Policy S/CBC: Cambridge Biomedical Campus (including Addenbrooke’s Hospital)

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is of national and international importance. It has a local, regional and national role in providing medical facilities and medical research. It is a key location for the life-sciences and biotechnology cluster of

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

. Previous Local Plans have responded to the 2020 vision for the campus, enabling it to evolve into its current role. Significant investment in infrastructure is now planned, with funding committed for a new Cambridge South Railway Station.

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus have now prepared a 2050 Vision, setting out aspirations for its future.  This includes continuing development on the existing campus site, and an aspiration for further development. Proposals have been submitted on large areas of land south of the campus and between the M11, Addenbrookes Road and the A1301.

National planning policy is clear that once established,

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances, where this is fully evidenced and justified, through the preparation or updating of plans. Given the national importance of the Campus in health, life-sciences and biotechnology, and the significant public investment into the area with the new Cambridge South Railway Station, it is considered that it may be possible to demonstrate a case for exceptional circumstances to release land from the

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

in this location, but this needs to be balanced with the existing supply of employment land in the area, and the impacts on the environment and how they can be mitigated.

In considering the impact on the

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

it is important to consider the nature and extent of the harm to

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

purposes. The

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

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

Study (2021) identifies that release of the areas proposed would result in very high harm to the

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

. In addition, there are concerns regarding biodiversity and landscape impacts of the scale of development proposed by the Campus.

However, the

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

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

Study identifies an area adjoining Babraham Road and north of Granham's Road where the harm of release would be lower than other land in this area, although this is still acknowledged as a high level of harm.  There is potential to focus development on a smaller area of land to support the Campus (S/CBC-A on the map), that contains development on the lower land away from White Hill and provides an opportunity to create a new comprehensive green edge to the city.

It will be crucial that impacts are minimised by effective landscaping and the enhancement of green infrastructure south of the existing campus. National Planning policy requires that the impact of removing land from the

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

to be offset through compensatory improvements to the environmental quality and accessibility of remaining

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

land. There are opportunities immediately south of the campus and west of the potential

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

release, in the areas of Nine Wells and White Hill (the area bounded by the blue line of the Proposed Area of Major Change on the map). This should include providing areas where public access is enhanced, but it must also include improvements to areas where public access is restricted, which can help secure biodiversity net gain, providing connections between Nine Wells and the Gog Magog Hills.

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.

at the Campus is at the fringes of the

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

Strategic

Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

Initiative 3: Gog Magog Hills and chalkland fringe (see BG/GI:

Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

).

The high water table and surface water flooding present challenges to development in this area. A comprehensive approach would be required to deliver sustainable drainage systems, which ensure the development is safe, and does not increase risk elsewhere.

If the identified land is to be released for development it is important that the best use is made of the existing campus site first. Whilst there are some fantastic buildings and areas on the site, there are other areas which are underused, and do not provide a good environment for visitors and workers. It is proposed that the policy 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.

seek a comprehensive approach to the site through a new masterplan.

The opportunities provided by the new Cambridge South Station to enhance public transport access to the Campus need to be maximised.  An updated transport strategy for the site will be required. The outstanding public transport and active travel access available to the site mean that car access and parking should be reserved for those who need it most. A ‘trip budget’ approach needs to be applied, requiring a very high level of travel to the site by non-car modes.

There was no specific consultation on this issue in the First Conversation consultation.

1. No release of

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

or additional allocation outside the existing Campus. – This alternative is not the preferred approach, as it would not respond to the needs of the campus.

2. A larger land release reflecting the proposal (referred to as Cambridge South) by a group of landowners with the support of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus – This alternative is not the preferred approach,  due to the level of harm to

A statutory designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped, the Green Belt has five purposes: 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.

, landscape and biodiversity.

• 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 1: Strategy
• Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (2021)

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 14: Areas of Major Change and

  Provide opportunities to enable development that can reinforce and create character and identity in key corridors and centres of the city, often through associated public realm improvements. Given the opportunity nature of these sites they do not include any particular levels of development and are not counted towards meeting our needs.

  – general principles
• Policy 17: Cambridge Biomedical Campus (including Addenbrooke’s Hospital) Area of Major Change
• M15: Cambridge Biomedical Campus (including Addenbrooke’s Hospital)

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/2: Cambridge Biomedical Campus Extension

Our consultation for this phase is now closed.