Policy S/PRIA: Public Realm Improvement Areas (PRIA) in Cambridge

1.    

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.

within designated Public Realm Improvement Areas (PRIA) should be of the highest quality design and incorporate the principles of sustainable design and construction. Excluding very minor development, development proposals within PRIAs will be supported, if they:
  a.    promote and coordinate the use of sustainable transport modes;
  b.    contribute to the creation of a sense of place, including co-ordinated public realm improvements to create or reinforce the area's identity; and
  c.    help sustain or deliver local shops and services.

2.    

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.

proposals should embrace a range of mixed uses and multiple functions, where applicable and take account of any relevant public realm and, or transport improvement strategies.

3.    Where proposals provide opportunities and potential challenges, site promoters should develop a policy framework, approved by the planning authority to promote and guide overall change during the life of the plan for the relevant area.

The policy approach includes additional considerations to those over-arching requirements set out in Policy S/AMC: Areas of Major Change. These additional considerations will ensure that development within a PRIA takes account of the area’s existing urban character, local shops and services and seek to support and improve these, reinforcing the area’s sense of place. Improved connectivity with surrounding areas is also a key objective of the policy, in a coordinated and sustainable manner.
 

It is recognised that while development can improve an area’s attractiveness it can also challenge the area’s character, in such circumstances site promoters are encouraged to develop a policy framework to guide the area’s reconfiguration.
Site specific policies requirements are also included, to highlight key local characteristics along with short and long-term opportunities and area aspirations that development should take account of as part of any planning application.

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

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

: Sites Topic Paper

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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