Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision:

1.     To agree the Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply document (see Appendix 1) to be published on the Councils’ websites. The Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculations have been prepared jointly with Cambridge City Council, consistent with the adopted Local Plans.

2.     To delegate any further minor editing changes to the Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply document to the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development where they are technical matters.

Why the decision had to be made (and any alternative options):

In January 2019, the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces agreed that the Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five-year supply calculations would be agreed by the Executive Member for Planning Policy at Cambridge City Council via a decision outside of a meeting (together with the Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire Council).

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

That the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces agreed:

1. the Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply document (see Appendix 1) to be published on the Councils’ websites. The Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculations have been prepared jointly with Cambridge City Council, consistent with the adopted Local Plans.
2. to delegate any further minor editing changes to the Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply document to the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development where they are technical matters.

Reasons for the decision:

The Greater Cambridge housing trajectory is used by the Councils to calculate their five-year housing land supply and to demonstrate that anticipated housing delivery will meet or exceed the housing requirements set out in their Local Plans.

National planning policy and guidance requires that a local planning authority should identify and update annually at least a five year supply of specific deliverable housing sites. A new housing trajectory is required to establish the Greater Cambridge five-year housing land supply for the purposes of making planning decisions. In addition, South Cambridgeshire District Council has two planning appeals for developments at: Mill Lane, Sawston and Parcel Com4 Orchard Park where the appellants are challenging the Council’s five year housing land supply. The assumptions made by the Councils on the deliverability of sites will be challenged through these appeals and therefore by publishing the updated Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five-year supply calculations, the Councils will be able to use the most up-to-date information for these appeals.

Scrutiny consideration:

The Chair and Spokesperson of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised.

Report:

The Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply can be viewed at the link below:

https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecSDDisplay.aspx?NAME=SD1502&ID=1502&RPID=65347867

Conflicts of interest:

None known.

Comments:

No adverse comments made.