Village Design Guides

Village Design Guides Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD)

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 2018-19 we helped 8 villages to develop Village Design Guides. We have adopted all 8 new Supplementary Planning Documents which are now material planning considerations in deciding planning applications.

The Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Documents are:

concise and visually led
focused on the priorities of the village community, to make sure that the full diversity of community views are included.
design focused – looking at how buildings, streets, spaces landscape and materials come together.
forward-looking– aiming to make new development the best quality it can be.

The adopted SPDs below supplement a number of policies in the adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan and are a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Little Shelford Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document

A new Village Design Guide for Little Shelford has been prepared. It uses research and evidence gathering by the local community over a number of years. The Little Shelford Village Design Guide was adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document on 1 January 2022, meaning it will be taken into account when future planning applications in the area are determined.

The adopted SPD takes into consideration comments received during public consultation, which took place between 27 September and 25 October 2021. The Statement of Consultation includes a summary of comments and the councils’ response.

Consultation documents: