We are currently preparing a Draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) [PDF, 1MB]. Once adopted, the SPD will replace existing planning obligations guidance currently used by Cambridge City Council and will also help to guide development in South Cambridgeshire District Council.
The SPD provides detailed guidance on how planning obligations, also known as Section 106 contributions, will be used to mitigate the impact of new developments across Greater Cambridge. The SPD outlines when developers might need to make these contributions and what they could involve. Examples of this may include affordable homes, better transport options like cycle paths or bus improvements, and protecting nature by improving habitats and planting more greenery.
The SPD has currently been out to 2 formal consultations, the first having been held between November 2024 and January 2025. The results of this consultation were taken to the South Cambridgeshire District Council Cabinet meeting and the Cambridge City Council Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee meeting in March 2025. Following this it was agreed at both meetings that subject to the SPD providing additional evidence and a decision being made by the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council and the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport at Cambridge City Council, on the revisions made to the SPD, that it could then proceed to an additional round of public consultation in Summer 2025.
In August 2025, the decision to proceed to a further round of public consultation was granted by both the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council and the Cabinet member for Planning and Transport and at Cambridge City Council. The second consultation was held between August 2025 and October 2025.
The Councils are now processing comments received during the latest consultation and are now finalising the SPD ahead of taking to each of the respective Cabinet meetings in February 2026. The latest version of the SPD that was prepared ahead of the August 2025 consultation can be found in our document library.
Please note that the August 2025 version of the SPD will not be taken to each of the respective Cabinet Meetings. An updated version of the SPD is currently being prepared and this will be taken forward.