A plan to deliver 22,000 jobs and 19,500 new homes in South Cambridgeshire by 2031 has been given final approval – after one of the longest examination periods in the country.

A plan to deliver 22,000 jobs and 19,500 new homes in South Cambridgeshire by 2031 has been given final approval – after one of the longest examination periods in the country.

The Local Plan was approved by councillors at a meeting of South Cambridgeshire District Council today, three weeks after government inspectors reported that they had found it to be sound.

The council submitted the Local Plan in March 2014 for independent examination and government inspectors took more than four years to assess it.

The examination of the plan was carried out jointly with the plan for Cambridge City Council’s area. That plan was also submitted in March 2014. The Planning Inspectors’ examinations included reviewing evidence supplied by the two councils, representations of objection and support made during public consultations, site visits and a series of hearings.

South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council committed to an early review of the Local Plans as part of the City Deal agreement. This was also a recommendation of the Planning Inspector. The review will commence in 2019 with submission for examination in 2022.

Barrington district councillor Aidan Van de Weyer, who is deputy leader and lead cabinet member for strategic planning and transport at SCDC, said: “I am pleased we now have a final, sound and agreed plan that provides us and our communities certainty over how the area will be developed over the next decade or so.

“I am disappointed it took the planning inspectors so long to review the plan and get to this stage, but we must now look forward and work with existing communities, especially those living nearest to where new homes will be built, to make sure they are at the heart of developing plans.

“One of our big priorities is to ensure we have housing that is generally affordable to live in. This means we need a range of homes that are affordable once you include all your living costs.

“This plan is more than delivering new homes, it is about building true communities where people love living and working. This includes making sure they have the right facilities, such as GP surgeries, and excellent transport links.

“We are absolutely committed to working with the mayor, Greater Cambridge Partnership and County Council to make sure transport improvements go hand-in-hand with homes.”

The Inspectors’ final reports can be found at www.scambs.gov.uk/local-plan-examination