Have your say on the Greater Cambridge Local Plan

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 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.

 

Poster

Cambridge South Station

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Cambridge South Station 

There’s been a real buzz locally with the opening of Cambridge South station on Sunday 28 June. Situated near Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the new station makes it much easier for patients, visitors and staff to reach the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, one of the UK’s leading healthcare and research hubs. It firmly puts the campus on the rail map as a destination in its own right, making journeys simpler and more direct for everyone.

Even better news for our village communities: all train services running through Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton, Shelford and Whittlesford Parkway now stop at Cambridge South. That means easier, more convenient access across South Cambridgeshire, whether you’re heading to work, an appointment or to visit loved ones. By giving people a straightforward rail option, the station is also set to help cut down car journeys and ease congestion in this busy part of the city.

It’s also a real boost for students and families, with the station offering easier access to nearby schools and sixth forms including Long Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, and The Perse School. For many, this could mean simpler, more independent journeys to education each day.

(Do please look up the advantageous 50% discounted rail fares for 16/17-year-olds travelling to education and training within Cambridgeshire, for any young people embarking on this new stage of their lives in September. Our website https://camvalleycrp.org.uk has links to Greater Anglia and GTR ticketing.)

Sustainability has clearly been front and centre in the design. The station features a lovely biodiverse green roof with wildflower planting, solar panels generating renewable energy, and a rainwater capture system to manage drainage. It’s a great example of how new infrastructure can support both people and the environment.

There was also a creative local touch to mark opening day, with a limited-edition tote bag given out to passengers on Sunday. The artwork was designed by Sarah Grove, Project Officer for the Cam Valley Community Rail Partnership, as part of a partnership project with CoCreative Connection and GTR, funded through the Your Station Your Community Fund, a nice way to celebrate the station while championing community creativity.

The Cam Valley Community Rail Partnership continues to work with community groups, schools and local businesses in the vicinity of Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton, Shelford, Whittlesford Parkway, and now Cambridge South Stations, encouraging use of the sustainable travel network on our doorstep. Please look out for new station welcome boards coming soon, pointing visitors in the direction of what makes each of our station areas special. Our new website has lots of information too – and if you have a photo to contribute, please feel free to send it to

Thank you!

Susan van de Ven and Sarah Grove

Cam Valley Community Rail Partnership https://camvalleycrp.org.uk

Temporary hosepipe ban is now in place

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An email header banner showing with the words 'A temporary hosepipe ban is now in place'; picture of a hosepipe hanging on the wall and the Cambridge Water logo on the right hand side

We are implementing a temporary hosepipe ban

We really need your help. Please only use water for essential purposes at this time.

For the first time in more than thirty years, we have taken the difficult decision to introduce a temporary hosepipe ban across our Cambridge region.

Following one of the driest springs in recent years and exceptionally warm weather throughout the summer so far, demand for water across the region has risen to record levels.

To everyone who has already taken steps to reduce their water use – your support really does make a difference – thank you.

Our teams are working around the clock to maintain supplies, but local water resources are now under significant pressure. We know customers expect us to do everything we can before asking them to do more. That’s why we have increased our capability to find and fix leaks as quickly as possible. But every litre you can help us save will be huge help.

Why is a hosepipe ban now needed?

We typically supply around 86 million litres of water a day to the Cambridge region – enough to fill more than one million baths. Water use is now exceeding 112 million litres a day, a 30% increase and the equivalent of an extra 300,000 baths every day. During these periods of high demand, water is being used faster than we can treat and distribute it.

At the same time, low levels of rainfall have reduced the amount of water available to replenish local rivers and streams. We take our commitment to protecting the environment seriously, so reducing the water we need to take from it is crucial to help protect our rare local chalk streams and rivers. That’s why reducing non-essential water use now can make a real difference.

By working together now, we can help ensure resilient water supplies for our communities both this summer and into the future.
View the temporary usage ban notification

What does this mean for you?

You will need to stop using your hosepipes for the following non-essential activities:

  • watering gardens
  • filling ponds, fountains, paddling pools, swimming pools, hot tubs or cold-water plunge pools
  • washing cars, patios or windows

You can still carry on with these activities if you’re using water from a bucket or a watering can.

You can also use water that is not sourced from mains water, such as grey water or rainwater from a water butt.

Are there any exemptions?  

Whilst the hosepipe ban will apply to most customers, there are some exemptions that recognise some people rely on hosepipe use for health, safety or operational needs. Exemptions include customers with serious medical conditions or disabilities on our Priority Services Register, and businesses where hosepipe use is essential for operations.

We understand that you may have more questions. You can access all the information you need on our website.

Thank you for your understanding and support, by working together our actions will make a huge difference.

Elena Karpathakis

Managing Director, Cambridge Water
An image of a chalk stream in Cambridgeshire

We’re also taking action to protect the environment and our water supplies

As our the region continues to grow and face increasing challenges from climate change, we are investing in long-term solutions to secure future water supplies.

This includes spending £224m over the next five years to protect water supplies, including:

Developing new sources of water, including a transfer of water from Anglian Water’s Grafham Reservoir and the proposed Fens Reservoir. These will increase the water supply available and increase resilience to drought.

Reducing leakage by a further 20% in its Cambridge region through finding and fixing more leaks, replacing over 50km of ageing pipeline at risk from leakage.

Giving customers more power over their water bills and usage by rolling out more meters across its region over the next five years.

Tilly’s Community Cafe at the URC Opens Wednesday 1st July

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Tilly’s Community Cafe at the URC opens on Wednesday 1st July at 9am
Please do come along and support your community.
The United Reformed Church at Duxford Road Whittlesford will host Tilly’s Cafe and the opening hours will be as follow:
Sunday – Closed
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – 9.30am – 2pm
Wednesday – 9am – 4pm
Thursday – 9am – 4pm
Friday – 9am – 4pm
Saturday – 9am – 12noon

News from across Cambridgeshire

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Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme – Summer 2026

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I would be grateful for your support in publicising the Summer Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme to families within your parish. The Programme operates between 21 July to 28 August across Cambridgeshire.

Children eligible for benefits-related free school meals can access a funded place at a HAF holiday scheme for up to 64 hours. Families experiencing financial hardship can also qualify.

Further details are available via the following links:

Please find attached our HAF poster, it can also be accessed in a pdf format here. We would appreciate your help in promoting this on parish notice boards and/or social media. CCC is currently sharing HAF Programme content on social media including Facebook; if you can share these posts, it would be greatly appreciated. I am sorry but I am unable to post hard copies of the poster.

If you require any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards, Allison

Allison Box

HAF (Wrap Around) Coordinator

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk

A rare Red Extreme Heat Warning has been issued by the Met Office

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A rare Red Extreme Heat Warning has been issued by the Met Office

The red warning joins the existing Amber Extreme Heat Warnings, which stretch from Monday 22 June through to the end of Thursday 25 June, covering much of southern and central England.

Whilst it was hot yesterday, the heat is set to build further today, with the peak of the heatwave forecast for Wednesday and Thursday this week. Temperatures may reach 39°C with a chance of this being exceeded in places.

We want our customers to remain safe during this period of unusually hot weather.

Please make sure you keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids – it’s a good idea to keep a jug of water, or a few filled bottles, in the fridge so you always have cold water available without having to run the tap. Running a tap until the water is cold wastes about four litres each time.

If you’re going out, remember to take water with you.

Thank you for helping us,

The Cambridge Water Team

The heat is not the only thing that’s rising

When the sun comes out and the temperature goes up, typically so does the amount of water used by our customers. This not only has an impact on our work production sites and pumping stations, but also on Cambridgeshire’s precious chalk streams, where we abstract our water from.

To help us – and to protect the environment – during this period of extreme weather, we’re asking you to keep to essential water use only.

Washing your car can probably wait for another day. If plants must be watered, please do so early morning or in the evening, using a watering can. Mulching garden beds will help keep plants hydrated for longer.

You don’t need to water the lawn – it will recover once it rains again.

Water-smart ways to stay cool

Here are a few tips and tricks to maximise cooling efficiency while minimising water evaporation and waste.

Target key cooling points

Use small amounts of water on areas where blood flows close to the skin – wrists, back of neck, temples, inside elbows and behind knees.

These spots help to cool your whole body faster than soaking yourself.

Dip, don’t drench. A few drops will go a long way.

You can also use anything that’s cool, such as a shaded stone, on your pulse points for the same effect.

Efficient evaporative cooling

Lightly dampen a cloth, scarf – even your shirt or a t-shirt. Place it on your neck or head. Sit in a breeze or, if you have one handy, use a fan.

As water evaporates, it pulls heat away from your body.

Cool your extremities

If you have a small container to hand, dip hands or feet briefly in water, then let them air dry.

This uses less water than full-body splashing but still provides cooling.

Tiger on Demand expands to South Cambridgeshire villages from 13 July

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Published on June 22, 2026

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Tiger on Demand expands to South Cambridgeshire villages from 13 July

Residents in 13 South Cambridgeshire villages will soon benefit from a more flexible way to travel, as Tiger on Demand expands into the area from Monday 13 July.

The expanded service will replace the existing 32 bus route, which ends on 12 July, with a demand-responsive service designed to offer greater flexibility, wider coverage and better connections for local communities.

The villages included in the expansion are: Harlton, Hauxton, Harston, Haslingfield, Barrington, South Trumpington (P&R), Great Shelford, Little Shelford, Whittlesford, Foxton, Newton, Shepreth and Stapleford.

Unlike a traditional bus service operating to a fixed timetable and route, Tiger on Demand allows residents to book journeys between virtual bus stops across a much wider travel zone, making it easier to travel when they need to.

The service is designed to support a range of everyday journeys, including commuting, school travel, shopping, leisure and connections to other transport services such as Trumpington Park & Ride.

Tiger on Demand has been introduced to improve connectivity and make better use of resources, replacing a low-demand fixed-route service with a more responsive model that better reflects how people travel today.

Residents can book journeys between any virtual bus stops within the service zone Monday to Saturday, 6:30am to 7pm, with bookings available up to 48 hours in advance. Virtual bus stop locations can be viewed on the website or directly in the Tiger on Demand app.

Journeys can be booked by:

  • Downloading the Tiger on Demand app
  • Calling 01480 595440 (lines open Monday to Saturday, 6am–7:30pm)

Bookings will open on 11 July, allowing residents to reserve journeys ahead of launch.

Fares are:

  • Adults: £2.50 per journey
  • Children aged 5–16: £1 per journey
  • Under 5s: Free
  • Concessionary and disability bus pass holders: Free
  • Tiger Pass holders: £1 per journey

Mayor Paul Bristow said, 

“The expansion means more South Cambridgeshire residents will have access to affordable, flexible public transport that works around their lives.

By replacing an underused fixed route with a demand-responsive service, we’re making better use of resources while helping people get to work, education, appointments and local services.

This is exactly the kind of practical improvement that helps get Cambridgeshire and Peterborough moving.”

Cllr Dr Lisa Redrup, Lead Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, said, 

“This excellent improvement to local bus services has been possible due to good collaboration between Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and South Cambridgeshire District Council. It utilises available developer funding for community transport and provides a service that helps people reach other larger villages for things such as shopping and leisure without the need to go into Cambridge. Please download the app now and see how it can make a difference to you.”

Duxford Aviation Society

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Duxford Aviation Society (DAS) is a voluntary organisation which owns the Duxford Aviation Society Museum, incorporating The British Airliner Collection. Aircraft are open to the public daily. We are an acredited museum by Arts Council England and a registered charity. Funding comes from the public, donations, and fundraising activities.

New members are always welcome.

Want to Get Involved?

We look after and display 13 static aircraft to the public at the IWM Duxford, from the small island-hopping Trislander through to the iconic supersonic Concorde.

Bring your skills and experience or simply join and learn new skills.

Our volunteers are from a wide range of backgrounds most from the outside the aviation industry. They are enthusiastic and enjoy working as a team to ensure our fleeet of aircraft are presentable and accessible for public viewing or private events. All we ask is a minimum of 12 attendances per annum.

For more information, please contact: or telephone: +44 (0) 1223 836593