Issue - meetings

To note the progress made on the retail evidence base and the initial draft findings.

The Local Plan and New Communities Manager presented a report on the draft interim findings of the retail capacity study. The draft initial findings of this work were presented to officers in September 2021 and were being brought to LPLG to update members on this work-stream. It should be noted that these findings are subject to change as the work is finalised.

The purpose of the study is to identify the retail capacity needs for the district. The initial findings don't do that, however the final report will include the information.

Officers are currently working the SA consultants looking at employment and housing options.

Members reviewed the document and requested that the following suggestions be considered:

·         Engaging in early consultation with Town and Parish Councils on the final document.

·         Highlighted the importance of development generating additional infrastructure (grocery stores) to meet current and future demand.

The following questions were put forward by Councillor Pavitt by the Chair in his absence:

1.    Have officers given further thought to research park investment along the railway line particularly in light of Blackrock intended investment in life sciences around Cambridge?

The Local Plan and New Communities Manager said officers were currently working with the sustainability appraisal consultants to work up reasonable alternative spatial options that would be brought back to LPLG in November.  This will be looking at employment options as well as housing.  One of the benefits of the life science and high tech clusters around Cambridge are those of agglomeration, some of these are simply from being in the general area (e.g. access to skilled employees) some are about being located in close physical proximity (last Cambridge LP examination – discussions were around being with cycle distance of similar firms).

2.    All change at the MHCLG. It appears the new SoS Michael Gove will make significant changes. Do officers have a feel for what this might mean for the Local Plan?

The Local Plan and New Communities Manager said he did not know and would not like to speculate on the approach of different politicians.

The meeting ended at 20:02