Update 1st April 2026
Dear all,
Update 1st April, 2026
REMINDER: Consultation on the Urban Development Corporation for Greater Cambridge
Deadline for comments, midnight today
Who decides Cambridge’s Future?
Cambridge Past, Present and Future hosted a debate about the consultation on Monday, 23rd March. Each panellist had 7 minutes to make their case . The government rep was a civil servant from MHCLG. Link below for list of panel members.
https://cambridgeppf.org/etn/who-decides-cambridges-future/
FeCRA presentation, see link below
https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/Cppf_talk_wb_3.2.pdf
Recording of event including Q & A. Link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFfSaSUN0og
Water scarcity is a big issue for this region so it is important that we are represented by locally elected representatives aware of local environmental constraints.
‘Cambridge Water estimate non-household consumption increases by 55% by 2038 from 2019/20 ‘as the area looks to expands its biomedical activity in particular’ – but the WRMP is clear this isn’t taking into account data centres etc in the ‘supercharging’ growth plans.’ The post by journalist Mark Williamson ( link below) quotes from Cambridge Water.
https://x.com/markrwilliamson/status/2037973717318312273?s=20
There is no requirement for commercial entities to state how much water they use .
Written statement by Sec of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed on the plans for local government reorganisation
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-03-25/hcws1455
‘This is particularly important for key government priorities on house-building, like our target of building 1.5 million homes in England this Parliament. The housing needs of local communities are best met by councils who are closely connected to their communities and understand a place’s local identity. This connection is crucial in ensuring that local government can boost economic growth and design public services that respond to local residents. Reorganisation must also respect local identity, and the distinctive nature of the rural, urban and coastal communities across our country. We want to see councils that are connected to their local residents and communities; councils that mean something to the people they serve.’
Via Friends of St Matthew’s Piece
The Greater Cambridge Development Corporation Consultation – closes 11.59pm on 1 Apr 2026
This is about the creation and powers of a proposed ‘Urban Development Corporation‘ for Greater Cambridge.
- Would this Urban Development Corporation deliver high-quality sustainable growth?
- Would it meaningfully boost our infrastructure?
- Would it be for the benefit of existing and new residents as well as businesses?
Here is the government’s paper on the proposal: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/establishing-a-development-corporation-in-greater-cambridge/establishing-a-development-corporation-in-greater-cambridge
The survey
Here is the link to the survey seeking your views on this Development Corporation proposal – including its objectives, boundary, powers and approach to democratic representation: https://consult.communities.gov.uk/cambridge-strategy-unit/greater-cambridge-development-corporation/consultation/subpage.2026-01-23.0016830486/
It asks 13 meaty questions. Mercifully, you can pause filling in the survey, and answer in stages:
1) What do you think about the current delivery of infrastructure and homes in Greater Cambridge?
2) What do you think about the proposal to create a centrally-led urban development corporation (UDC) in Greater Cambridge?
3) What matters most to you about the future of Greater Cambridge?
4) Do you have any views on the objectives of the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation?
5) What do you think about the proposed boundary of the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation?
6) What do you think about the phased approach to plan-making powers?
7) What do you think about the proposals to give the Development Corporation plan-making powers?
8) What do you think about the proposals to give the Development Corporation powers to determine planning applications?
9) Do you agree with using thresholds for the Development Corporation taking decision-making powers? Which minimum thresholds do you think are appropriate?
10) Do you have any other views on the proposed approach to the Development Corporation’s powers and functions?
11) What do you think about proposed local representation on the Development Corporation Board?
12) What do you think about the board having expertise in areas such as planning, property development, design, environment, finance, and infrastructure delivery?
13) Do you have any views on the impacts of the above proposals for anyone with a relevant protected characteristic?
If you don’t want to answer those questions, you may instead respond to the proposals via either:
• email: GCDCconsultation@communities.gov.uk OR
• post: Cambridge Strategy Unit, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF
Civic Quarter plans for the Guildhall and Corn Exchange approved at 25th March planning committee Link below
But decision about Market Square element of the City Centre Revamp deferred as having “too many loose ends” and “rushed”
A multi-million pound plan to redesign an historic market has “too many loose ends” and appears “a bit rushed”, councillors said, link below https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98klg59n08o
Recording of planning meeting discussion, link below
https://www.youtube.com/@camcitco/streams
Market supporters who have previously expressed concern about the absence of any information regarding the decant of the market traders in the planning application, say that if there is no information regarding the traders decant, it means that there is nothing to say that the Council has any intention of re-instating the market once they have a main application that says that they can clear it. And nothing to say that they have to bring in the separate application for the decant.
How can these small businesses plan ahead if there is no information about their relocation? Note “vital role of local markets” across Greater Cambridge. see link below
Best wishes,
Wendy
Wendy Blythe
Chair, FeCRA
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