Have your say:

The Councils have made necessary modifications to the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that consider representation received during the previous  consultation and have published further evidence alongside the SPD.

The Supplement Planning Document (SPD)  provides guidance on planning obligations, also known as section 106 agreements. It has been prepared to peovide guidance on how councils will approach the use of planning obligations to mitigate the impact of new developments. Contributions vary depending on the nature of the development, location and the scale of its local and wider impacts. The SPD is part of a wider effort to make the Section 106 process clearer and more efficient.

Following an initial consultation last year, the draft SPD was reviewed and updated based on the comments received.

This consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 17th October 2025.

To read and comment on the SPD, please visit: http://greatercambridgeplanning.org/spd

 

Improving planning decisions

Our Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service  is updating how planning decisions are made to improve clarity, consistency and efficiency.

Following a review of the planning committees that the service covers both for us at South Cambs and Cambridge City , and in response to national guidance, the councils are aligning their constitutions and introducing a single, streamlined Scheme of Delegation.

This means :

More focus on major application:

Committees will concentrate on complex or controversial developments, while simpler applications will be handled by officers.

Clearer triggers for committee review:

Applications will only go to committee if they meet specific criteria such as significant departures  from the local plan, proposals involving council owned land or buildings.

New delegation panels:

These panels will review call-in requests from councillors or parish councils for applications to be decided by the planning committee, ensuring fair and consistant decisions without necessary delays.

Greater transsparency:

Residents will benefit from a cleaer understanding of how and why planning decisions are made, with consistant rules across the area.