As the campaign against the proposed Grange Farm development continues, SAVE has been meeting directly with key decision-makers to ensure the concerns of our community are being heard.
Over recent weeks, we have met with both Greater Cambridge Planning and our local MP, Pippa Heylings, to challenge the evidence behind the proposed 6,000-home development and press for greater transparency throughout the Local Plan process.
The Local Plan – Where We Are Now
Greater Cambridge Planning has confirmed that Policy S/GF (Grange Farm) remains included in the draft Local Plan, but importantly, no final decision has yet been made.
Planning officers told us that more than 1,000 consultation responses have now been reviewed, and a second Regulation 19 consultation is expected to begin within the next month or so. This eight-week consultation will be the final opportunity for residents to influence the Local Plan before it is submitted for independent examination.
This stage is particularly important because only representations made during the Regulation 19 consultation will be considered by the independent Planning Inspector. The examination of the Local Plan is currently expected to take place around this time next year.
Although Grange Farm remains in the draft plan, officers confirmed that several significant issues are still under assessment, including:
- Whether there are more suitable alternative sites
- Transport impacts and infrastructure capacity
- Water resources and environmental impacts
- Heritage and landscape considerations
- Whether the site is genuinely suitable and deliverable
SAVE also challenged the lack of transparency around alternative sites. We made it clear that residents deserve to see how Grange Farm compares with other potential locations before such a significant decision is made.
Taking Your Concerns to Parliament
On 21 May, SAVE met with Pippa Heylings MP to present the concerns that have been consistently raised by residents throughout the campaign.
We discussed a range of issues, including the absence of a comprehensive masterplan for a development of this scale, concerns over transport modelling, the potential impact on water resources and local chalk streams, the effect on our landscape and heritage, and the pressure that 6,000 new homes could place on local infrastructure and existing communities.
Pippa recognised the scale of local concern and the strength of feeling demonstrated at recent public meetings. She emphasised the importance of evidence-based planning and committed to reviewing the issues we raised in detail.
We also asked for her support in ensuring that the evidence behind the proposal is properly scrutinised, that the suitability of the Grange Farm site is robustly challenged where appropriate, and that all reasonable alternative sites are fairly assessed.
The Campaign Continues
These meetings are an important part of ensuring local voices are represented throughout the planning process. While there is still work to do, they demonstrate that the campaign is being taken seriously and that there remains an opportunity to influence the outcome.
The next Regulation 19 consultation will be a crucial milestone, and SAVE will continue to keep residents informed, provide guidance on how to respond, and challenge the proposal wherever the evidence demands it.
Together, we can continue to make the strongest possible case for our community.
Full minutes of our meeting with Greater Cambridge Planning are available on request via email.