Local communities have the right to prepare a ‘neighbourhood plan’ showing their vision for the area over the next 10 or 20 years.
Neighbourhood plans have the same legal status as the Local Plan. Decisions on planning applications must take them into consideration.
South Newnham is currently the only neighbourhood area in Cambridge. Our neighbourhood plans map [PDF, 0.8MB] shows its location within the city boundary.
- Find out more about neighbourhood planning.
South Newnham
South Newnham Neighbourhood Plan was submitted for examination on 15 April 2024. The independent examiner appointed to carry out the examination is Andrew Ashcroft.
The comments received during the Regulation 16 consultation carried out from 7 May to 18 June 2024 have been published and can be viewed using our online consultation system.
Key stages in the preparation of the plan
- Neighbourhood area designated by us: 2017 and 2022
- South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum preparing neighbourhood plan
- Pre-submission public consultation: 12 June to 30 July 2023
- Neighbourhood plan submitted to us: 15 April 2024
- Public consultation: 7 May to 18 June 2024
- Neighbourhood plan sent for examination: 26 June 2024
- Referendum
- Neighbourhood plan approved
Neighbourhood area designation
We designated the neighbourhood area for five years in 2017 and redesignated it in 2022. Both of these followed a public consultation.
- South Newnham neighbourhood area map [PDF, 1.5MB]
- South Newnham neighbourhood plan designation decision [PDF, 1.5MB]
- South Newnham neighbourhood area redesignation decision
Screening determination statement
We and South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum prepared a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment screening determination statement for the draft neighbourhood plan.
The statement sets out our reasons for deciding that the plan is not likely to need a strategic environmental assessment. It also states that the making of the plan is compatible with certain European Union obligations.
Pre-submission consultation (Regulation 14)
South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum carried out a consultation on their pre-submission neighbourhood plan from 12 June to 30 July 2023.
The forum has a website dedicated to their neighbourhood plan.
Consultation on the submitted neighbourhood plan (Regulation 16)
South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum submitted its neighbourhood plan and supporting documents to us on 15 April 2024.
We have confirmed that it complies with all the relevant statutory requirements [PDF, 0.2MB].
A public consultation on the submission version of the neighbourhood plan was carried out between 7 May and 18 June 2024.
The comments received during the Regulation 16 consultation have been published and can be viewed using our online consultation system.
Neighbourhood plan and supporting documents
- South Newnham Neighbourhood Plan [PDF, 6MB]
- Basic Conditions Statement [PDF, 0.7MB]
- Consultation Statement [PDF, 1MB]
- Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Determination Statement [PDF, 1MB]
Supporting evidence documents:
- Evidence base for development policies [PDF, 5MB]
- Street appraisal: Area A [PDF, 0.9MB]
- Street appraisal: Area B [PDF, 5.5MB]
- Street appraisal: Area C [PDF, 0.3MB]
- Street appraisal: Area D [PDF, 0.5MB]
Examination (Regulation 17)
South Newnham Neighbourhood Plan was submitted for examination on 26 June 2024. The independent examiner appointed to carry out the examination is Andrew Ashcroft.
The examiner sent the following documents to Cambridge City Council on 17 July 2024:
- South Newnham Neighbourhood Plan examination arrangements [PDF, 0.2MB]
- Examiner’s clarification note [PDF, 0.2MB]
The clarification note sets out the examiner’s initial comments on the submitted plan and sets out areas where it would be helpful to have some further clarification from the neighbourhood forum.
South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum provided responses to the questions asked by the examiner in his clarification note.
