Local government is currently divided between Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, which is a separate unitary authority. Under the county council, there are five district councils, Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Fenland District Council.

The current Strategic Planning position in Cambridgeshire is as follows:

Peterborough City Council

The Peterborough Local Plan was adopted on 24 July 2019.

This is a statutory Local Plan which sets out the overall approach to development in Peterborough to 2036 and beyond.

The Council consulted on its Draft Local Plan from April to May 2025, and a Key Issues Report has now been published, summarising feedback and identifying seven new suggested development sites, including housing, a village hall, and a country park. The Council is currently reviewing all comments and assessing new site submissions. The Proposed Submission version of the Local Plan is now expected to be published in 2026, followed by public consultation and examination. Updates can be viewed on the Council’s website.

Cambridgeshire County Council

In the past, strategic planning for Cambridgeshire was undertaken at a ‘higher plan‐making level’, most recently through the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003 and the Regional Spatial Strategy (the East of England Plan 2008). Both these documents have now been revoked and strategic planning is now undertaken at a local level, coordinated by a statutory ‘duty to cooperate’. This cooperation has in part been through the oversight provided by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Strategic Planning Unit which was set up to help coordinate the development of strategy with the district planning authorities and stakeholders in the area.

Cambridge City

The Cambridge Local Plan 2018 forms part of the development plan for Cambridge. It sets out the vision, policies and proposals for the future development and land use in Cambridge to 2031. It is the main consideration in the determination of planning applications. More details can be viewed here.

South Cambridgeshire 

The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan was adopted in September 2018 and sets out the planning policies and land allocations to guide the future development of the district up to 2031. It includes policies on a wide range of topics such as housing, employment, services and facilities and the natural environment.

Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council are working together to create a joint Local Plan. The Greater Cambridge draft Local Plan is currently progressing and a public consultation on the draft Local Plan is scheduled to run from 1 December 2025 to 30 January 2026 (9 weeks). The draft Local Plan can be viewed here.

East Cambridgeshire 

The East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015 (as amended in 2023) sets out the vision, objectives spatial strategy and policies for the future development of the district. It also identifies land and allocates sites for different types of development, such as housing and employment, to deliver the planned growth for the district to 2031.

Huntingdonshire 

In May 2019, Huntingdonshire’s Local Plan to 2036  was adopted together with the Adopted Policies map .

The Council have commenced a full update to the adopted Local Plan. Further information can be found here. All sites submitted during the Call for Sites can be found on the Council’s interactive map and also in this spreadsheet, which is ordered by parish. The Preferred Options Draft Local Plan to 2046 is now on public consultation until 17 December 2025.  This draft plan includes proposed site allocations and planning policies, covering housing, employment, infrastructure, and sustainability. The consultation is a key opportunity for stakeholders and residents to shape the future growth strategy for the district.

Fenland

The Fenland Local Development Plan, adopted in 2014, sets out the policies and broad locations for growth and regeneration across the district over a 20-year period.

Fenland District Council consulted on the draft version of a new Local Plan during 2022. All comments received during that consultation are available to view on the Council’s website.

The publication date for the Proposed Submission version is currently scheduled for May 2026.  However, in light of the current Local Government Review process, the Council is actively reviewing how best to progress future planning policy, including the new Local Plan.

For further advice or to find out how your property fits into this framework for planning in Cambridgeshire please contact us.

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