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South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018

What is the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan?

The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan sets out the planning policies and land allocations to guide the future development of the district up to 2031. It includes policies on a wide range of topics such as housing, employment, services and facilities, and the natural environment.

Adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan

The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan was adopted on 27 September 2018 (as set out in the Adoption Statement [PDF, 0.1MB]):

The Adopted Policies Map (September 2018) illustrates geographically the application of spatial policies in the development plan (for example, allocations for development and policy areas to which a specific policy applies). The Policies Map has been updated to reflect the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan adopted in September 2018. 

5 year review of Adopted Local Plan Policies 

In autumn 2023 it will be 5 years since the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Local Plans were adopted. Work on a new joint Greater Cambridge Local Plan is underway. In the meantime a review has been carried out to assess whether there are any relevant changes in national policy that might have a bearing on the weight accorded to adopted policies in determining development proposals. The outcome of the review is that the vast majority of policies in both adopted plans remain consistent with national policy and, therefore, can be given full weight until replaced by policies in the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The small number of exceptions principally relate to subsequent changes to national policy.

For full details of the review, see the Policy Review of the Adopted Local Plans for Greater Cambridge (June 2023)

Preparation of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan

There were a number of stages in the preparation of the Local Plan, including evidence gathering, 2 Issues and Options consultations, and consultation on the Proposed Submission Local Plan (all undertaken between 2011 and 2014).

We submitted the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan to the Secretary of State for examination in March 2014. An independent examination, to test the 'soundness' of the plan, was undertaken between March 2014 and August 2018.

In August 2018, the Inspectors that conducted the examination issued their Inspectors’ Report  [PDF, 0.4MB]and Schedule of Main Modifications [PDF, 1.5MB], concluding that the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan is sound, subject to a number of Main Modifications being made.

The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan was formally adopted by the Council on 27 September 2018 at a meeting of full Council. The adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018 incorporates the main modifications recommended by the Inspectors in Appendix 1 of the Inspectors' Report [PDF, 1.5MB], as well as some Additional Modifications [PDF, 0.4MB] that are minor or factual in nature, including typographical amendments and factual updating and that do not materially affect the policies proposed by the Council.

Adoption Documents

What is the adopted development plan for South Cambridgeshire?

The adopted development plan for South Cambridgeshire comprises:

In addition, the Adopted Policies Map (September 2018) illustrates geographically the application of spatial policies in the development plan (i.e. allocations for development and policy areas to which a specific policy applies).

Sustainability Appraisal Report Documents

The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan has been subject to an integrated Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA):