Residents and businesses are being asked for their views on the proposed Rural Settlement List for 2025/2026.

The list is made up of 41 rural settlements in East Cambridgeshire with a population of less than 3000.

Businesses operating within the boundaries of these settlements will not pay business rates if they are:

• the only village shop or post office, with a rateable value of up to £8,500
• the only public house or petrol station, with a rateable value of up to £12,500 

Larger settlements in the district, such as Ely, Soham, Littleport, Burwell and Fordham do not appear on the list.

You can access the proposed Rural Settlement List on our website.

If you have any comments on the list, for example, whether a settlement should be removed or added, please let the council know by 5pm on Thursday 6 March 2025, by emailing sally.bonnett@eastcambs.gov.uk or by writing to Sally Bonnett at East Cambridgeshire District Council, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EE.

Please provide as much evidence as possible to explain why you think a change is needed. Following the consultation, a final list will be prepared and published for the financial year 2025/26.