UK government funding for Cambridgeshire to enable more efficient planning

Future Cities Forum will be hosted on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus at the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute for its discussion event this September around planning for new housing and science development, with Homes England and the Water Scarcity Group contributing.

Greater Cambridge Shared Planning (GCSP) has been allocated up to £650,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to help make the whole planning process even more efficient, states Cambridge City Council.

This funding, it says, is part of the accelerator project aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of planning services locally, colloquially named the ‘Planning Supersquad’. GCSP, a partnership between South Cambridgeshire District and Cambridge City councils, is also contributing money to the project.

The planning service already performs at above target for the speed in which it determines planning applications. This funding is intended to support the service to develop new approaches that will enable performance to be improved further, to help raise standards and benefit planning authorities across the country.

One objective of this MHCLG funding is to implement a virtual ‘development team’ approach in a partnership between GCSP and key partners. This initiative is designed to create additional capacity to speed-up the determination and issuing of planning decisions even further. By streamlining processes and using digital tools, the planning service aims to set a new standard in efficient service delivery. 

Cambridge City Council says that as part of several new projects, the funds will go towards a comprehensive evaluation of all areas within the planning service to look at where processes can be faster or more efficient. The culmination of this effort will be the development of an accelerator model, which will be reported back to central government as a blueprint for potential wider implementation.

One area of focus for the accelerated implementation includes two existing projects: Northstowe and the Wellcome Genome Campus expansion. These projects will serve as focal points for testing and refining the accelerated process delivery model.

GCSP will work closely with development partners, namely Homes England for the Northstowe project and Urban & Civic for the Wellcome Genome Campus expansion.

Senior planners have said that these collaborations are essential in ensuring that the accelerated planning processes meet the needs of everyone involved and deliver tangible benefits. The idea is that the projects will showcase the successful delivery of accelerated schemes through the planning process, providing valuable insights and lessons that can be applied to future projects elsewhere.

Cllr Dr. Tumi Hawkins, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “We are thrilled to receive this funding from the MHCLG. It provides a fantastic opportunity to revolutionise our planning service and deliver quicker, more efficient outcomes for our community. By working closely with our partners, we aim to set new benchmarks in planning service delivery that can be replicated across the country.”

Cllr Katie Thornburrow, Cambridge City Council’s Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure, commented: "Greater Cambridge Shared Planning is an award-winning planning service, and this funding from the MHCLG is further validation of our ongoing commitment to excellence in urban development and community planning. This funding will enable us to continue our innovative projects, enhance the quality of life for our residents, and support sustainable growth in the region. The recognition from MHCLG underscores the effectiveness of our strategies and the positive impact we are making in creating vibrant, well-planned communities." 

Greater Cambridge Shared Planning is a partnership between South Cambridgeshire District and Cambridge City councils.