Constraints on applications

Constraints relating to planning application pages
 
Flowers and a garden fence

This page lists some of the site constraints within Cambridge.

Each constraint relates to council policy and every application is considered in light of these constraints and policy.

Flood risk

Planning policy statement 25 (PPS25) states: "all forms of flooding and their impact on the natural and built environment are a material planning consideration".

Each application is considered in light of any impact that development may have with respect to flooding.

Depending on the flood zone the proposed development falls within and/or the scope or type of proposals, applicants might be required to submit a flood risk assessment.

Details of what should be included in the flood risk assessment can be found in the policy statement.

If you are unsure as to whether your proposal would require a floodrisk assessment or not, please contact the duty planning officer.

Further guidance is also available and includes:

  • the Local Plan (2006) Policy 4/16 - details specific policy against which applications are considered
  • the Environment Agency website - contains information regarding flooding and proposed development

Contaminated land

Contaminated land is a material consideration under the land use planning process.

Investigation is needed when development is proposed on previously developed land to ensure that any potential contamination is identified and dealt with before development.

Visit our land pollution page for more information.

Tree preservation order

Trees can be protected by a tree preservation order. This generally makes it an offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or wilfully destroy a tree without the planning authority's permission.

If you are unsure whether a tree is protected under this order, please contact one of the council's arboricultural officers.

You can read more about trees on development sites - those not protected by Tree Preservation Orders - and Policy 4/4 under Local Plan (2006).

Conservation areas

Conservation areas have "special architectural or historic interest" which makes them worth protecting and improving.

This may include features such as buildings, spaces and trees. If your development is within a conservation area you might need special permission to carry out any works.

Read more about conservation areas.

Applications are considered against policy 4/11 with respect to impact on conservation areas.

Listed buildings

Listed buildings are those buildings that the secretary of state for culture, media and sport has classified as of "special architectural or historic interest". If your development affects a listed building you may need special permission to carry out works.

Read more about the specific rules that apply to listed buildings.

Applications are considered in light of policy 4/10 with respect to effects on a listed building.

Areas of outstanding natural beauty

There are no areas classified as "areas of outstanding natural beauty" within the city boundary.

For information about areas of outstanding natural beauty please visit Natural England.

Article 4 directions

Article 4 directions allow us to restrict permitted development rights under the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 over an area or areas.

This is separate from restricting development rights through planning permission conditions.

There are currently no Article 4 directions in force within our boundaries.

Article 3 restrictions on permitted development rights

Article 3 directions detail restrictions on permitted development rights under the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.

Such permitted development rights can be restricted further under article 4 or through planning permission conditions.

The Communities and Local Government website has guidance on permitted development rights for alterations or extensions to a house.