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Thursday, 26 November 2009

CambridgePPF responds to Consultations

Cambridge Past, Present & Future have submitted detailed responses to two recent consultations:

Regional Spatial Strategy Response

The East of England Regional Assembly recently issued for consultation a document outlining four possible growth scenarios for the next regional development plan, to cover the years 2021 to 2031.

CambridgePPF has now submitted a response and wishes to thank all the members who submitted comments. To see our full response, click here.

Our main proposals are that:

EERA adopt a new scenario 5 which, while accepting the housing targets suggested in Scenario 1, contends that 2036 is a more realistic target date. That is, the Society supports further building of homes at an annual rate of 25% lower than that proposed.

No development should take place without adequate provision of infrastructure, before people move in, not afterwards.

Quality of design, not only of the physical build but also to create vibrant communities, needs very significant improvement.

It is important to take the opportunity to review how the financial risks, particularly for the provision of infrastructure, are divided between local and central government and developers.

All new developments must include adequate green space, at least up to the standard provision recommended by government, and no sums of money should be taken in lieu.

With sufficient land already identified in the Cambridge sub-region for realistic housing development in the next 25 years, there is no justification for a further review of the Cambridge Green Belt.

Cambridge City Council : Parks and Open Spaces Strategy 2009 to 2013 - Response

CambridgePPF has also responded to the City Council’s consultation on its strategy paper for managing, maintaining and improving the value of the city's green spaces. To see our full response, click here.

Our main cause for criticism was that whilst the strategy recognised the sub-standard provision of green open space in the City and the worsening position over the next decade, it failed to address what to do about this fundamental problem. Its approach implied that, with the proposed new housing developments, the problem of providing green open space by the City Council would get worse rather than better and that there is little that can be done about this situation: This is an approach that CambridgePPF strongly refutes.

CambridgePPF believes that green open spaces are vital to creating dynamic communities, improving the quality of life for residents, mitigating climate change and in keeping the city an attractive to live and work.

We have asked that the City Council discard this "strategy", and produce a new version that clarifies the future provision of public open space, including how the basic standard of provision is to be re-attained in the future.

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