Purpose

The
purpose of this decision is to confirm a minor amendment to the
response to the Uttlesford Draft Local Plan 2021-2041 (Regulation
18) Consultation that was agreed by Cabinet on 5 December
2023.
 
The
need to make the amendment has arisen because the contents of the
Uttlesford Local Plan could in principle impact on the emerging
joint Greater Cambridge Local Plan, and a joint response from
Greater Cambridge is recommended.
 
As
such, subsequent to the proposed response being agreed by Cabinet,
it has been subject to consultation with Chair and Spokes of
Cambridge City Council’s Planning and Transport Scrutiny
Committee, ahead of a formal decision on the response from a
Cambridge City Council perspective by the City Council’s
Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport.
 
As part
of this consultation the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for
Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure requested a change to
the response to strengthen the request for the active engagement of
Affinity Water in addressing the ongoing sub-regional water supply
issue. Officers have in response recommended the additional wording
shown below (full response attached at Appendix 1 showing this
amendment) to strengthen the request for clarity that the
level of abstraction required to support the development proposed
in Uttlesford’s draft Local Plan is sustainable (additional wording underlined):
 
“Therefore, the
Councils would like to be reassured that the level of abstraction
required to support the development proposed in Uttlesford’s
draft Local Plan is sustainable, and
suggest that Uttlesford District Council confirm this with Affinity
Water in light of their emerging WRMP24”.

Content

To make
the amendment referred to above and as shown in Appendix 1 –
revised response to Uttlesford Draft Local Plan
consultation.

Reasons for the decision

To minimise negative and maximise any positive impacts of
Uttlesford’s Local Plan on Greater Cambridge, strengthening the joint response to consultation by asking for
confirmation that the level of water abstraction required to
support the development proposed in Uttlesford’s draft Local
Plan is sustainable.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: to retain the
response as agreed by Cabinet.
Reason
for rejection: retaining the response as previously agreed would
provide less emphasis to the request for clarity that the
level of abstraction required to support the development proposed
in Uttlesford’s draft Local Plan is sustainable.