A recommendation to start work on a new Local Plan is to go before district councillors next week.

Local Plans are prepared with residents. Based on their feedback the council will create a blueprint for the district. It will include details on how we can meet local and affordable housing needs, what we can do to help address climate change and bring back nature, and how we can boost the local economy for the benefit of all. 

While the council’s existing Local Plan runs until 2031, the recommendation to start work on a new plan follows government proposals to increase the number of newly built homes by 1.5 million over the next five years.

This will be facilitated by planning reforms, the release of green belt land and the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets for local authorities.

East Cambridgeshire is already growing at an unprecedented rate of 2 per cent year on year. This is equivalent to nearly 600 properties annually.

Under the new proposals that could increase to over 650 properties annually.

Cllr Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We are more than doing our bit to increase local development in our region.

“But with proposals for even more housing growth on the horizon it is important local people have their say on how to accommodate this.

“Our market towns of Ely, Littleport and Soham are already experiencing high levels of growth.

“Yet we know that infill and smaller development sites do not bring with them the necessary infrastructure, like roads and schools, to support this growth.

“So, there are three things at stake here.

“Firstly, we need to act now to get a new Local Plan in place to accommodate the growth being directed our way by central government.

“Secondly, while our existing Local Plan runs until 2031, we need to be able to prove we have enough pre-agreed sites set aside to accommodate new housing – otherwise we risk being approached by developers to build on land outside of pre-identified areas which can be upsetting for communities.

“And thirdly, we need to use this as a real opportunity for the district. By listening to the needs of our local residents and making sure robust policies which meet the needs of our local communities are in place, we can build a better, brighter, cleaner and greener East Cambridgeshire.”

A final decision on whether to go ahead with starting a new plan will be made at the Full Council meeting on Thursday 17 October.

If approved a cross-party working group will be set up to oversee its preparation. There will be a minimum three rounds of public consultation before any new Local Plan is finalised, the first of which should be before summer 2025. For a full agenda and livestream details visit our website