Decision details

The purpose of this decision is to consider the latest version of the Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and for it to proceed to consultation in August 2025. The aim of the Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations SPD is to provide guidance on how both Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council seek to apply planning obligations, through the Section 106 process, to new development proposals. It will supplement both Policies 85 and TI/8 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018: Infrastructure delivery, planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy; and Infrastructure and New Developments respectively. The SPD will also complement other policies within the adopted development plans that seek to mitigate the negative impacts of development or secure infrastructure necessary to support the needs generated by proposed developments.

The Councils had previously consulted on a draft version of the Planning Obligations SPD in November 2024. The results of the consultation were taken to South Cambridgeshire District Council Cabinet meeting and the Cambridge City Council Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee meeting in March 2025. It was agreed that, subject to draft Planning Obligations SPD providing additional evidence and a decision being made by the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council and the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport at Cambridge City Council on the revisions made to the SPD, that the SPD could then proceed to an additional round of public consultation in summer 2025.

It was considered by the councils to not hold a re-consultation and only consider comments received during the first consultation and then proceed with adoption. However, further consultation ensures that the scope of legal challenge on the adoption and application of the SPD is reduced.

The councils also considered not progressing with the draft Planning Obligations SPD and continuing to use the Cambridge City Council Planning Obligations Stategy (2010) and parts of the South Cambridge Open Space in New Development SPD (2009) when securing planning obligations.

The Cabinet Member agreed:

a.    That the Draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (Appendix 1 of this decision) and accompanying Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) (Appendix 2) can proceed to a re-consultation commencing August 2025.

b.    That the preparation of materials and the management of the consultation be delegated to the Joint Director of Planning.