The Cambridge Local Plan forms part of the development plan for Cambridge. It sets out the vision, policies and proposals for the future development and land use in Cambridge to 2031. It is the main consideration in the determination of planning applications.
Review of Adopted Local Plan policies
Autumn 2023 will mark five years since the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Local Plans were adopted.
Work on a new joint Greater Cambridge Local Plan is underway. In the meantime we have reviewed whether there are any relevant changes in national policy that might affect the weight accorded to adopted policies in determining development proposals.
The outcome of the review is that the vast majority of policies in both adopted plans remain consistent with national policy and, therefore, can be given full weight until replaced by policies in the Greater Cambridge Local Plan.
The small number of exceptions principally relate to subsequent changes to national policy.
For full details of the review, see the Policy Review of the Adopted Local Plans for Greater Cambridge (June 2023).
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Local Plan
Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council adopted the Minerals and Waste Local Plan in July 2021. The joint plan covers the two authority areas.
The plan sets the framework for all minerals and waste developments until 2036. It sets out policies to guide mineral and waste management developments.
The plan replaces the Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD) from 2011 and the Site Specific Proposals DPD from 2012.
Our Cambridge Adopted Policies Map currently shows the sites, safeguarding areas, allocations and consultation areas from these superseded documents. We will update it soon to reflect the Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2021.
Preparation of the plan
There were a number of stages in the preparation of the plan, including evidence gathering, an issues and options consultation, and consultation on the proposed submission local plan. These were all undertaken between 2011 and 2014.
We submitted the plan to the Secretary of State for examination in March 2014. An independent examination to test the ‘soundness’ of the plan was undertaken between March 2014 and August 2018.
In August 2018, the Inspectors that conducted the examination issued their Report and Schedule of Main Modifications [PDF, 2.5MB]. The report concludes that the plan is “sound” subject to a number of main modifications being made.
The Cambridge Local Plan was formally adopted by the Council on 18 October 2018. The adopted Cambridge Local Plan 2018 incorporates the main modifications recommended by the Inspectors in Appendix 1 of their report. It also includes some additional modifications [PDF, 0.7MB] that are minor or factual in nature, such as typographical amendments and factual updates that do not materially affect the policies proposed by the council.
Any person aggrieved by the Cambridge Local Plan 2018 can, with the leave of the High Court, make an application to the High Court under section 113(3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) on the grounds that:
- the document is not within the appropriate power (as defined in section 113(9) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004); or
- a procedural requirement has not been complied with.
Any such application must be made to the High Court not later than the end of the period of six weeks beginning with the day after the date on which the Local Plan was adopted (i.e. six weeks beginning on 18 October 2018).
Adoption documents
- Adoption statement [PDF, 0.1MB]
- Cambridge Local Plan (October 2018)
- Adopted Policies Map (October 2018)
- Inspectors’ Report on the Cambridge Local Plan (August 2018) and the Schedule of Main Modifications (August 2018): Report and Schedule of Main Modifications [PDF, 2.5MB]
- Policies map modifications: Paragraphs 6 to 8 of the inspectors’ report state that the inspectors do not have the power to recommend main modifications to the policies map. However, a number of the published main modifications to the plan’s policies require further corresponding changes to be made to the policies map. We have published these changes in a policies maps modifications document (RD/EX/140).
Adopted development plan
Following adoption of the local plan, the development plan for Cambridge comprises the following:
- Cambridge Local Plan (October 2018)
- Adopted Policies Map (October 2018)
- Cambridgeshire Minerals and Waste Local Development Framework (2011 & 2012)
- Cambridge East Area Action Plan (February 2008) (excluding CE/3 and CE/35 which are replaced by Local Plan Policy 13)
- North West Cambridge Area Action Plan (October 2009)
In addition, the adopted policies map illustrates geographically the application of spatial policies in the development plan (the allocations for development and policy areas to which a specific policy applies).
Sustainability appraisal report documents
The local plan has been subject to an integrated sustainability appraisal and strategic environmental assessment (SEA):
- Cambridge Local Plan Submission Sustainability Appraisal Report and Habitats Regulations Screening Assessment (July 2013)
- Sustainability Appraisal Addendum Report incorporating Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Assessment (2015, revised March 2016)
- Sustainability Appraisal of Main Modifications (December 2017)
- Cambridge Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Adoption Statement [PDF, 0.2MB]