Planning Authorities
Local planning authorities and strategic consenting bodies for Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire has a two-tier structure for most of the county. Cambridgeshire County Council handles minerals, waste and county matters. Five district councils are the local planning authorities (LPAs) for development within their areas. Peterborough City Council is a unitary authority and is both the county and district LPA for its area. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) has strategic transport and housing growth responsibilities. Cambridge city is subject to a tightly drawn Green Belt with strong national policy protection against inappropriate development.
Cambridgeshire County Council
County-wide - minerals, waste, strategic highways and education; statutory consultee for all district planning applications
Cambridgeshire County Council determines applications for minerals extraction (including silica sand and gravel) and waste management facilities, and is the highway authority for all non-trunk roads in the county. Development requiring changes to county highway junctions requires approval from Cambridgeshire Highways.
Cambridge City Council
Cambridge city - world-class university city with tight Green Belt constraint on all sides; over 1,000 listed buildings
Cambridge is enclosed by Green Belt on all sides - the city's growth strategy relies on urban intensification and brownfield development. The city has extensive conservation areas, multiple Grade I and II* listed college buildings, and the University of Cambridge and its Colleges are major planning stakeholders. Applications near the Backs, King's Parade or the historic colleges require detailed heritage assessment.
South Cambridgeshire District Council
The rural ring around Cambridge city - major growth areas including Northstowe new town, Cambourne and Waterbeach
South Cambridgeshire is one of the fastest-growing districts in England. Northstowe (a new town of up to 10,000 homes north of Cambridge), Waterbeach new town and major urban extensions at Cambourne West are all active major development sites. The district shares a joint Local Plan with Cambridge City.
East Cambridgeshire District Council
East Cambs - Ely, Soham, Littleport, Burwell; Isle of Ely farmland and Fenland landscape
Ely Cathedral dominates the flat Fenland skyline - its setting is protected over a wide area and development affecting sightlines to and from the Cathedral is a material consideration. The district includes significant areas of peat Fenland where ground engineering and drainage constraints are a key factor in development viability.
Fenland District Council
Fenland - Wisbech, March, Chatteris, Whittlesey; low-lying Fenland agriculture and horticulture
Much of Fenland district sits below sea level - Internal Drainage Board (IDB) consents and detailed drainage strategies are essential for almost all development. Flood Zone designations cover extensive areas, and Sequential Test and Exception Test assessments are frequently required. Agricultural land classification is also a major consideration.
Huntingdonshire District Council
Huntingdonshire - Huntingdon, St Neots, St Ives, Ramsey, Yaxley; River Great Ouse corridor
Huntingdonshire includes the Ouse Washes, an internationally important wetland (Ramsar, SPA) along the River Great Ouse between the Bedford Rivers. Development near the Washes or their flood relief capacity is particularly sensitive. RAF Wyton and RAF Alconbury are located in the district - aviation safeguarding zones apply.
Peterborough City Council
Peterborough unitary authority - city and surrounding rural parishes; strategic growth city with major housing allocations
Peterborough is a unitary authority with ambitious growth targets. Peterborough Cathedral (Grade I) and the city's Norman heritage require careful heritage assessment for development in the city centre conservation area. The Nene Washes (adjacent to the city) is an internationally important wetland - development affecting drainage to the Washes requires assessment.
Building Control
Building Regulations approval and inspections across Cambridgeshire
Cambridge City Council Building Control
Cambridge city - historic buildings, college structures, conservation area works and new development
Peterborough City Council Building Control
Peterborough unitary area - new housing growth sites and city centre development
South Cambridgeshire, East Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Huntingdonshire each operate their own building control services. Registered Building Control Approvers (private inspectors) also operate across the county, commonly used for volume housebuilding on the growth sites around Cambridge.
Heritage & Conservation
Historic England, King's College Chapel, Ely Cathedral and Cambridgeshire's listed buildings
Historic England - East of England
Statutory consultee for listed buildings, scheduled monuments and conservation areas across Cambridgeshire
Cambridge has one of the highest concentrations of Grade I listed buildings in England. The University of Cambridge Colleges, the Backs, and Cambridge's medieval street pattern are all subject to tight heritage policies. The Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Record is maintained by the County Council.
King's College Cambridge
King's Parade, Cambridge - King's College Chapel (Grade I) and the Backs Conservation Area
King's College Chapel is regarded as one of the finest examples of Late Gothic architecture in Europe. Development affecting views to the Chapel or the Backs riverscape requires detailed heritage impact assessment. The University Colleges estate is a major landowner and stakeholder in Cambridge planning decisions.
Ely Cathedral
Ely - Grade I listed Norman cathedral; its Octagon lantern is visible for miles across the Fens
Ely Cathedral's sightlines are protected across a wide area of the flat Fenland - development that would be visible from or affect views to the Cathedral requires assessment. East Cambridgeshire District Council's Local Plan includes specific policies protecting the Cathedral's setting and skyline.
Environment & Flood Risk
Fenland IDBs, Ouse Washes, Wicken Fen and chalk aquifer protection in Cambridgeshire
Environment Agency - Anglian Region
Flood risk, water quality, abstraction licensing and environmental permitting across Cambridgeshire
Much of the Fens sits below high tide level and relies on pumped drainage. The EA works closely with Internal Drainage Boards to manage water levels. The chalk aquifer underlying southern Cambridgeshire is a principal groundwater source - abstraction licences and Source Protection Zones apply to development near boreholes.
Natural England - East of England
Wicken Fen NNR, Ouse Washes Ramsar/SPA, Nene Washes SSSI and chalk stream ecology
Wicken Fen (National Nature Reserve) is one of Europe's most important lowland wetlands. The Ouse Washes (Ramsar, SPA) and Nene Washes (SSSI) are internationally important for overwintering wildfowl. Development affecting drainage to these sites requires Habitats Regulations Assessment. Chalk streams in southern Cambridgeshire are globally rare habitats.
Middle Level Commissioners and Fenland IDBs
Internal Drainage Boards covering Fenland, Huntingdonshire and East Cambs - drainage consent for all development
Development within IDB drainage districts requires IDB consent for any works within 9 metres of a maintained watercourse. Drainage impact assessments are required for almost all development in the Fens. The Middle Level Commissioners manage 180,000 hectares of agricultural land and urban drainage across the southern Fens.
Utilities & Infrastructure
Water, gas, electricity and road infrastructure serving Cambridgeshire
Anglian Water
Water supply and sewerage for most of Cambridgeshire; chalk aquifer abstraction
Cambridge Water
Water supply for Cambridge city and surroundings - chalk aquifer abstraction; part of South Staffordshire Water group
Cambridge Water supplies approximately 130,000 properties in the Cambridge area. Major development in Cambridge city and South Cambridgeshire requires early consultation with Cambridge Water on supply capacity, given the high water stress in the region and chalk aquifer constraints.
UK Power Networks (UKPN)
Electricity distribution across Cambridgeshire - Eastern distribution zone; grid reinforcement for growth sites
Cadent Gas
Gas distribution network across Cambridgeshire - East of England network
National Highways - M11, A14 and A1(M)
Cambridgeshire's trunk roads; the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme is the UK's largest recent road project
The M11 links Cambridge to the M25 (London). The A14 (Cambridge to Huntingdon) was recently widened in a major improvement scheme. The A1(M) passes through western Huntingdonshire and the A10 connects Cambridge to Ely. Development generating significant additional traffic on these routes requires National Highways consultation.
Trade Bodies
Key construction industry organisations serving Cambridgeshire
Federation of Master Builders - East of England
Representing SME builders across Cambridgeshire and the wider East of England region
NHBC (National House Building Council)
Building standards and warranty provider for new homes - active across major Cambridge growth sites
LABC (Local Authority Building Control)
Building control warranty and partnership services across Cambridgeshire local authorities
Other Consenting Bodies
Airport safeguarding, Combined Authority and the Cambridge tech cluster
Cambridge Airport (Marshall Aerospace)
Cambridge Airport, Newmarket Road - aviation safeguarding zone covering eastern Cambridge and surroundings
Cambridge Airport is an operational military and civilian aerodrome operated by Marshall Aerospace. Development within the airport safeguarding zone that could affect radar, navigation aids, approach lighting or obstacle limitation surfaces requires consultation with the airport operator. Wind turbines, tall structures and communications masts are particularly sensitive.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA)
Strategic transport investment, housing growth and economic development across the county region
The CPCA manages strategic transport funding including the East West Rail programme, the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM) proposals and the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvement scheme. Large-scale housing and employment allocations are partly funded through the CPCA's housing and growth deal.