Policy J/VA: Visitor accommodation, attractions and facilities

Tourism is important sector for the

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

economy. It is estimated that the total value of tourism to the area in 2018 was over £1 billion and that in the same year it provided over 20,000 jobs. For Cambridge, employment in the tourism sector was estimated to be 22% of total employment.

The National Planning Policy Framework explains that, in order to provide the social, recreational and cultural facilities and services a community needs, planning policies and decisions should plan positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities (such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, open space, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship) and other local services to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments.

Applying this positive approach, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, plans were in place to commission a review of the demand and supply of visitor accommodation in

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

to include recommendations on future provision which could be incorporated in the First Proposals consultation. With the disruption and uncertainty caused to the hospitality industry by COVID-19, this evidence will now be prepared to inform the Draft Plan. It is expected that the position in respect of the tourism market for

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

will be clearer at this stage.

Where potential opportunities for new visitor accommodation are recommended in the study, these will be allocated at Draft Plan stage. During the plan period, applications for visitor accommodation may also be submitted on sites not already identified. The policy direction above captures how the assessment of these sites would vary according to their proposed location within

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

.

In recent years, the use of online platforms for short term lets such as Airbnb to rent out either whole or parts of a residential unit as temporary accommodation for a variety of occupiers has increased in popular tourist locations and areas close to large employment centres.  This is particularly the case in Cambridge, including areas close to the main railway station and Trumpington Meadows where these activities are clustered together.  Although these services provide opportunity to support good growth in cities, the widespread and concentrated prevalence of this activity can have negative effects on housing supply and on the amenity of surrounding local residents. These include:

• Loss of amenity space, privacy and enjoyment of their home resulting from patterns of behaviour of short-term tenants.
• Continual disruption caused by visitors moving in and out of the premises, disruptive occupants and associated servicing of the unit(s).
• Frequent rotation of unknown, neighbouring occupiers undermines residents' sense of security of living in their own homes.

Whilst the use of residential premises for short term lettings does not always require planning permission, where there is a material change of use from residential to visitor accommodation, permission would only be given in the exceptional circumstances described in the policy direction.

In our First Conversation consultation we received a range of views, some of them conflicting.

There were those that suggested the adoption of policies to constrain the numbers of tourists visiting

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

. Others wanted us to restrict tourist coaches to park and ride sites (and expand these sites where appropriate) so that coaches do not come into the centre of Cambridge. Concern over trade-off between hotels and residential accommodation was highlighted and restrictions in the use of houses as Airbnbs were requested. 

There was some concern over the impact of increase car journeys of a growth in tourism in rural areas. There was support for improving sustainable transport options to visitor attractions; for new attractions where they are accessible to or incorporate sustainable methods of transport; and for assessing the sustainability of tourism.

We were encouraged to support an increase in visitor facilities and attractions, for example, hotels, conference facilities, skateboarding, and to support and protect existing facilities. The social value and well-being benefits of visitor attractions was highlighted. Waterways were seen as a key tourism asset. The need to increase overnight stays was highlighted and there was support for more budget accommodation on the edge of Cambridge. Cambridge East was identified as a potential location for new tourism opportunities.

The creation of a tourism plan/strategy to support the

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.

was suggested as was an assessment of the need for any further hotels in the future and a Water Space Strategy.

No policy – Not considered a reasonable alternative as the sustainability and amenity impacts of visitor accommodation, and the significant role of tourism in

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

, mean policy guidance is required.

• 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 6: Jobs

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 E/19: Tourist Facilities and Visitor Attractions
• Policy E/20: Tourist Accommodation

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 77:

  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.

  and expansion of visitor accommodation
• Policy 78: Redevelopment or loss of visitor accommodation
• Policy 79: Visitor attractions

Our consultation for this phase is now closed.