Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Strategy and Economy Manager regarding the Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals consultation. Further information regarding the consultation could be found via: Greater Cambridge Local Plan (greatercambridgeplanning.org)

Members of the public asked a number of questions, as set out below.

1.             With a drop in birth rate, migration and young people not being able to get mortgages as rates rise, who would buy these houses.

Response: The evidence base did look at the changing demographic and the First Proposals for the plan were informed by those factors. 

2.             Was there a need to address the fact that people who were born in Cambridge cannot afford to live in the town they grew up in, should this not be the immediate focus.

Response: Recognised that Cambridge was an expensive place to live and that houses needed to be provided alongside jobs. Planning policy required the provision of 40% affordable housing alongside any new development.

3.             How can you define and guarantee affordable housing?

Response: The term ‘Affordable Housing’ was defined by Central Government and included social rented, affordable rented, shared ownership etc. The Local Planning Authority sought to secure as much affordable housing as was reasonable and which could be delivered.   

4.             With businesses choosing to incorporate more working from home, it made sense that less office spaces was needed. Asked if the shift of working was home was being built into the plan.

Response: There was already a trend of people starting to work more from home rather than working in the office, the pandemic accelerated this change. The consultation was clear that the evidence was carried out pre-pandemic and would be kept under review as the plan is developed, felt it was too soon to review at the moment whilst the pandemic was still on-going.