A consultation is underway to help shape a new plan, which will guide how minerals and waste development is managed across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough up to 2044 and beyond, helping to ensure future growth is planned in a sustainable way.
Residents, businesses, community groups, developers and other stakeholders are being invited to share their views on the development of the new Minerals and Waste Local Plan being prepared by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, which is set to replace their current plan, which was adopted in July 2021.
The first stage of plan preparation, known as the Scoping Consultation, opens today (Monday 3 August 2026) and invites views on the key issues the new plan should address, its scope and objectives, potential policies, and how communities and stakeholders would like to be involved throughout the plan-making process.
Alongside the consultation, the councils are also launching a Call for Sites, inviting landowners, operators and developers to put forward potential minerals and waste sites for consideration in the new plan. Comments are also being sought on the proposed methodology that will be used to assess sites and a paper examining cross-boundary planning issues.
The consultation is not about deciding planning applications or approving specific developments. Sites submitted through the Call for Sites process are not automatically included in the plan and will be subject to detailed environmental, technical and planning assessments before they can be considered in future drafts.
Councillor Ros Hathorn, Chair of the Environment and Green Investment Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Minerals and waste planning plays a vital role in supporting our communities, economy and environment.
"The minerals planned for through this process provide the essential materials needed to build the homes, schools and infrastructure that our young people and future generations will rely on. Equally important is identifying the right locations for waste and recycling facilities, helping us manage waste sustainably, recover valuable resources and reduce impacts on the environment.
"We want to hear from as many people and organisations as possible about the local issues that matter to them. This is an opportunity to help shape a plan that supports sustainable growth while helping to build a greener and more resilient Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The new plan will play an important role in reducing carbon emissions, responding to climate risks, restoring nature and supporting a more circular economy where resources are used efficiently."
Councillor Numan Ali Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Growth and Regeneration at Peterborough City Council, said: “This is an opportunity for local people to help shape how minerals and waste development is managed across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for years to come. We encourage everyone with an interest to have their say."
The consultation is open to everyone, including residents, businesses, parish councils, landowners, developers, environmental organisations and other interested parties. Future stages of the plan-making process will include consultation on draft policies and site options, publication of a proposed final plan, independent examination by a Planning Inspector and, ultimately, adoption of the new plan.
People can have their say by completing the online consultation form at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/mwlp-review or by emailing mandwpolicy@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Anyone wishing to submit a site through the Call for Sites process can do so using the Site Submission Form available alongside the consultation documents.
For those without internet access, paper copies of the consultation documents will be available in council offices and Peterborough libraries. Copies can also be requested from the councils.
Full details of the consultation, supporting documents and information on how to respond are available at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/mwlp-review
The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Monday 12 October 2026.
