minimise the adverse effects of construction activity on the amenity of nearby communities and the environment. 

Lifespan 

22. A site-wide spatial

A masterplan describes how proposals for a site will be implemented. The level of detail required in a masterplan will vary according to the scale at which the masterplan is produced.

and

A set of illustrated design requirements that provide specific, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site or area. The graphic and written components of the code should build upon a design vision, such as a masterplan or other design and development framework for a site or area.

must be submitted for approval by the Local Planning Authority as part of the first application for planning permission. Delivery of the development, including any individual phases, must be in accordance with the phasing plan which must accompany the first planning application. It must demonstrate how comprehensive development of the site will be achieved, including how and when infrastructure required for each phase will be delivered. 

23. The applicant must also prepare and submit: 

  a. A comprehensive environmental management and construction strategy for all phases of development; and 

  b. Strategies for the long-term management and maintenance of landscape, drainage and green infrastructure. 

This site is allocated for employment uses to meet the demand for local warehousing and logistics, advanced manufacturing and general industrial employment floorspace identified in the studies informing the draft

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 policy enables a range of small and medium-scale commercial uses to come forward and it will be important that there is sufficient variety in their form and floorplate size and flexibility in their design to ensure that they cater for a range of different business types and can be adapted over time to meet changing local business needs. As the focus of the site should be on meeting the identified local needs, the site should deliver a range of small and medium sized units. Small and medium sized units are defined as less than 9,300 square metres (100,000 square feet).

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.

should come forward in phases which respond to local needs. 

Given the scale and nature of the proposed uses, the policy identifies a positive approach to landscape mitigation, seeking to create an exemplar proposal that is set within a mature landscape. This is to support the health and well-being of those working and visiting the site but also mitigate landscape and long distance view impacts, existing ecological habitats and species and identified flood risk areas. 

The required mitigation measures also include further Archaeological Assessment, which is required given the archaeological potential in this area.

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.

is also contingent upon the provision of safe and adequate vehicular access to the public highway, the provision of active travel connections to nearby settlements and maximising opportunities to facilitate sustainable last mile deliveries, given the sites, location close to Cambridge and several nearby towns and villages. 

The southeastern part of the site contains the corridor of the Oakington Brook. This provides a flood risk constraint but also an opportunity to manage water effectively and mitigate flood risk downstream. The area is also important for biodiversity mitigation.

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.

should therefore be restricted to the north western parts of the site. 

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.