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Greater Cambridge Shared Planning

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Design, heritage and environment

Design, heritage and the environment are important parts of planning. This is because we want great places for people to live, work and visit that respect our heritage and help fight climate change.

We have guidance on different topics to help with applications that meet our policies and requirements. Our specialist officers can give pre-application advice, including design workshops, which can improve proposals and help them to achieve high standards. We operate the Greater Cambridge Design Review Panel which can provide impartial critique and support to larger or more complex proposals. We also put forward strategic sites to be reviewed by the Cambridgeshire Quality Panel. 

Our Public Art Advisory Service (PAAS) provides a high-quality service to support developers with their public art process, ensuring that the information submitted complies with relevant planning policies. Our team of experienced design officers can provide a one-stop public art service covering the following:

  1. Pre-application discussion – identify the location and type of public art to form part of the planning application submission to ensure policy compliance.
  2. Public Art Discharge of Condition (DOC) support – we can provide a detailed programme setting out the entire DOC process, covering:
    • Produce a timetable
    • Artist selection process
    • Community engagement to help inform public art
    • Public Relations
    • Public Art Delivery Plan support and guidance
    • Public art launch

Find out more about [how PAAS can support you with the public art process.]

For information about landscape, trees and biodiversity you can watch our video:

Trees and biodiversity 

Our officers are responsible for many different tree services around South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City. For guidance on specialist topics, please visit the following webpages:

We have now adopted a Greater Cambridge Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document. Please visit the Biodiversity SPD page for more information.

Trees within Cambridge City open spaces, Tree schemes and projects

For guidance and information in relation to non-statutory tree subjects managed by Cambridge City Council Urban Forest Tree Team, please visit Cambridge City Council's website. 

Climate grants and funding

For more information on additional climate grants and funding please visit South Cambridgeshire District Council's website.

Find out more 

The Cambridgeshire quality charter for growth which sets out the core principles for the level of quality for new developments.  

The report on the Cambridgeshire Council Developing new communities webpage provides an evaluation of new developments, Cambridgeshire Quality Panel’s role in raising the quality, and potential lessons for other growth areas.

Our adopted Local Plans, Area Action Plans and Neighbourhood Plans has policies on many aspects of design and we expect applications to comply with them. 

To find out more about historic environment issues, listed buildings and conservation areas, see our Historic environment page.

For guidance on other specialist topics, please visit the following webpages:

Design, heritage and environment