On 27 September 2018, the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan was adopted and the Adopted Policies Map was agreed for publication.
Stages in the Preparation of the Local Plan
The following stages have been undertaken in preparing the new Local Plan.
1. Evidence Gathering
Evidence gathering and preparation of the Local Plan began in 2011. The Local Plan is supported by a range of evidence base and supporting studies.
2. Issues and Options Consultations
There were 3 rounds of public consultation on issues and options for the Local Plan:
- Issues & Options (July to September 2012)
- Issues & Options 2 (January to February 2013)
- Consultation on Potential Football Stadium at Sawston (March to May 2013)
Before this, there were 2 rounds of public consultation on issues and options for Gypsy and Traveller planning policies and proposals to inform the preparation of a Gypsy and Traveller DPD. In January 2012, South Cambridgeshire District Council made the decision that planning policies and proposals for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation should be included in the Local Plan rather than in a separate DPD.
3. Proposed Submission Consultation and Submission of the Local Plan
Public consultation on the Proposed Submission Local Plan was undertaken between July and October 2013.
On 28 March 2014, the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan [PDF, 15.5MB] and its supporting documents were submitted for independent examination.
4. Examination
Laura Graham BSC MA MRTPI was appointed as the Inspector to carry out an independent examination of both the South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City Local Plans. She was assisted by Alan Wood MSC FRICS. Their task was to see whether the 2 Local Plans were ‘sound’.
The Inspectors asked the Councils and objectors a series of questions as set out in the Inspectors' Matters and Issues, and as a result received written statements and heard evidence at examination hearings held between November 2014 and July 2017.
During the examination, the Inspectors asked the Councils to undertake additional work, and as a result the Councils submitted further modifications to the Inspectors in March 2016 and November 2016.
The Inspectors considered the evidence and asked the Councils to carry out consultation on their main modifications and reported on their findings. They concluded that, subject to a number of modifications, that the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the area.
5. Adoption of the Local Plan
The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan was adopted at a full Council meeting on Thursday 27 September 2018.
Sustainability Appraisal
Sustainability Appraisal is important to the plan making process to help ensure that the Local Plan makes an effective contribution to delivering sustainable development. Weighing positive and negative aspects provides opportunities for plans to be improved, and alternatives to be compared.
The Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report and Sustainability Appraisals undertaken at each stage in the plan-making process are published in our document library.