Evidence Library for Local Plan Update

Below are links to evidence-based documents that will inform and shape the Local Plan to 2046. We will update it as new documents become available.

Core documents

• Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report [PDF, 5.5MB] - this sets baseline information for Huntingdonshire to inform the development of sustainability objectives to test the Local Plan against

• Statement of Consultation [PDF, 6MB] - sets out the key responses to Local Plan consultations to date and how we have responded to these

• Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report [PDF, 6.5MB] - this provides a screening and assessment of the likely significant effects of the policies and site proposals set out in the Preferred Options draft Local Plan to 2046 on designated nature conservation sites.

Collaboration documents

• Statement of Common Ground between HDC, Environment Agency and Lead Local Flood Authority [PDF, 0.7MB]

• Statement of Common Ground between HDC and UK Power Networks [PDF, 0.7MB]

• Statement of Common Ground Between HDC, NHS Central East Integrated Care Board and NHS Property Services  [PDF, 1MB]

Economy and employment

• Economic and Employment Needs Assessment 2025 [PDF, 5.5MB] - evidence for the economic and employment needs for Huntingdonshire, including a review of Established Employment Areas and Economic Growth Scenario

  • Appendix B - Site Assessment Approach [PDF, 0.9MB]

  • Appendix C - Established Employment Area Assessment Portfolio. [PDF, 4.5MB]

Housing and social infrastructure

• Gypsy and Traveller, Travelling Showperson, Boat Dwellers and Other Caravan Dwellers Accommodation Assessment 2024 [PDF, 1.5MB] - this provides an assessment of provision across Huntingdonshire and the level of future need anticipated over both the short term and the longer term to 2041/42

• Huntingdonshire Local Housing Needs Assessment [PDF, 1.5MB]- This provides information on the local housing market, affordable housing needs and housing needs of specific groups, including older people

• Huntingdonshire Leisure and Sports Facility Strategies.

Historic environment

• Heritage Note on Preferred Options draft Local Plan site allocations [PDF, 0.2MB] - This note provides a high-level initial identification of known heritage assets to shape the Preferred Options Local Plan and heritage impact based on proposed uses

• Heritage Impact Assessments [PDF, 18MB] - a proportionate assessment of heritage impact to inform site allocation policy criteria on all preferred sites consulted on in the Preferred Options Local Plan to 2046 between November and December 2025 and additional site allocations consultation in May to June 2026.

Natural environment 

• Habitats Regulations Assessment Scoping Report for assessing growth strategy options [PDF, 6.5MB] - this report provides outputs of the scoping process and provides a high-level assessment of the four potential growth strategy options for the Local Plan to help inform the plan-making process and avoid or mitigate any adverse effects upon the site integrity of any European sites

• Ecological Constraints Assessment [PDF, 5MB] -this report assesses the potential ecological constraints of all preferred sites consulted on in the Preferred Options Local Plan to 2046 between November and December 2025 and additional site allocations consultation in May to June 2026 in relation to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and National Nature Reserves (NNR), providing recommendations to inform the plan-making process.

• An Interim Nature Recovery Network for Huntingdonshire [PDF, 10.5MB] - report prepared by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire. It will inform implementation of biodiversity policies and delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. The work will also inform other green infrastructure and natural capital investments, as well as Parish Neighbourhood Plans and organisational nature recovery plans.

Flooding and water

• Huntingdonshire Integrated Water Management Strategy: Stage 1 Water Cycle Study [PDF, 4.5MB] - an evidence base for the Local Plan update, looking at an integrated approach to water management, including issues such as water quality, water balance and options for water management

• Huntingdonshire Integrated Water Management Strategy: Stage 2 Water Cycle Study: Interim Report [PDF, 7MB]

• Huntingdonshire Integrated Water Management Strategy: Stage 2 Water Cycle Study - Final Report [PDF, 11.5MB]

• Huntingdonshire Integrated Water Management Strategy: Level 1 and 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessments - an evidence base for the Local Plan Update, looking at an integrated approach to flooding. 

Infrastructure and viability

• Infrastructure Delivery Study Baseline Assessment [PDF, 7.5MB] - The first stage of the Infrastructure Delivery Study, an evidence-based assessment of existing and future infrastructure requirements to support the Huntingdonshire District Council’s Preferred Options Draft Local Plan to 2046 (Regulation 18). It includes strategic growth options and some strategic scale sites that were put forward to the council

• Whole Plan Viability Assessment (Stage 1) [PDF, 16.5MB] - a baseline assessment establishing locally specific development costs and assumptions, assessment of draft local policies, strategic growth options, some strategic scale sites that were put forward to the council and viability in the area to support Huntingdonshire District Council’s Preferred Options Draft Local Plan to 2046 (Regulation 18).

• Whole Plan Viability Assessment (Stage 2) [PDF, 18MB]: A Whole Plan Viability Assessment including an update of locally specific development costs and assumptions from Stage 1, an assessment of local policies, viability in the area and of the proposed strategic allocations ready to support the
  Regulation 19 consultation.

Strategic transport study

• Baseline Conditions Technical Note [PDF, 1.5MB] - this assesses the current transport and travel situation within the district

• Accessibility Technical Note [PDF, 5.5MB] - this assesses the current accessibility of the largest site proposals put forward

• Phase 1 Technical Note [PDF, 0.6MB] - this tests the transport implications of four potential development scenarios to recommend the most sustainable in transport terms

• Phase 1 Technical Note Appendix [XLSM, 0.1MB] - this is the multi-criteria assessment framework testing potential development scenarios against key transport objectives

• Mitigation log [XLSM, 0.1MB] - analysis of potential mitigation packages of the potential development scenarios

• Phase 2 Technical Note [PDF, 9MB] - this tests the transport and travel implications of the preferred option of the development strategy

• Mitigation log phase 2 [XLSM, 51KB] - this sets out the mitigation elements needed for the preferred option.

Climate change

• Document A - The role of the Local Plan Update in responding to climate change [PDF, 0.6MB] - This is an introductory document explaining what is meant by net zero carbon and the context in which the Local Plan Update’s climate change response will operate

• Document B - Position statement and analysis of baseline and forecast future emissions [PDF, 2MB] - This sets out the district’s current position including an emissions profile to explain the current baseline which the Local Plan Update will operate within and seek to influence

• Document C - The contribution of sustainable design to achieving Net Zero [PDF, 2MB] - This document provides specific policy advice on achieving net zero carbon development in Huntingdonshire

• Document D - Assessment of spatial strategy options [PDF, 1.5MB] - This assesses some initial spatial strategy options and their carbon impact, recommending the most effective spatial strategy from a climate change perspective for the Local Plan Update

• Document E - Renewable Energy Assessment [PDF, 8.5MB] - This analyses the contribution of renewable energy in reaching net zero and the technical potential for renewable energy across Huntingdonshire

• Document F - Offsetting and Sequestering Emissions [PDF, 2MB] - This assesses the role of sequestration and provides policy recommendations to support Huntingdonshire in delivering sequestration of carbon emissions and their offsetting where necessary and appropriate.

Land Availability Assessments and Sustainability of Settlements

• Sustainability of Settlements [PDF, 2MB] - this sets out how we will assess the sustainability of settlements and will aid in the decision-making on their suitability for future growth in the next Local Plan

• Land Availability Assessment Methodology [PDF, 0.8MB] - this sets out how we will consider potential sites that have been put forward for potential allocation in the Local Plan

• Updated Land Availability Assessment (LAA) 2025 - assessment of sites submitted to the council for consideration as proposed allocations. This document includes a Land Availability Assessment, a summary of the outcomes of the Sustainability Appraisal for the site and any updates to the assessments as a result of the consultation process

  • Updated LAA: Northern Huntingdonshire [PDF, 15MB]

  • Updated LAA: Southern Huntingdonshire [PDF, 9.5MB]

  • Updated LAA: North East Huntingdonshire [PDF, 15MB]

  • Updated LAA: Northern Central Huntingdonshire [PDF, 13MB]

  • Updated LAA: Western Huntingdonshire [PDF, 10.5MB]

  • Updated LAA: Central Huntingdonshire [PDF, 10.5MB]

  • Updated LAA: Eastern Huntingdonshire. [PDF, 15MB]