Residents, businesses, and community groups across Greater Cambridge are being urged to submit their views with just under two weeks before the draft Local Plan consultation closes.
With the deadline of Friday 30 January 2026 fast approaching, local councils are calling on everyone to help shape how the area grows over the next 20 years. Every response will be considered when refining the proposals that will guide future development in the area.
The draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan sets out where new homes, jobs, services, green spaces, and essential infrastructure could come forwards across Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. Once adopted, it will become the official Development Plan for the area, shaping decisions on planning applications.
To help people understand the proposals, the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning service between Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District councils have been running an extensive programme of engagement - with more than 50 in-person and online events. As the deadline approaches, only a handful of drop-in sessions remain, offering an opportunity to speak directly with planners and ask questions in person. The team will also be out at Haslingfield Village Market on Sunday 25 January from 10am to 12pm. The up-to-date events list can be found on the Local Plan webpage.
Recordings of previous online webinars are available on the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning website for anyone who cannot attend an event but wants to learn more before submitting their views.
The draft Plan builds on extensive technical work and thousands of comments from earlier consultations. Updated assessments confirm the need for around 50,000 new homes up to 2045 to support the forecast 73,000 additional jobs expected in the area. Around 37,000 of these homes are already accounted for through existing planning permissions and sites identified in the councils’ adopted local plans from 2018.
The latest proposals continue to support growth in new towns such as Northstowe and Waterbeach, alongside redevelopment opportunities including Cambridge Airport. They also propose further expansion of Cambourne, making the most of the town’s new proposed railway station and strengthening local services and employment opportunities.
Following the Government’s decision not to fund the relocation of the Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant, the draft Plan now proposes a new community of around 6,000 homes at Grange Farm, near Great Abington. This site, located beyond the Green Belt, offers strong potential for improved public transport links to nearby research campuses and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
The Plan also supports the continued expansion of key employment sites such as the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Babraham Research Campus. In response to rising demand for logistics and industrial space, two new sites are identified along the A14 corridor, including expanded lorry parking at Cambridge Services. Alongside this, the Plan recognises ongoing challenges around transport, water supply, and wastewater treatment, and highlights the work underway with partners to address these issues.
Have Your Say Before 30 January
The consultation is open until 5pm on Friday 30 January 2026, and residents are strongly encouraged to submit their comments as soon as possible. The draft Plan can be viewed online, with paper copies available at council offices and libraries.
Lead Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cllr Dr. Tumi Hawkins, said: "This consultation is your chance to help shape the future of our area. We know Greater Cambridge faces competing pressures – from the need for new homes and jobs to the urgent requirement to protect our landscapes and biodiversity. The draft Plan responds to these challenges by proposing growth in what we think are the right places, supported by sustainable transport and natural spaces like parks, woodland and nature rich habitats. We want to hear from residents, businesses, and partners to make sure this Plan works for everyone and reflects what matters most to our communities."
Cllr Katie Thornburrow, Cambridge City Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport, said: "The Local Plan is about ensuring much-needed new homes are built as part of thriving, sustainable neighbourhoods where people can live well and travel easily with less reliance on cars. The Plan will help us balance the need for new homes alongside the pressures facing our area related to economic growth, climate change, and infrastructure constraints. This draft Plan sets out a vision that supports innovation and jobs while tackling these challenges head-on. Your feedback is vital to help us refine these proposals and ensure they deliver for the whole of Greater Cambridge."
Feedback from this consultation will inform the final version of the Plan, which will undergo a further round of consultation next year before being submitted to Government for examination.
View all news