Village Design Guides

Village Design Guides Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD)

What are the SPDs about?

Since 2018, we have been working with 8 villages in the district to develop new Village Design Guides, funded by central government. The aim is to raise the quality of new planned development and support inclusive, sustainable growth. As a result, we have now adopted 7 new Supplementary Planning Documents which are now material planning considerations in deciding planning applications. An eighth Village Design Guide is currently under development.

A Village Design Guide describes the distinctive character of the village and sets out guidelines for how this should be enhanced by new developments. It helps communities and planners shape the character of new development in your area, in response to community priorities. It is a way to provide more locally specific detail, which augments and amplifies our Local Plan policies.

The Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Documents are:

• Concise and visually led- providing clear and unambiguous guidance
• Focused on the priorities of the village community, ensuring that the full diversity of community views are included.
• Design focused – looking at how buildings, streets, spaces landscape and materials come together to create areas with distinctive identity and character.
• Forward-looking– aiming to make new development the best quality it can be, encouraging appropriate, creative design approaches.

Adoption Documents

The SPDs were adopted by us on 15 January 2020. The SPD supplements a number of policies in the adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan and is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Village Design Guide SPDs

• Caldecote Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document 
• Fulbourn Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document
• Gamlingay Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document
• Over Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document
• Papworth Everard Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document
• Sawston Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document
• Swavesey Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document

There is also the draft Histon and Impington Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document. Please note that this consultation is now closed. 

Supporting Documents

• Caldecote Village Design Statement (VDS) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report
• Fulbourn VDS SEA Screening Report
• Gamlingay VDS SEA Screening Report
• Histon and Impington VDS SEA Screening Report
• Over VDS SEA Screening Report
• Papworth VDS SEA Screening Report
• Sawston VDS SEA Screening Report
• Swavesey VDS SEA Screening Report
• Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Letter South Cambridgeshire Village Design Statements