5th January 2023
Yesterday (4th January), South Cambs District Council published a lengthy article on its website questioning the level of future provision of new homes under the Cambridge Local Plan.
As it stands, this plan already envisages the building of 37,200 new homes in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire over the next 20 years. However, forecasts that the number of jobs in the area could grow faster than expected could lead to an expansion in the the home-building program by up to 19,900 additional new properties.
Now concern is being expressed about the adequacy of water supplies to provide for this level of population increase, as well as other possible ‘unacceptable’ environmental damage such growth could cause. SCDC leader Bridget Smith said, “We have said from the very start of our work to develop this Joint Local Plan that it cannot be growth at all costs and that the environment – particularly the water supply – must be a central consideration. [..] We now need assurances about our future water supply before we can even consider bringing forward any more new homes than we have already planned for.”
Significantly, perhaps, Cllr Smith’s concerns appear to be triggered by the prospect of nearly 20,000 further new homes on top of the number already planned, rather than by the 37,000 already envisaged. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see that concern about the environmental impact of new building is being felt in the corridors of power. It is up to every one of us to ensure that these concerns carry through into the planning process, rather than being merely lip-service to fashionable environmental awareness.