Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: November 25, 2025

Purpose: Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council are preparing a joint local plan, the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. Building on the stages of plan making already carried out this report seeks agreement to consult on a draft version of the Local Plan starting in December. The feedback received will help shape the final plan that the Council would consult and submit for examination at the end of next year.

Content: Cabinet has:   a.  Agreed the Greater Cambridge Draft Local Plan (Regulation 18) for Public Consultation (Appendix A), subject to amendments proposed in Appendix K;   b.  Noted the Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix B) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (Appendix C) and agree them as supporting documents that will also be subject to public consultation;   c.  Agreed to the publication of the following supporting documents to the public consultation:   i.     Topic papers for each theme (including responses to First Proposals consultation comments) (Appendix D); ii.    Statement of Consultation (Appendix E); iii.   Duty to Cooperate Statement of Compliance (Appendix F); iv.   Draft Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground (Appendix G); v.    Equalities Impact Assessment (Appendix H); vi.   Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (Appendix I)   d.  Agreed the Update to the Local Development Scheme (Local Plan Timetable) (Appendix J)   e.  Agreed that any subsequent material amendments to be made to the plan prior to consultation commencing will be approved by the Lead Member for Planning and Transport in Cambridge City Council and Lead Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council; and   f.   Agreed that any subsequent minor amendments and editing changes that do not materially affect the content be delegated to the Joint Director of Planning in consultation with the Lead Members for Planning.   The Chair of Scrutiny and Overview Committee and the Chair of Council agreed that this decision was urgent and, as such, should not be subject to call-in owing to the desirability of proceeding promptly to public consultation on the Local Plan and thereby reducing the impact of the forthcoming festive period on the consultation process. The consultation period has been extended until the end of January 2026, to make provision for this and enabling it to start promptly on Monday 1st December 2025.