The scheme will include a range of needed homes, including affordable homes, public open space, play areas, landscaping, ecological enhancement, drainage and associated works.

We are undertaking a consultation on the emerging draft proposals so that the local community has an opportunity to engage in the process prior to a formal planning application being submitted.

All comments received will be used to inform and refine the planning application before it is formally submitted to the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service.

• Vehicular access to be taken off Mingle Lane and a detailed design for this junction is proposed.
• Development of up to 240 dwellings comprising a variety of house types to reflect local needs.
• 50% of the new homes will be provided as specifically affordable housing.
• The largest proportion of dwellings will be 3-bedroom family housing.
• All dwellings would additionally be spacious, designed to meet national space standards for new housing.
• All dwellings will be constructed as a minimum to Building Regulations for “accessible and adaptable dwellings”
• Building heights will be limited to two storeys along boundaries with existing properties.

• At least 40% of the Site would be set out as green space comprising land for ecological enhancement, green routes and public open space.
• A generous area of green space would be provided alongside the nearby cemetery to protect its setting.
• Existing boundary hedgerows will be maintained and enhanced with new landscaping
• The location of greenspaces will ensure the provisions of many sightlines across the adjacent countryside.

An outline application (all matters reserved except access) is to be submitted for a residential development (including affordable homes) to deliver up to 240 dwellings. As an outline planning application, the detailed designs of the new homes and their layout will be for later consideration, but the planning application includes plans which show the location of the new homes, and the scheme would also include new areas of public open space, play areas, landscaping, ecological enhancement, drainage and associated works.

A detailed design for the access to the site from Mingle Lane will be included in the application.

The proposals follow on from a previous smaller scheme in circumstances where additional land is now being brought into the scheme to provide an even more comprehensive proposal for the site. The consultation here provides a further opportunity for the local community to engage in the planning process and proposals for the area, prior to a formal planning application being submitted to South Cambridgeshire Council.

Within the adopted plan for the area, the site is not allocated for development and is located in the Green Belt. However, the planning application proposals are on land which would be appropriately defined as Grey Belt.

In circumstances where the applicant has calculated that the Council is unable to demonstrate a deliverable five-year housing land supply, Government policy states that the current planning policies should be considered out of date.

In this context and having regard to the national housing crisis and the need to deliver both market and affordable homes in the District, development proposals of this nature on Grey Belt sites like this, should not be regarded as inappropriate in principle.

The proposals will be supported by a comprehensive suite of technical assessments and plans, which demonstrate that the site is suitable for residential development and that all relevant policy considerations have been fully addressed.