The County Council plays a key role in shaping the way development in Cambridgeshire is planned. 

We do this through:

• Producing our own planning polices for development in the county through the Structure Plan although this is subject to change through recent planning legislation;
• Influencing and helping to shape other planning polices, at the national, regional and local level;
• Monitoring how development is progressing so that we can tell if our policies are working;
• Drawing up long-term plans for minerals and waste;
• Deciding whether development for minerals, waste and development in connection with the services that we provide can go ahead;
• Giving advice to the district councils on Local Development Frameworks and planning applications, for example on transport and highways issues;
• Promoting sustainable development and exploring innovative ways of making our new communities more sustainable.