Policy I/DI: Digital infrastructure

The growth of connectivity over the last decade has resulted in digital technologies increasingly affecting many aspects of contemporary living. As a result, high quality connectivity is becoming an integral requirement for new developments.

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

’s economy is driven by businesses in knowledge-based sectors with businesses that rely on the use of cutting-edge digital technology. Cambridge

Concentrations of companies in related activities, recognisable suppliers, service providers and institutions, which are cooperating, competing and collaborating to build competitive advantage, often across traditional sector boundaries. Such concentrations often depend on access to specialist skills and infrastructure within a specific area.

Insights estimates that employment in knowledge intensive businesses in

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

in 2019/20 was over 48,000 with just under 16,500 of these employed in information and communications technology (ICT) businesses. Indeed, for businesses across all economic sectors good connectivity is becoming a key element in achieving productivity growth.

The importance of good connectivity across the economy has been amplified by the behavioural changes from COVID-19 that has seen a significant rise in the number of people working from home. The ONS Labour Market Survey found that in April 2020, 46.6% of people in employment in the UK did some work at home. Of those who did some work from home, 86.0% did so as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey of nearly a thousand company directors by the Institute of Directors (IoD) in September 2020 shows that 74% of the business that responded plan to keep increase homeworking after COVID-19.

Access is to good digital infrastructure in the home is not only important in supporting business growth. Digital connectivity is increasingly vital in supporting the wellbeing and social inclusion of local residents. Its absence can impact on the educational, employment, financial and health outcomes of individuals and families. It can lead to social isolation and an inability to participate in local communities.

There is a growing need to ensure that connectivity in

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

supports existing and future demand; to not only support good internet and mobile phone access for residents and businesses, but also, via 5G and small cell technology, to provide a platform for “smart” technologies, including environmental monitoring and management, health, energy efficiency and future transport solutions.

The Government has committed to being a world leader in 5G, the next generation of wireless communications technology, with the majority of the population covered by 2027. 5G is likely to require both existing mobile infrastructure and small cell technology in order to provide the capacity needed for the large numbers of users and devices that it is expected to support and for the significant levels of data required for the future application of smart technologies.

Small cells are typically embedded in street furniture such as lampposts, advertisement panels, bus shelters or street signs. Due to the small size of the technology, the provision of street furniture that will have the ability, at some future time, to contain small cells it is not expected to have a significant impact on development costs. For example, a significant proportion of lampposts across the UK already have sufficient capacity/space to retrofit the technology.

Respondents to the First Conversation commented that digital infrastructure has an impact on a wide range of issues, including the economy, reducing the need to travel and responding to climate change. A summary of respondents’ key points are as follows:

• Respondents thought that including a policy relating to Digital

  Includes transport, energy, water, waste, digital/smart, social and green infrastructure.

  in the new

  Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

  to ensure the delivery of high quality gigabit capable digital connectivity was important.
• Respondents saw high quality broadband as key to encouraging homeworking and remote working from rural locations, stating that it should be considered when drafting infrastructure, housing and design policies for the new

  Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

  .
• Respondents commented that land should be allocated to support growth in a range of high technology employment sectors, all of which require high quality digital infrastructure.

1. No Policy – This is not the preferred approach due to the importance of provision for economic, social and climate change.

2. Continuing the current policy approach by just requiring ducting rather than for actual connections – This is not the preferred approach as this is insufficient to ensure infrastructure is delivered to support development.

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

  Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

  : Topic paper 8:

  Includes transport, energy, water, waste, digital/smart, social and green infrastructure.

South Cambridgeshire

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018

• Policy TI/10: Broadband

Cambridge

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018

• Policy 42: Connecting new developments to digital infrastructure
• Policy 84: Telecommunications

Our consultation for this phase is now closed.