Examples of this 'planning gain' in Cambridge in the past has produced segregated little pockets of social housing tucked away behind a wall - this does nothing towards the natural development of neighbourhoods as communities. We will be working to avoid the mistakes of the past in contribution we make to the planning of the Cambourne development.

Participation in Development - Planning for Real
Planning for Real means the active involvement of residents in the design and improvement of estates. Residents, not professionals, are the real experts on the area they live in. It is a concept profoundly in tune with Liberal Democrat principles.

We will apply Planning for Real to all significant new developments. Thanks to Liberal Democrat involvement a start was made in this direction in the handling of the Histon Rd Allotments development. The new tenants have selected many features and fittings for their new homes. This is a good beginning which we intend to develop.

The Planning for Real consultation was extended to the City's Meadows Centre adjoining the Allotments site. This resulted in a youth centre fully equipped with features specially chosen by young people from the surrounding area.

Planning for real is also a way in which residents can have a say in advance about the balance between housing and, for example, leisure, transport links and shopping facilities on a new estate.

Participation in Management
It is fundamental to the Liberal Democrat approach to housing that tenants should have as much control as possible over their homes. We have championed tenant participation in Cambridge and want to see it develop much further.

The recent debate over whether the city’s housing stock should be transferred to a not-for-profit company illustrated one of our guiding principles - that the more power tenants are offered, the more interest they will show in participation. Both at the level of tenant participation in the ‘shadow board’ and in the turn-out in the final ballot, there has been a great leap forward in the quality and quantity of tenant participation.

We want to make sure that the city does not lose that improvement just because the ballot went against the transfer. We will investigate ways of giving tenants at least as much say in housing management now that the housing stock will continue to be owned by the Council as they would have had under the transfer proposal.

Shared Housing
Shared houses are an important part of the housing scene in Cambridge. There must be a good supply but it must be safe and in good repair. Cases revealed by Liberal Democrats in other parts of the country have shown that this is not always the case. Landlords need to know that they will get a reasonable return on their investment, but tenants must not be exploited.

At present the definition of a ‘house in multiple occupation’ is not satisfactory. Many houses that might at first sight come within the category turn out to be outside it. We prefer to speak of ‘shared houses’ and will work nationally for a better definition.

The system of registration of shared houses is unsatisfactory. Shared houses managed by other public bodies are, inexplicably, exempt. The government has refused to correct this anomaly even after it was pointed out to it. We will work to ensure fairness and safety for all those living in shared housing whatever the status of their landlord.

We support the establishment of a Cambridge Landlords Association. We have proposed an accreditation scheme for shared housing similar to that in other parts of the country and look forward to working with landlords to make it a reality. We want to harness the expertise of responsible landlords and to encourage the less responsible to improve their standards.

We will seek to use the Council's nomination rights in large new developments to create balanced communities, especially with regard to age.