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Greater Cambridge Shared Planning

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Supplementary Planning Documents

The Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service have recently adopted three Supplementary Planning Documents following consultations that took place in early 2025.

On behalf of both Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, the following SPDs have been adopted:

The Cambridge Neighbourhoods Design Code for Arbury, Kings Hedges and parts of West Chesterton Supplementary Planning Document was adopted on behalf of Cambridge City Council.

Draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document

We are reconsulting on the draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document will take place between 9am on the Friday 22 August 2025 until 5pm on Friday 17 October.

The Councils are preparing a new Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document. This will provide further guidance on how the Councils will approach the use of planning obligations to mitigate the impact of new developments. It provides guidance on when planning obligations may be sought, the form an obligation may take, and how the scale of any obligation is to be determined and secured. The overall aim of the guidance is to provide greater clarity on the process and expectations around planning obligations with the objective of speeding up the planning process.

A draft version of the SPD was previously consulted on between November 2024 and January 2025.

The results of the consultation were taken to the South Cambridgeshire District Council Cabinet, and the Cambridge City Council Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee in March 2025. It was agreed at both meetings that subject to the draft Planning Obligations SPD providing additional evidence and making necessary revisions, another round of public consultation could take place in Summer 2025.

Viewing the documents

You can view draft version of the Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document and supporting documents here:

Alongside the Planning Obligations SPD, a Planning Obligations SPD Costing Update paper will be published. At the time of the previous consultation this paper was still being produced and therefore could not be published alongside the SPD. The Planning Obligations SPD Costing Update paper was produced by AtkinsRealis as part of their commission in preparation of the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) and was completed in July 2025. The Costings paper provides an update on the costs of specific infrastructure provision – namely, open space, green infrastructure, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, playgrounds, and community buildings.

Supporting documents

A Statement of Consultation provides a summary of the main issues raised by the comments, and how those issues have been addressed in the amended version of the Draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document.

Once the Draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document is adopted, the SPD will replace existing planning obligations guidance used by Cambridge City and will also help to guide development in South Cambridgeshire.

Commenting on the documents

You can comment online via our consultation system: https://oc2.greatercambridgeplanning.org/document/1324

However, if you have difficulty commenting online, please email us at localplan@greatercambridgeplanning.org to request a form that can be completed and returned by email or post using the address on the form.

During the documents will be able to view in person at:

  • South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, CB23 6EA – by appointment only.
  • Cambridge City Council Office. The reception is open between Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 5:15pm. Appointments can be made by calling 01223 457000.
  • Cambridge Central Library, 7 Lion Yard, Cambridge.

Consultation information – the use of AI

As part of this consultation, you will be able to generate instant AI summaries of your comments. This is optional and is part of testing ahead of potentially using this instant summarisation function for the Draft Local Plan consultation which will take place later this year. There is more information in the privacy statement - Greater Cambridge Shared Planning - Privacy , and if you have any questions you can email localplan@greatercambridgeplanning.org). Following the conclusion of the consultation all comments received will be summarised using the AI tool, will be reviewed and then published. Planning Officers will also review the original comments in full, following usual procedures. To find out more about our AI tool please visit our website: Development of AI for Public Engagement and Consultations.

Events

We held an in person drop-in consultation event to discuss the Planning Obligations SPD at the Cambridge Room in the Grafton Centre from 12:30pm until 3:30pm on 16 September. 

We held a webinar on Tuesday 30 September. You can watch a recording on YouTube. 

We will be holding live Q&A sessions on:

These events are an opportunity to connect with Planning Officers, share your thoughts, and find out more about the SPD out for consultation.