Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council are working together to create their very first joint Local Plan. The aim is to ensure that there is a consistent approach to planning and development across both areas over the next 20 years.

LUC is playing a key role in supporting the Councils to achieve their ambition. The Councils commissioned LUC to carry out a suite of studies to develop the evidence base and help ensure the joint Local Plan passes the Government’s soundness tests.

The studies comprise:

• A Sustainability Appraisal, to test spatial strategy development options and draft joint Local Plan policies against sustainability objectives.
• A Habitats Regulations Assessment, to ensure that internationally designated biodiversity sites will not be harmed by proposals in the joint Local Plan.
• A Green Belt assessment, to help the Councils make important decisions on future development opportunities while safeguarding the countryside and the setting of Cambridge.
• Green Infrastructure Opportunity Mapping for Greater Cambridge, to provide evidence informing the creation of an enhanced and expanded green (and blue) infrastructure network.
• Support to Stantec to produce the Infrastructure Delivery Plan which will identify the community, transport, utilities and green infrastructure required to deliver the joint Local Plan.