Policy S/DS: Development strategy

1. The need for jobs and homes will be met as far as possible in the following order of preference, having regard to the purposes of the Cambridge

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.

: 

  a. Within the Cambridge urban area; 

  b. On the edge of Cambridge; 

  c. At an expanded Cambourne; 

  d. At other new settlements; and 

  e. In the rural southern cluster and wider rural area at Rural Centres and Minor Rural Centres. 

2. The following strategic scale allocations, comprising carried forward allocations from the adopted plans and new allocations, are proposed to meet the majority of the development needs to 2045 and beyond (set out in Figure 8): 

  a. Within Cambridge urban area: 

    i. North East Cambridge – to maximise the opportunity provided by Cambridge’s last remaining significant brownfield site, a carried forward allocation for comprehensive mixed-use development, should Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant be relocated away from the site; or else employment-led development and intensification of the existing science and business parks taking advantage of the site’s highly sustainable location; 

    ii. South of Coldham’s Lane – a carried forward special policy area and a new allocation, enabling regeneration of this area to deliver a new urban country park and recreational ecological enhancement and approximately 90,000m2 employment floorspace for office and research & development; 

  b. On the edge of Cambridge: 

    i. Cambridge East – a vibrant, inclusive well-connected new city district, reshaping eastern Cambridge while complementing the city centre, comprising: a new allocation at Cambridge Airport for mixed use development with supporting services and facilities, including approximately 8,000 homes and significant employment floorspace for office and research & development, and a minimum of 20,000m2 employment floorspace for industrial uses, and the carried forward allocations of Marleigh and Springstead village, to be fully integrated within the wider Cambridge East site; 

    ii. Cambridge Biomedical Campus – maintaining and enhancing the role of this world leading health, education and life-science quarter, an updated and expanded allocation for mixed use development including approximately 530,000m2 employment floorspace for office and research & development, and 1,000 homes for local workers, to enable delivery of a world leading campus providing medical facilities, research and health science;

    iii. Eddington – a major new neighbourhood in North West Cambridge, led by the University of Cambridge: a carried forward allocation with additional capacity for homes within the existing site built area, for mixed use development with supporting services and facilities, including approximately 5,500 homes, 2,000 units of student accommodation, and floorspace for research, office, research & development and mid-tech; 

    iv. West Cambridge – an enhanced major academic and commercial hub for Cambridge University: an updated and amended allocation for approximately 383,000m2 employment floorspace for office and research & development; 

  c. At new settlements: 

    i. An expanded Cambourne, which will capitalise on new sustainable transport connections to evolve into a sustainable, thriving and prosperous town, rooted in nature. This will incorporate 

      1. Cambourne North – a new allocation for mixed use development, anchored around a new gateway town centre at the

The East West Rail scheme will re-establish a rail link between Cambridge and Oxford to improve connections between East Anglia and central, southern and western England. The central section will link Bedford to Cambridge. Further information is available on the East West Rail company website: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/

station and fully integrated with the existing town: including approximately 13,000 homes,108,000m2 employment floorspace for office, research & development, and industrial uses and various supporting services and facilities, including a cultural hub and performance space, new leisure hub and northern forest; 

      2. Cambourne – an updated allocation to steer the continual expansion and renewal of the existing town in line with the wider vision for Cambourne, including development focused at West Cambourne, Cambourne Business Park and Cambourne Town Centre; 

    ii. Land adjacent to A11 and A1307 at Grange Farm in the Rural Southern

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.

– a mixed use new community designed for sustainable living and working, sensitively integrated with its natural and cultural landscape and well connected to

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

’s dynamic life sciences research campuses: including approximately 6,000 homes, 15,000m2 employment floorspace for office uses and 20,000m2 for industrial uses, and a new centre with a mixture of facilities and services; 

    iii. Northstowe – a carried forward allocation for mixed use development of a new town with supporting services and facilities, including approximately 10,180 homes and 20ha employment floorspace for office and research & development, delivering a sustainable new town with a distinctive local identity, drawing on the traditions of fen-edge market towns and the high quality and innovation that are characteristic of

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

; 

    iv. Waterbeach new town – a carried forward allocation for mixed use development with supporting services and facilities, including approximately 11,000 homes and 37,000m2 employment floorspace for office, research & development, and industrial uses delivering a vibrant community of a high quality and distinctive design, celebrating excellence in sustainable development and healthy living, with its own character and identity that respects its location on the Fen edge, its historic landscape and close proximity to Cambridge. 

    v. Bourn Airfield new village – a carried forward allocation for a new well connected mixed use rural centre, including 3,500 homes, up to 1,400m2 of employment floorspace for office, research and development or industrial processes and various supporting services and facilities, anchored around a vibrant village centre, integrated with and enhancing its landscape setting; 

  d. In the Rural Southern

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.

: 

    i. Wellcome Genome Campus – a new allocation for a mixed use expansion and renewal of this internationally significant life sciences campus to create an exceptional, stimulating environment for integrated working and living: including approximately 127,500m2 employment floorspace for office and research and development, 1,500 homes for campus workers and a range of supporting services and facilities, focused on a series of well-connected mixed use development clusters within a landscape-led masterplanned campus setting; 

    ii. Babraham Research Campus – a new employment-led mixed use allocation to support further growth of this existing world leading bioscience research and innovation campus and improve the health and wellbeing of future employees, residents and the local community through targeted environmental enhancements: including approximately 48,000m2 employment floorspace for office and research & development and 120 additional homes, supported by focused additional facilities that complement existing local services; 

  e. In the Rest of the Rural Area: 

    i. Slate Hall Farm, Junction 25, A14 – a new allocation for 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: including approximately 240,000m2 employment floorspace for industrial and warehousing uses, with a mix of small-medium units to support the growth of a wide range of different businesses; 

    ii. Land to the south of the A14 Services – a new allocation for approximately 90,000m2 employment floorspace for industrial, warehousing and lorry parking to support the future space needs of

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

’s businesses and deliver a range of new employment opportunities. 

3. The remainder of the development needs will be met at smaller sites within: 

  a. Cambridge urban area, including allocations for jobs and homes, and the settlement hierarchy policy providing support for windfall development; and 

  b. the rural area, where further development will be limited, with allocations for jobs and housing focused on Rural Centres and Minor Rural Centres, and the settlement hierarchy policy providing for windfall development for different categories of village consistent with the level of local service provision and quality of public transport access to Cambridge or a market town. 

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.

needs and supply 

Committed supply and new sites identified in this plan meeting the identified housing needs established in Policy S/JH: New Jobs and Homes are set out in Table 1 below, and delivery across the plan period and beyond is set out in the housing trajectory included in Appendix E: Housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculation. 

Accommodation for Gypsies,

Travellers refers to both Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

and

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

 

Sites for

Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, and all other persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism or of living in a caravan, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling showpeople or circus people travelling together as such.

or yards for

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

that already have, or in future are granted, an unrestricted planning permission for that use are safeguarded for that use. Planning permission for alternative uses on these sites or yards will not be permitted. 

Summary of development provided in allocations 

Table 1: Calculating the number if additonal homes to provide for to meet the housing need established in Policy S/JH: New jobs and homes

Homes to provide for	Homes 2024 2045
Housing need	48,195
Current supply (including communal accommodation for students or older people) compromising: adopted allocations, sites with planning permission or a resolution to grant planning permission, and windfall allowance	37,865
Total additional homes to be identified to meet need	10,330

Table 2: New sites to meet the identified housing need

Location	Policy reference / Site name	Homes 2024-2025	Homes Post 2045
Cambridge urban area	S/C/SMS Garages between 20 St. Matthews Street and Blue Moon A licensed premises that must be open to and welcoming of the general public without requiring membership or residency that allows drinking on the premises without requiring food to be consumed. , Cambridge	12	0
Cambridge urban area	S/C/NCA North Cambridge Academy, 108 Arbury Road, Cambridge	150	0
Cambridge urban area	S/C/ER 1-99 Ekin Road and 1-8 Ekin Walk, Cambridge	26	0
Cambridge urban area	S/C/DR 2-28 Davy Road and garage blocks, Cambridge	48	0
Cambridge urban area	S/C/HPC 1-78 Hanover Court, 1-49 Princess Court and garage at Newtown garages, Cambridge	37	0
Cambridge urban area	S/C/GER Former Garage Block, East Road, Cambridge	40	0
Cambridge urban area	S/C/SH 1-33 Stanton House, Christchurch Street, Cambridge	-5	0
Cambridge urban area	S/C/CJ Cambridge Junction and Cambridge Leisure, Hills Road, Cambridge	100	0
Edge of Cambridge	S/CE Cambridge East (safeguarded land)	3,950	4,050
Edge of Cambridge	S/ED Eddington (additional new homes on existing allocated site – no expansion of site boundary)	2,500	0
Edge of Cambridge	S/CBC Cambridge Biomedical Campus	1,000	0
New settlements	S/CBN Cambourne North	2,550	10,450
New settlements	S/CB Cambourne (Town Centre)	120	0
New settlements	S/GF Grange Farm	2,550	3,450
Rural Southern 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.	S/RSC/BRC Babraham Research Campus	120	0
Rural Southern 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.	S/RSC/MF Land at Maarnford Farm, Hunts Road, Duxford	60	0
Rest of the rural area	S/RRA/ML The Moor, Moor Lane, Melbourn	20	0
Rest of the rural area	S/RRA/H Land at Highfields (phase 2), Caldecote	65	0
Rest of the rural area	S/RRA/CR Land to the west of Cambridge Road, Melbourn	120	0
All locations	Total supply	13,463	17,950

 

Table 3: Potential supply from North East Cambridge

Location	Policy reference / Site name	Homes 2024-2045	Homes post 2045
Cambridge urban area	S/NEC North East Cambridge	3,950	3,975

Table 4: Total housing supply to meet the identified housing need for 2024-2045

Homes to be delivered	Homes 2024 2045
Current supply	37,865
New sites	13,463
Potential additional supply from North East Cambridge	3,950
Total supply (from current supply and new sites, excluding North East Cambridge)	51,328
Headroom provided by total supply in relation to housing need (excluding North East Cambridge)	6.5%
Total supply (from current supply and new sites, including North East Cambridge)	55,278
Headroom provided by total supply in relation to housing need (including North East Cambridge)	14.7%

Meeting our needs 

Confirming the amount of new employment space and number of new homes to plan for 

Policy S/JH New Jobs and Homes identifies the needs over the plan period. It is then for the Councils to decide how to meet those needs and the amount of development to plan for. 

National planning policy requires us to ensure our plan is positively prepared and meets our identified needs. For homes this includes meeting the government’s Five-Year Housing Land Supply requirement throughout the plan period and also the Housing Delivery Test, which in turn look ahead at ensuring adequate future supply and backwards at past delivery. This is important as if we fail either of those tests at any point in the future, the Councils would have less control over development that comes forward in planning applications for sites that are not consistent with our plan. 

For jobs, the Employment and Housing Evidence Update 2025 (EHEU 2025) identified that under the most likely central scenario for jobs growth, 73,300 jobs are anticipated over the plan period. Of this total, around 35,000 of those would be office, R&D and industrial jobs. The EHEU converted these jobs into employment floorspace needs of almost 1,220,000sqm. The rest of the jobs forecast are in services and support uses such as shops, schools and healthcare. 

The EHEU 2025 recommends that to ensure a flexible employment land supply for office, R&D and industrial jobs, and encouraging growth in existing businesses and attracting inward investment, we therefore plan for a greater amount of employment floorspace than that associated with our identified need, taking into account the needs of different employment sectors. 

Identifying how much land for new jobs and homes needs to be found 

Our adopted Local Plans from 2018 have given us a strong platform to build on by planning for a number of large sites for development on the edge of Cambridge and at major developments like Northstowe and the new town north of Waterbeach, that will continue to build out for many years to come, including in some cases beyond the new plan period, mean that a large proportion of the development we need to plan for has already been identified. 

For jobs, we have a considerable amount of employment land already identified, with over 1,000,000 sqm of employment floorspace in our supply. This includes some large employment sites, such as the Wellcome Genome Campus, that are expected to continue to build out well beyond the new plan period as well. Holding a large overall employment land supply has been a characteristic of Great Cambridge over many years, even with the fast rate of growth in some of the key sectors in the

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

area seen in recent years. 

Our employment evidence identifies that notwithstanding the overall level of employment land supply, there is a need for suitable new land to be identified to meet the employment needs of specific sectors, some of which have very specific locational requirements. 

For homes, we already have an existing supply of just over 30,760 homes from allocations in our adopted Local Plans and sites with planning permission (or with a resolution to grant planning permission) set to be delivered by 2045. This includes new homes and residential accommodation anticipated to be provided in the form of rooms for students or older people. On top of this, we have identified an allowance for windfall sites for residential development coming through planning applications. 

The Councils’ evidence for this windfall allowance is set out in the

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

Housing Delivery Study: Further Addendum (2025). This is based on in-depth analysis of historic housing completions on windfall sites and consideration of future trends taking account of national legislation, and national and local planning policy, which all continue to support the delivery of housing on windfall sites. For

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

as a whole, we expect about 7,100 homes to be built during the plan period from this source. 

Subtracting our existing supply from our housing need of 48,195 results in a residual balance of 10,330 homes to find through new allocations between 2024 and 2045. In order to give greater confidence in meeting our needs, to be able to respond to changing circumstances if they arise and in line with good practice, our existing supply and proposed allocations provide additional headroom above those needs. 

Noting the recent announcement that the government’s Housing

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

Fund will not be funding the relocation of Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant to enable the redevelopment of North East Cambridge in full, if the Hartree component of the development were not to be delivered, our existing supply and proposed allocations would provide for 6.5% more homes than our objectively assessed housing need. If North East Cambridge was delivered in full, this headroom would increase to 14.7%. 

The housing trajectory for

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

, included in Appendix E: Housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculation, demonstrates how the objectively assessed need for

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

of 48,195 homes for 2024 to 2045 will be met. The same appendix also sets out the five year housing land supply calculation for

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

for 2029-2034, on the basis of this being the anticipated five year supply period upon adoption. 

Small sites requirement 

To support delivery of small and medium sized sites, national planning policy requires and to be identified to accommodate at least 10% of the overall housing requirement on sites no larger than one hectare, unless it can be shown that there are strong reasons why this 10% target cannot be achieved. For

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

, this means identifying sufficient land to accommodate 4,820 homes on sites of up to one hectare. Our existing commitments, proposed new allocations and the windfall allowance are anticipated to deliver 6,976 dwellings, which is in excess of 10% of our housing requirement. Of these, 1,694 homes are on specific identified sites, comprising approximately 3.5% of the 48,195 homes that is our housing requirement. 

This is the appropriate response to this requirement for

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

, as allocating the full amount on specific identified sites would need us to identify large numbers of small sites across the rural area. Not only would this be extremely 

challenging, it would compromise our development strategy by directing a significant portion of growth to less sustainable locations where levels of car use would be higher, negatively impacting our response to the challenges of net zero carbon and Climate Act obligations and undermining our vision and strategic priorities. It may also necessitate more sites being released from 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.

as most of the larger and better served villages are located within 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.

, conflicting with our aim to protect the Cambridge

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.

. 

It would also be difficult to deliver the infrastructure needed to make the developments sustainable. As such, it is considered that existing commitments, proposed new allocations and the windfall allowance have a good prospect of meeting the overall aim of this aspect of national planning policy, and would not generate the negative consequences of identifying specific allocations for 10% of our housing requirement on small sites. 

Spatial strategy 

Overview 

National planning policy states that plans should set out “an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and based on proportionate evidence”. 

The adopted Local Plans (2018) for the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire are separate, but together they implement a single joined up strategy for

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

which includes: 

• Allocations within Cambridge where there was capacity, 
• Carrying forward existing edge of Cambridge allocations, identifying limited additional development on the edge of Cambridge where this would not cause significant harm to

  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.

  purposes, and safeguarding land for development at Cambridge Airport, 
• New Settlements at North of Waterbeach and at Bourn Airfield, alongside carrying forward the existing allocation at Northstowe, 
• Extension of Cambourne at Cambourne West, and 
• Limited Village allocations at Rural Centres and Minor Rural Centres. 

Delivery of this strategy is progressing well, with development underway or completed including at the edge of Cambridge sites such as Eddington, Darwin Green, Marleigh and Springstead village, at the new settlement sites of Northstowe, Waterbeach New Town (West), and Cambourne West, and on smaller allocations within Cambridge and the villages. Additionally, outline permission has been granted for Bourn Airfield New Village and Waterbeach New Town (East). 

Throughout the preparation of the development strategy, at each stage of plan-making we have drawn on our evidence together with consultation feedback to inform our approach. 

In considering the strategy choices available for the new

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.

to meet our needs for mixed use development, we explored the sustainability merits of locating new development within each of the five sources of supply from the adopted development strategy: 

• Cambridge urban area; 
• edge of Cambridge, both non-

  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.

  and

  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.

  ; 
• new settlements outside of 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.

  ; and 
• villages. 

We made sure to consider the sustainability impacts of focusing growth outside the green belt in comparison with alternatives of releasing green belt land, as we are required to do by national planning policy. 

We also identified six new development strategy choices not considered for previous plans, which form geographically focused hybrids of the previously identified sources of supply, comprising: 

• Public Transport Corridors; 
• Providing homes close to jobs in the research parks to the south of Cambridge (described as the Rural Southern

  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.

  ); 
• Integrating development with planned infrastructure in the corridor to the west of Cambridge; 
• A hybrid involving an additional new settlement; 
• A hybrid involving release of land from 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.

  ; and 
• A hybrid involving expanding Royston – an existing market town. 

We reviewed the sustainability merits, opportunities and constraints for each of these eleven potential strategy choices, considering evidence under each of our themes, as well as completing Sustainability Appraisal of them. 

Alongside considering locations for new homes and jobs, we also considered suitable locations to restore our area’s habitat networks and provide more green spaces for people providing health and wellbeing benefits. Our

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.

evidence identified 14 strategic green infrastructure initiatives to help achieve this. We have prepared our preferred development strategy including draft allocations and green infrastructure initiatives in parallel. We are also working on ways to support the delivery of specific projects that will meet the objectives of the strategic initiatives. 

Drawing on our evidence and consultation feedback, our preferred option is a blended strategy to meet a variety of needs which responds to the opportunities provided by different sources of supply. It is informed by the vision and strategic priorities, as well as the development strategy principles which we have refined ahead of the draft plan as follows: 

  a. limit our climate impact and support thriving communities – locate development where active and public transport is the natural choice, with jobs, services and facilities located near to where people live, and responding to opportunities created by existing and proposed major new transport infrastructure; 

  b. protect and enhance our natural environment – maximise opportunities to use brownfield land, and ensure green infrastructure can be delivered alongside new development; 

  c. enable our national and global economic employment sectors to flourish – provide employment space of the right type in the right location to meet sector needs; 

  d. reinforce the distinctive character of our city, towns and villages – protect 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.

, and develop sites that can be well-integrated with existing communities, can be developed at densities, and using appropriate forms and patterns of development, which make best use of land while creating well-designed, characterful places; and 

  e. support all necessary utilities in a sustainable way – ensure that the development strategy can be supported by utilities in a way that protects and enhances the environment. 

Broad areas of supply 

In identifying new allocations for development we drew on our development strategy principles alongside considering site specific opportunities and constraints. Through this process we first identified development opportunities on previously developed land, particularly within and on the edge of Cambridge but also at previously planned new settlements. However, given the scale of our development needs, we needed to also consider options on greenfield land too. 

For each site we considered the opportunity to apply densities making best use of land whilst being sensitive to local context. Among other constraints, we accounted for flood- risk – seeking to locate development in areas at lowest risk of flooding first – applying the sequential approach required in national policy. 

Cambridge urban area 

Our evidence and Sustainability Appraisal confirm that the urban area of Cambridge remains a highly sustainable broad location for additional homes and jobs, relating to its accessibility to existing jobs and services. It also provides the most significant opportunities for reusing previously developed land and optimising densities in these well connected locations. A number of existing allocations are proposed for retention in this broad area. Beyond this, North East Cambridge (NEC) provides the most significant development opportunity in this area. 

In August 2025 the Government announced that it will not be funding the relocation of the Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant (CWWTP) through its Housing

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

Fund, which means that there is uncertainty as to whether the delivery of the Councils’ preferred vision for North East Cambridge can be realised in full, including the assumed delivery of housing within the plan period. 

For this 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.

consultation, the Councils have made the decision to retain the allocation for North East Cambridge as previously set out in the Area Action Plan, noting the significant benefits that development at this site would bring, on the basis that other funding may be found to enable the relocation of the CWWTP. Ahead of the Proposed Submission stage in 2026, the Councils will continue to engage with relevant partners to confirm a refined position for that later plan-making stage. 

In addition to North East Cambridge, considering its particular sustainability merits, the strategy seeks to maximise supply from all other sources in the Cambridge urban area. This includes optimising densities on other sites and exploring opportunities for regeneration and estate renewal, engaging with the Cambridge Investment Partnership regarding the creation of new homes alongside the replacement of existing social housing through their investment programme. This has resulted in the identification of a number of smaller new allocations within the city. Further to this, several new opportunity areas for regeneration have been identified alongside carrying forward those identified in the Cambridge

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.

(2018) that have yet to come forward. 

Edge of Cambridge 

Our evidence shows that the edge of Cambridge could be a sustainable location for homes and jobs, being accessible to existing jobs and services, and if development is planned at sufficient scale this could also support new infrastructure. Several existing allocations on the edge of Cambridge continue to be built out. Beyond this, on the edge of Cambridge outside 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.

, Cambridge East provides the most significant development opportunity in this area, comprising land at Cambridge Airport that was originally identified for development in the 2003 Structure Plan and is safeguarded in the 2018 Local Plans for development should the site become available, which the landowner has now advised will be the case by 2030. There are also opportunities for additional homes to be provided within the identified development area at Eddington (North West Cambridge). 

Other potential sources of supply on existing

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.

land on the edge of Cambridge were considered in developing the strategy, to make sure we fully considered this against other alternative approaches. The Government attaches great importance to Green Belts in national planning policy. Cambridge has had a

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.

since the 1965

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.

Plan, and Cambridge’s locally specific

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.

purposes have been embedded in development plans over many years. In preparing the

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.

we completed a

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.

Assessment in 2021 to help us understand the impact development would have on green belt purposes. 

Drawing on our evidence and consultation feedback, we do not consider that our development needs alone provide the ‘exceptional circumstances’ required in national policy to justify removing land from 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.

in this

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.

, having regard to the identification of other sources of land supply that can meet needs sustainably without the need for

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.

release. In the latest National Planning Policy Framework the government introduced the concept of ‘grey belt’, which is defined as previously developed land and/or land that does not strongly contribute to certain specified

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.

purposes. Where it is necessary to release

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.

land for development, plans should give priority to previously developed land, then consider other grey belt land, before considering other green belt sites. As we do not consider it is necessary to release

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.

to meet the general development needs identified in this plan, it is not necessary for us to identify grey belt land. However, notwithstanding this we are updating our

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.

Assessment 2021 to respond to the updated national guidance, which we intend to publish in 2026. 

Notwithstanding this conclusion regarding general development needs, we have assessed 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.

individually to identify whether there could be any site specific exceptional circumstances that could justify amendments to

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.

boundaries. Having completed this review for the edge of Cambridge, we consider that the only site where such exceptional circumstances exist is at Cambridge Biomedical Campus where a limited release is justified to provide an opportunity to meet development needs of the campus and deliver a world leading campus. Away from the edge of Cambridge, we also consider that site specific exceptional circumstances exist to justify limited releases at Babraham Research Campus to respond to its unique employment characteristics. 

In summary, our strategy seeks to protect 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.

, focusing development within Cambridge, on the edge of Cambridge outside 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.

, and beyond 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.

(as explained below), with release of

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.

land limited to two sites justified by unique site-specific reasons. For all proposed

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.

release sites we are requiring compensatory improvements to remaining

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.

land in line with recently revised national planning policies. 

New settlements 

Our existing new settlements at Northstowe and Waterbeach, together with Bourn Airfield New Village which has been granted planning permission, will continue to be built out through the new plan period to 2045 and beyond and form a significant part of our future supply. Drawing on our review of the different strategy options and our Sustainability Appraisal, the most sustainable location for additional strategic scale development away from Cambridge is expanding on existing development in the Cambourne area, taking advantage of the significant benefits that will be provided by the proposed

The East West Rail scheme will re-establish a rail link between Cambridge and Oxford to improve connections between East Anglia and central, southern and western England. The central section will link Bedford to Cambridge. Further information is available on the East West Rail company website: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/

station as well the proposed public transport improvement to the Cambourne to Cambridge corridor. This significant improvement in public transport accessibility provides an opportunity to grow and enhance an existing new town, increasing the critical mass of population, employment and services available locally to those communities. 

We also have evidence that locating homes close to existing and proposed jobs at the cluster of research parks to the south of Cambridge would help reduce commuting and associated carbon emissions and congestion. A new settlement at Grange Farm provides an opportunity to provide a significant number of new homes within cycling and walking distance of jobs at Granta Park and Babraham Research Campus, and connected via a proposed high quality public transport route to Cambridge Biomedical Campus. 

We are also supporting further jobs and homes growth in this area through rolling forward a number of existing housing allocations, and by identifying new allocations, including for jobs at Babraham Research Campus, jobs and tied homes confirming the existing planning permission at Wellcome Genome Campus, and several housing sites at well-connected villages in the area.

Villages 

Our evidence shows that our villages should play only a limited role in meeting future development needs to support delivery of a range of smaller sites and support the vitality of our villages. Alongside rolling forward a number of existing housing sites, we have identified a limited number of new sites for housing at our more sustainable villages. We previously identified a site 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.

at Mingle Lane Shelford responding to its highly sustainable location. However, we no longer think there are exceptional circumstances to justify this green belt release, as with the inclusion of Grange Farm we have been able to propose significant residential development in the southern corridor beyond the outer

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.

boundary, with good public transport and active travel opportunities. 

Employment strategy 

The

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

economy is nationally and internationally important. The area is home to two Universities and one of the most significant clusters in Europe of high-tech industries, research and development and life sciences. It also has a range of other industries operating successfully in the area. After identifying overall needs we explored in greater depth the needs of sectors to help us understand how the plan can best support in terms of land supply but also the location and types of space that are needed. 

Our economic strategy responds to the specific locational and space-type needs of different sectors, comprising several mixed use sites that include both homes and employment space, the expansion or redevelopment of existing employment sites, and major new industrial and distribution sites. There are also several new small and medium employment allocations identified within urban and rural areas: 

• To support the continued flourishing of our internationally renowned knowledge intensive sectors, in particular life sciences and ICT, we propose: 
  • Significant additional space for continued growth in laboratory and office employment (use class E(g) at our existing cluster centres, including at North East Cambridge which incorporates Cambridge Science Park, West Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus, Melbourn Science Park; 
  • Release of land from 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.

    at Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Babraham Research Campus to meet future needs at these important facilities; 
  • Further space at sustainable locations providing opportunity for the growth of new clusters in the longer term, particularly at Cambridge East, but also at Cambourne. 
  • Continued support for laboratory and office employment (use class E(g) at adopted allocations in sustainable locations within and on the edge of Cambridge, and at the emerging new settlements of Northstowe and Waterbeach. 
  • Additional housing in locations that can be connected by sustainable means to cluster centres.
• To meet our emerging needs for mid-tech space (use classes E(g)/B2/B8), particularly where companies develop prototypes emerging from our knowledge intensive sectors, we propose allocations on the edge of the urban area, including at Eddington and Cambridge East, with longer term provision at an expanded Cambourne. 
• To meet our immediate need for industrial floorspace and local needs for logistics floorspace (use classes B2/B8), we propose two substantial new allocations in the A14 corridor, with longer term provision at an expanded Cambourne. We also propose land at several of our mixed use allocations for general industrial space (use classes B2/B8). 

In addition, a number of key existing employment and commercial sites are identified as Areas of Major Change, including Granta Park, the Imperial War Museum Duxford, the Grafton Centre, South of Coldham’s Lane and Cambridge Railway Station, Hills Road Corridor. 

Many of the sites and policies outlined above are particularly suited to supporting the needs of clusters. However, cluster related employment is not restricted to these areas, and there are smaller concentrations and individual firms both in Cambridge and the rural areas of South Cambridgeshire. Developments proposed to support clusters which meet the proposed policy requirements in Policy J/NE will be supported, particularly where they include provision of a range of suitable units, including for start- ups, SMEs, and incubator units. 

Distribution of housing development 2024-2045 

The following table sets out the broad distribution of housing growth under previous rounds of plan-making, alongside the preferred option strategy distribution. The proportions of housing development in different types of location have changed over time as the impacts of the sustainable development strategy across our current 2018 Local Plans, which was initiated in predecessor plans, starts to take effect. The large strategic sites on the edge of Cambridge and the new settlements in South Cambridgeshire have had long lead-in times but are now delivering well and starting to make up a larger proportion of development that is expected to continue through the plan period. The rural area will have a lower share of development in the new plan, reflecting other more sustainable sources of supply, but will still provide some development to help support our rural communities. 

Long-term vision for

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

 

National planning policy expects that where a local plan includes proposals for new settlements, it should set a vision that looks further ahead than the normal 15 years from adoption of the plan, to at least 30 years. This is especially relevant to the strategy for

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

, which is anchored in a network of sustainable new strategic scale developments of a sufficient scale to meet much of the development needs for jobs and homes in the area during the plan period and beyond, supported by the right infrastructure and underpinned by a series of interventions that will both protect and enhance the environment.

*To note: There is currently uncertainty regarding the effective delivery of the Councils’ vision for North East Cambridge. At this stage the allocation is retained, but 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.

housing trajectory does not include housing delivery for this site, other than development already with planning permission. 

Table 5: Distribution of housing development 2024-2045

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.	Structure Plan 1999-2016	Adopted Local Plans 2011-2031	Draft 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. (without North East Cambridge) 2024-2045	Draft 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. (with North East Cambridge) 2024-2045
Cambridge urban area (including windfalls)	27	19	11	17
Edge of Cambridge	25	35	29	27
New settlements	18	23	44	41
Rural area (including windfalls)	30	23	16	15

We have been able to build on earlier strategy decisions for the area, with sites on the edge of Cambridge and new settlements like Northstowe and Waterbeach making a significant contribution to meeting ongoing development needs. We are now able to add to this with sites that will continue to deliver over the longer term at Cambridge East, Cambourne and Grange Farm. Planning early for sites alongside infrastructure that will continue to deliver will help use maintain land supply for homes and jobs and reduce the need for development in less sustainable locations. 

It is expected that our urban extensions and new settlements will deliver a further 25,675 homes beyond 2045 (not including North East Cambridge).  

Ensuring a deliverable plan 

National planning policy says that plans should be deliverable. Delivery of the sites included in this plan, which will contribute to meeting our Vision for

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

, is reliant on the provision of a significant level of infrastructure – in particular water supply, waste water treatment, and a sustainable and effective transport network. Delivery of this infrastructure is the responsibility of a range of local and national partners. As such, delivery of the plan’s vision relies on these partners reflecting the strategy for

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

in their own strategies and delivering on these in a timely way. 

Water supply 

In earlier plan-stages we identified the availability of a sustainable water supply as a potential constraint to meeting our growth aspirations. Cambridge’s water supply currently comes from groundwater and abstraction needs to be reduced to respond to climate change and protect our precious chalk streams. 

This issue prompted coordinated action from a range of stakeholders, including the government forming the Cambridge Water Scarcity Group, bringing together relevant agencies to deliver short and long-term solutions. Working with the group, we commissioned a study to explore whether the growth needs identified in 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.

could be met. 

In the shorter term, a range of measures are being implemented to improve the efficiency of how water is used. In the medium term, a pipeline connection to Grafham Water will boost supplies to the Cambridge area from 2032, and the Fens Reservoir will further increase supplies from the mid 2030’s.

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 new strategic sites including North East Cambridge, Cambridge East, Cambourne, and Grange Farm, is not anticipated to be completed in the housing trajectory accompanying 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.

until 2032 when a new pipeline connection to the Cambridge water zone is anticipated to be operational. Delivery and phasing plans will need to demonstrate engagement with the water industry, and respond the availability of water supply improvements. Grampian conditions may be used if necessary to relate occupation to water availability. 

The Regional Water Plan prepared by Water Resources East, identifies that in the longer term, into the 2040’s and beyond, adaptive approaches and new infrastructure such as desalination will be needed in the East of England to ensure there continues to be water available to meet needs whilst protecting the environment. Cambridge Water were able to adopt its new Water Resource Management Plan in Spring 2025, and this will be reviewed every 5 years. 

Our study demonstrates that with the measures proposed by government and the water industry, and with the policies set out in the Plan, adequate water supply will be available to support delivery of the draft plan allocations in a way that supports the goal of reducing impacts on our chalk streams. 

Waste water treatment 

The Government’s announcement that it will not be funding the relocation of the Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant (CWWTP) means that there is currently uncertainty around the programme for future waste water treatment serving Cambridge. Assuming the relocation does not take place, upgrades will be required to the existing CWWTP at North East Cambridge to ensure it can deal with future wastewater flows in a sustainable way, and Anglian Water have committed to exploring the alternative measures needed over the coming months. 

Investment will also be needed at other water treatment works to serve the allocations proposed in this plan. Anglian Water have started work on a new Drainage and Waste Water Management Plan (DWMP), a statutory plan they are required to prepare which identifies how they will accommodate future growth needs. 

We have engaged with Anglian Water and the Environment Agency and prepared a Draft Water Cycle Strategy that explores future needs. We now expect Anglian Water to consider and plan to accommodate future needs as they prepare the DWMP. We will continue to engage with relevant partners to confirm and refine the position for the Proposed Submission stage of plan-making. 

Transport strategy 

Our proposed strategy is heavily informed by the location of existing and committed public transport schemes. For example, focus growth at Cambourne takes advantage of the proposed

The East West Rail scheme will re-establish a rail link between Cambridge and Oxford to improve connections between East Anglia and central, southern and western England. The central section will link Bedford to Cambridge. Further information is available on the East West Rail company website: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/

station and the proposed public transport improvement in the Cambourne to Cambridge corridor; equally, Cambridge East is supported by the proposed Cambridge Eastern Access public transport corridor improvements, and would be made more sustainable still if a potential new rail station is delivered at the site. 

A

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

Transport Strategy is being prepared by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority that will include the mitigation and infrastructure requirements necessary to promote sustainable travel as part 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.

development strategy. 

The foundations for the emerging Transport Strategy are improvements to key corridors, that will provide significant transport capacity to support the delivery of committed development. We are working together with local partners to support delivery of these schemes. Beyond these schemes, the evidence supporting the emerging

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.

development strategy identifies additional mitigation and infrastructure required to enable delivery of the new sites included within the preferred development strategy. 

The Combined Authority has published a Statement of Intent ahead of 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.

consultation confirming its commitment that in time to support the submission 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.

. The Transport Strategy will also set out solutions to address the severe congestion challenges experienced in Cambridge. In combination, these site specific and strategic measures will demonstrate that the sites included in the plan can be delivered.  

Duty to Cooperate 

The preferred

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.

development strategy has been informed by engagement with relevant organisations under the legal duty to cooperate on plan making, to ensure we have fully considered strategic cross-boundary matters. The engagement we have completed to consider these strategic issues is set out in our Duty to Cooperate Statement of Compliance, and our current position on each substantive issue is set out in our draft Statement of Common Ground. The transport strategy remains a substantive challenge that needs to be resolved. 

Apart from this, we are not currently aware of any unresolved strategic cross-boundary matters that would prevent the preferred strategy from being delivered. The Councils have not asked neighbouring districts to meet their development needs; nor have we been asked to meet the development needs of other districts. We will continue to engage with all relevant organisations as we take the plan forward.

Meeting the needs of Gypsies,

Travellers refers to both Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

and

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

 

The Accommodation Needs Assessment (ANA) for Gypsies,

Travellers refers to both Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

and

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

makes a series of recommendations for meeting the accommodation needs of these communities. The accommodation needs of Gypsies,

Travellers refers to both Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

and

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

will be met in the following ways: 

Safeguarding existing pitches and plots 

To ensure that the accommodation needs of Gypsies,

Travellers refers to both Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

and

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

are continually met over the plan period, it is important that existing and future pitches (or sites) and plots (or yards) are retained for their existing use and not lost to other alternative uses. Any pitches for

Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, and all other persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism or of living in a caravan, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling showpeople or circus people travelling together as such.

or plots for

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

with unrestricted planning permission need to be safeguarded for that use. Unrestricted planning permission means not subject to conditions restricting the time limit of occupancy (such as temporary planning permission) or occupancy to specific individuals or families (such as personal planning consents). 

The ANA outlines that Gypsy and Traveller pitches may become available in the future on these site as a result of: household dissolution, through making pitches available that are currently occupied by households that are not

Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, and all other persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism or of living in a caravan, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling showpeople or circus people travelling together as such.

; and through intensification within existing sites. Considering these sources of supply results in the potential for 90 additional pitches by 2045: 

• potential for 16 pitches from household dissolution by 2040/41, 
• potential for up to 70 pitches to be made available if enforcement action can be taken, and 
• potential for 4-5 pitches through intensification within existing sites. 

Action will continue to be undertaken to optimise the use of existing pitches, and further work will be undertaken to identify whether there are any additional pitches that can be brought forward through intensification or expansion of existing sites. A specific policy (Policy S/AMC/GT: Optimising Gypsy and Traveller sites) has been added that relates to Chesterton Fen Road (Milton) and Smithy Fen (Cottenham). 

An additional 8 plots for

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

have been permitted through intensification of the number of plots within an existing yard. These additional 8 plots count towards meeting the identified needs for 2023/24 to 2044/45. 

Provision of additional pitches or plots through regularisation of those not permanently authorised and through provision within strategic sites 

The ANA identified 16 pitches for

Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, and all other persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism or of living in a caravan, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling showpeople or circus people travelling together as such.

on sites within South Cambridgeshire that were not permanently authorised at the time of completing the assessment. Permanent planning permission has since been secured for 19 pitches and a further 3 pitches are considered to be lawful, resulting in an additional 22 pitches that count towards meeting the identified needs for 2024-2045. 

No suitable new standalone sites have been identified through the call for sites process or through a review of other available sources.

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.

as a whole seeks to direct new homes to sustainable locations where active and public transport is the natural choice, with jobs, services and facilities located near to where people live, and national planning policy states that local planning authorities should very strictly limit new pitches or plots in the open countryside that are away from existing settlements. Strategic sites provide an opportunity to deliver new Gypsy and Traveller pitches, alongside other types and tenures of housing, to ensure that new communities meet the needs of different groups in sustainable locations with access to services and facilities. Gypsy and Traveller pitches are therefore required within the following strategic sites (as set out in the allocation policies): 

• Northstowe: 24 pitches 
• Waterbeach New Town: 24 pitches 
• Bourn Airfield New Village: 12 pitches 
• Cambridge East – airport: 24 pitches 
• Cambourne Expansion: 24 pitches 
• Grange Farm: 12 pitches. 

The delivery of pitches at strategic sites will need to take account of when relevant infrastructure will be provided, and therefore not all of these pitches are anticipated to be delivered within the Plan period. Some will come forward beyond 2045. 

Criteria-based policy for windfall pitches and plots 

Policy H/GT: Gypsy and Traveller pitches and

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

plots is a criteria based policy to be used for making decisions on any windfall Gypsy and Traveller pitches or

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

plots within

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

. Any future permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches or

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

plots that are permitted on windfall sites will count towards meeting the identified needs for 2024-2045. 

Summary 

For

Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, and all other persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism or of living in a caravan, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling showpeople or circus people travelling together as such.

, the sources of supply identified above could provide around 180 pitches by the end of the plan period, exceeding the identified need. This includes specific deliverable sites for the first five years and specific deliverable sites, specific developable sites and broad locations for year 6 onwards. 

For

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

, the sources of supply identified above could provide at least 8 plots by the end of the plan period. Although this does not meet the identified need, the outstanding need is modest, and the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain have highlighted that they would like the flexibility to decide where a new plot or yard will be most appropriately located for them. Relying on windfall sites to meet this outstanding need is a reasonable and proportionate response to the situation. Specific deliverable sites have been identified for the first five years, and broad locations have been identified for year 6 onwards.

Meeting the needs of older people and people with disabilities 

The accommodation needs of older people and people with disabilities will be met in the following ways: 

Existing commitments specifically for specialist housing for older people and people with disabilities 

Within our existing commitments, there are a small number of standalone developments for specialist housing for older people which are anticipated to deliver 235 dwellings (as self-contained dwellings or dwelling equivalents from bedspaces) within the plan period 2024-2045. 

Specialist housing within strategic sites 

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.

as a whole seeks to direct new homes, including any specialist housing, to sustainable locations where active and public transport is the natural choice, with jobs, services and facilities located near to where people live. Strategic sites provide an opportunity to deliver specialist housing for older people and people with disabilities, alongside other types and tenures of housing, to ensure that new communities meet the needs of different groups in sustainable locations with access to services and facilities. Specialist housing is therefore required within the following strategic sites (as set out in the allocation policies): 

• Cambridge East – land north of Cherry Hinton: a retirement living facility including 75 bedspaces (equivalent to 39 dwellings) 
• Northstowe: 850 units for specialist housing (within the up to 8,500 dwellings) 
• Waterbeach New Town: 1,050 residential institutional units (within the up to 11,000 dwellings) 
• Bourn Airfield New Village: 250 residential institutional units, in addition to the up to 3,500 dwellings 
• North West Cambridge (Eddington): a senior living facility including 75 bedspaces (equivalent to 39 dwellings) and 250 units for specialist housing (within the 2,500 dwellings) 
• North East Cambridge: 793 units for specialist housing (within the 7,925 dwellings) 
• Cambridge East – airport: 800 units for specialist housing (within the 8,000 dwellings) 
• Cambourne Expansion: 1,300 units for specialist housing (within the 13,000 dwellings) 
• Grange Farm: 600 units for specialist housing (within the 6,000 dwellings). 

The delivery of specialist housing for older people and disabled people will need to take account of when relevant infrastructure will be provided, and therefore as it is expected that some of these developments will continue to deliver beyond 2045, not all of this specialist housing is anticipated to be delivered within the plan period. Within the strategic sites, it is anticipated that 2,626 dwellings (as self-contained dwellings or dwelling equivalents from bedspaces) will be delivered within the plan period of 2024- 2045, or 3,021 dwellings if North East Cambridge is delivered. 

Criteria-based policy 

Policy H/SH: Specialist housing is a criteria based policy to be used for making decisions on any windfall specialist housing for older people and disabled people within

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

. Any developments that are permitted on windfall sites will count towards meeting the identified needs within the plan period. 

Other ways of meeting the accommodation needs of older people and disabled people 

Policies in 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.

, such as Policy H/HM: Housing mix and Policy H/SS: Residential space standards and accessible homes, alongside other approaches relating to the delivery of care, will help older people and disabled people to downsize or stay within their community through ‘whole life housing’ approaches. Additionally, new homes designed and built to meet accessible and adaptable homes standards and wheelchair user standards will contribute towards meetings the needs of those with mobility related disabilities. These approaches could offset some of the identified need for specialist housing for older people and disabled people. 

Summary 

In summary, anticipated delivery within the plan period from the above sources are expected to fully meet the identified accommodation needs of older people and disabled people. 

Meeting the needs of students 

The accommodation needs of students will be met in the following ways: 

Existing commitments specifically for student accommodation 

Within our existing commitments, there are a number of standalone developments for specialist accommodation for students, and these developments are anticipated to deliver 1,419 student bedrooms within the period of 2024-2033. There are a further 1,195 student bedrooms with outline planning permission that are currently anticipated to be delivered after 2033, but which could be delivered sooner if necessary to meet the identified need. 

Specialist housing within strategic sites 

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.

as a whole seeks to direct new homes, including any specialist housing, to sustainable locations. Strategic sites provide an opportunity to deliver specialist accommodation for students, alongside other types and tenures of housing, to ensure that new communities meet the needs of different groups in sustainable locations with access to services and facilities. Specialist accommodation for students may therefore be provided within strategic sites, and any student accommodation provided on these sites will count towards meeting the identified needs within the period of 2024-2033. 

Criteria-based policy 

Policy H/SA:

Accommodation for sole use by students or academic staff provided in individual, self contained units either as part of a shared student accommodation development or an individual proposal, or bedrooms in either halls of residence (PBSA) or shared houses (HMOs) with shared facilities.

is a criteria based policy to be used for making decisions on any windfall specialist accommodation for students within

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

. Any developments that are permitted on windfall sites will count towards meeting the identified needs within the period of 2024-2033. 

• 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.

  : Strategy Topic Paper (2025)

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

  Housing Delivery Study: Further Addendum (2025)

• 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.

  Transport Evidence Report: Draft Plan

• 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.

  : Duty to Cooperate Statement of Compliance

• 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.

  : Draft Plan Interim Statement of Common Ground

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.

.

All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.