Purpose

The
purpose of this report is to set out the results of the referendum
on the Stapleford and Great Shelford Neighbourhood Plan and make a
recommendation to Council on whether the Neighbourhood Plan should
be formally made (adopted) by South Cambridgeshire District Council
(SCDC).
 

Content

That
the Joint Director for Planning, having consulted with the Lead
Cabinet Member for Planning, recommends that Council:

Notes
that the referendum for the Stapleford and Great Shelford Neighbourhood
Plan took place on 04 September 2025.
‘Makes’ (adopts) the Stapleford and Great Shelford
Neighbourhood Plan (appendix 1 to this report) as a part of the
statutory “Development Plan” for South Cambridgeshire
following the successful referendum.

 

Reasons for the decision

Where a
Neighbourhood Plan is successful at its referendum, national
planning legislation requires that the Council ‘makes’
(adopts) the Neighbourhood Plan, unless the making of the
Neighbourhood Plan would breach or is otherwise incompatible with
EU or human rights obligations.
 
Officers have concluded that the Stapleford and Great Shelford
Neighbourhood Plan would not breach or be otherwise incompatible
with EU or human rights obligations, as set out in the
Considerations section.   

Alternative options considered

Where a
Neighbourhood Plan is successful at its referendum, SCDC has
limited options in how to respond. National planning legislation
requires that the Council ‘makes’ (adopts) the
Neighbourhood Plan, unless the making of the Neighbourhood Plan
would breach or is otherwise incompatible with EU or human rights
obligations.
 
Officers have concluded that the Stapleford and Great Shelford
Neighbourhood Plan would not breach or be otherwise incompatible
with EU or human rights obligations, as set out in the
Considerations section.