Issue - meetings

The report referred to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus Supplementary Planning Document which set out the guidance on the implementation of policies within the Cambridge Local Plan (2018) and the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (2018) regarding future development at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

 

The SPD set out planning principles to guide future development proposals at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and provided a planning framework for consideration when determining planning applications.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure

      i.          Considered the main issues raised in the public consultation, agreed responses to the representations received, and agreed proposed changes to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus Supplementary Planning Document as set out in the Statement of Consultation (Appendix A of the Officer’s report).

     ii.          Subject to (i), adopt the amended Cambridge Biomedical Campus Supplementary Planning Document (Appendix B of the Officer’s report).

   iii.          Agreed to delegate to the Joint Director of Planning in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure and Chair and Spokes the authority to make any subsequent material amendments and editing changes to the SPD prior to publication.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Principal Policy Planner.

 

In response to comments from Members the Principal Policy Planner, Joint Director of Planning, Team Leader (Planning Policy and Strategic Planning) and Executive Councillor said the following:

      i.          Understood the delivery, phasing and mechanisms to ensure that deliveries were carried out effectively on the campus. The emerging Local Plan would also look at the use of logistic hubs for deliveries and how the site could work more efficiently

     ii.          Would amend principle 4b 3.1 of the SPD to include reference to nursery provision. 

   iii.          Confirmed that CBC referenced in the comments was CBC Limited.

   iv.          Members of the Planning Committee and Joint Development Control Committee had expressed frustration when considering individual applications that there was not a Master Plan. This SPD should help to bring cohesion to the development of this important area, but did not replace the need for a Master Plan. 

    v.          There were limitations of what could be included in an SPD as new policy could not be added, but the Council could encourage and support good practice..

   vi.          The emerging Local Plan would also pick up on transport issues exploring movement to and around the site.

 vii.          The SPD was also limited to what could be included as it had to follow the adopted Local Plan versus the ambitions of the emerging Local Plan.

viii.          Officers were working with the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), as the transport authority, and other external partners such as the Greater Cambridge Partnership, to look at, and model, the transport consequences for the biomedical campus. This would manifest itself into the emerging Local Plan.

   ix.          Removing unnecessary trips to the campus through the development of accommodation on the site or development of consolidation hubs might form a part of the subsequent may be part of the  transport strategy being developed by CPCA to address existing congestion challenges.  

    x.          The SPD should be used to aid development control decisions in the short term.

   xi.          Officers were working with Housing colleagues from Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council to explore the potential housing options to meet some of the Campus housing needs.

 xii.          Officers did not anticipate any housing schemes being brought forward ahead in the short term (potentially of the adoption of the Local Plan).

 

Councillor Blackburn-Horgan (Ward Councillor for Queen Edith's) spoke in support of the SPD.

 

The Committee voted unanimously to endorse the Officer recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Transport approved the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor again thanked the Officers for all their work on this document

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted).

None