A very busy and successful year for the CDF!

The Cambridge Development Forum Secretariat is proud to share our summary report of its many and various activities over the past year. The Forum has continued energetically to influence local and national policy by bringing together actors from all levels of the planning process, facilitating discussions and making recommendations to local authorities.  

Many thanks as always to our members for their valued participation, advice and insights. 

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Discussion of Delivery Corporations led by Peter Seaborn of Mills & Reeve

Coinciding with increased political interest in development corporations from both the major parties, the Forum met on the 24th November to discuss and debate their potential.

Letter to local authorities regarding future transport infrastructure

In November of this year, following the discussion led by Elliot Page on local transport infrastructure at the October CDF meeting, the CDF sent a letter to local authorities urging for the adoption of a coordinated and long-term transport infrastructure plan, especially through a joint spatial development strategy across the different counties and planning authorities within the Cambridgeshire region.

CDF Careers Fair

In order to address the shortage of Town Planners in Cambridge, the CDF put on the ‘Build the Future: Careers in the Built Environment’ Fair at the Leys School on the 1st November 2023. The event was a great success, with much positive feedback from attendees – from students to industry experts. Students, parents, teachers and careers advisors were exposed to the fantastic variety of careers and innovative projects in the sector, and took advantage of

valuable networking opportunities. Many thanks to all the CDF members who contributed to the event.

Employment Space Race

CDF collaborated with Endurance Estates on the Cambridgeshire Space Race: The Search for Industrial Employment Space Seminar on the shortage of industrial property in Cambridgeshire, which took place on the 27th September.

Meetings with Peter Freeman, Homes England Chair and Head of Cambridge Delivery Group

In March, CDF met with Peter Freeman shortly after he took up the position of Chair of Homes England to discuss Homes England’s strategic plan at that time for the East of England and its capacity for additional development, especially affordable housing.

CDF Chair Lord Andrew Lansley then met with Mr Freeman again in early August to discuss his role as the Head of the Cambridge Delivery Group, following his appointment by the Secretary of State in late July. As consequence of this meeting, the Delivery Group  and The CDF have established a relationship whereby the delivery group stays up-to-date with the Forum’s activities and discussions.

Meeting and subsequent relationship with Greater Cambridge Shared Planning (GCSP)

Following a meeting in July with Stephen Kelly and Heather Jones of the GCSP focusing on PPAs (during which Miles Price of British Land’s paper on the subject was discussed), further work has been planned to design improvements to PPAs, as well as a review of the Local Plan process and addressing the issue of water supply in East Anglia. The CDF thanks the GCP for its continued contribution to the Forum.

Meeting with East-Anglian water companies and the Environment Agency

Following presentations from James Ellaway, WSP, on water management strategies and Daniel Johns, WRE, on unlocking water scarcity constraints, the Forum discussed potential solutions to the East-Anglian water supply issue and facilitated clear communication between the water companies and the Environment Agency. 

Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs)

Extensive discussions have occurred both at meetings and between members in order to design improvements to PPAs. Recommendations have been taken on board by the GCSP and by ministers.

Successful Engagement with Ministers regarding the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB)

This year, CDF discussions about the LURB have helped to promote the need for legislative remedies to the ‘Hillside’ issue and the role of spatial development strategies.

A CDF response to the government consultations on the Infrastructure Levy (sent in June this year) contributed to a subsequent government approach that is substantially closer to the recommendations made by the Forum in its submission.

Response to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

CDF submitted a response in March 2023 to the Government consultation on the NPPF. While the final report is yet to be published, debates in the House of Lords on the LURB have demonstrated that the Government is aware of the negative effects on development that could be caused by neglecting to require local authorities to meet established housing needs, or indeed measure the delivery of those needs.

East-West Rail

Meetings with East West Rail contributed to the selection of the CDF’s preferred route for the new East West Rail route, which takes the Southern approach to Cambridge and connects Cambourne to the city.

Meeting with Rachel Maclean, Housing Minister, and Joanna Averley, Chief Planner

The discussion at the Forum meeting in May led to a follow-up meeting about the East-Anglian water supply shortage and increased government focus on the issue, as well as on PPAs and securing alignment of local an national plans.

Other Presentations and Discussions at CDF Meetings:

Adam Broadway, Instinctively Green, on the benefits of Custom and Self-Build: Mr Broadway’s presentation provided an excellent platform for the discussion with Richard Bacon MP around improvements in the legislative or policy frameworks to support custom and self-build.

Oliver Lewis, Joe’s Blooms on biodiversity net gain: Mr Lewis’s presentation provided the opportunity to explore in detail how to meet the requirements for biodiversity net gain.

Andy Moffat, Savills, on the development context in the Cambridge Region.

Rob Brighouse, New Quality Homes Board, on the work of New Quality Homes.

Emma Fletcher, Hyde Housing, on the environmental aspects of plan-making.

Graham Pointer, Strategic Advisory Growth Director, WSP UK, on the Australian approach to Integrated Infrastructure Planning