Have your say on the Greater Cambridge Local Plan
This is a joint release on behalf of Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, which share the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service.
Final chance to share views on Greater Cambridge Local Plan.
Public Consultation runs from 9am on Monday 3rd August until 5pm on Friday 25th September 2026.
Residents, businesses and organisations are being urged to share their views on the “soundness” of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan – during the final round of consultation which opens today.
The consultation is the last opportunity for communities to comment on the Plan – which at this stage is called the Proposed Submission version – and its evidence base. After this stage, the Plan will be submitted to Government and examined by an independent Planning Inspector.
The Greater Cambridge Local Plan will help determine how Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire grow over the next 20 years, influencing where new homes, jobs and community facilities are located, how development supports climate goals, and how infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
Current forecasts indicate that around 50,000 new homes will be needed between 2024 and 2045. Around 37,000 of these homes are already planned through existing permissions and allocations, but future growth must be carefully managed to ensure communities have the transport links, services, green spaces and utilities they need.
The Plan has been developed jointly by Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council – shaped by years of public engagement. Over 8,400 comments submitted during the most recent consultation prompted further work by officers and helped refine the policies and proposals across the Plan. As a result, a number of changes from the previous plan published late last year have been made in the version now being consulted upon.
The updated Plan also reflects the ongoing work to address some of Greater Cambridge’s most significant challenges, including housing demand, water supply constraints, transport infrastructure and future employment needs.
Unlike earlier consultations, this final stage is more narrowly focused on whether the Plan is “sound” and meets national planning requirements. Responses will therefore need to focus on whether the Plan is justified by the evidence, effective in achieving its objectives, deliverable and consistent with national planning policy.
Get involved
Lots of engagement events will take place during the consultation, giving people the opportunity to find out more and ask questions. The first of these is an online webinar on Tuesday (4 August) at 5:30pm and you can register to attend now. There will also be a series of 14 in-person exhibitions held across Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.
To view the Plan, submit comments and find details of the events, visit www.greatercambridgeplanning.org/local-plan
Paper copies of the Local Plan are available at the councils’ offices in Cambridge and Cambourne and at Cambridge Central and Cambourne libraries.