Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats drawn from the available evidence. These are analytical judgements, not an official council assessment. Where a national comparison is available, lower housing costs, lower reported poor health and higher qualification shares are treated as relative strengths; this does not prove affordability or service quality.
Strengths
strength
Bring support closer to people in poor health
3.2% of people reported bad or very bad health in Cambridge council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 1.3% in Newnham to 5.2% in King's Hedges — a gap of 3.9 percentage points.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
What could help →strength
Connect local skills to local opportunities
55.8% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Cambridge council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 1.5% in Newnham to 17.2% in King's Hedges — a gap of 15.7 percentage points.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
What could help →Weaknesses
weakness
Reset the Hartree plan after the funding refusal
The council says Hartree cannot proceed as proposed because funding to relocate the wastewater treatment plant was refused.
Proposed response: Update local expectations and distinguish any workable alternatives from the scheme that depended on relocation.
What could help →weakness
Make room for homes people can afford
Average private rent is £1,805 a month (August 2026) in Cambridge council area. This is £346 higher than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 20.2% in Cherry Hinton to 50.5% in Market — a gap of 30.3 percentage points.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
What could help →Opportunities
opportunity
Use small sites to provide the family homes people need
Cambridge’s six-site programme prioritises larger council homes and includes homes designed for wheelchair users.
Proposed response: Track the home sizes and accessibility actually delivered, alongside total numbers.
Evidence
What could help →opportunity
Plan homes and care around an older population
11.4% of people in Cambridge council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 7.6% in Newnham to 17.3% in West Chesterton — a gap of 9.7 percentage points.
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
What could help →opportunity
Target safety work where problems repeat
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in Cambridge council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
What could help →opportunity
Turn published plans into visible progress
3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
What could help →opportunity
Target support where disadvantages overlap
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 6.5% in Newnham to 19.8% in King's Hedges — a gap of 13.2 percentage points.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
What could help →Threats
The evidence gathered here does not yet support a distinct finding in this category.
Which response goes with each issue?
How the evidence connects to a proposed response and reviewed local work| Evidence and response | Who could lead | Related published plans |
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| Reset the Hartree plan after the funding refusalHartree and North East Cambridge: Cannot proceed as proposed after funding refusal. See the dated project evidence. | Cambridge City Council and Anglian Water | |
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| Use small sites to provide the family homes people needJuly 2026: more than 90 homes proposed or progressing across six sites; not all are approved or complete. | Cambridge City Council and delivery partners | |
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| Make room for homes people can affordAverage private rent is £1,805 a month (August 2026) in Cambridge council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 20.2% in Cherry Hinton to 50.5% in Market — a gap of 30.3 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 14 of 14 current wards have comparable figures. | The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers | |
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| Plan homes and care around an older population11.4% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 7.6% in Newnham to 17.3% in West Chesterton — a gap of 9.7 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 14 of 14 current wards have comparable figures. | Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
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| Bring support closer to people in poor health3.2% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 1.3% in Newnham to 5.2% in King's Hedges — a gap of 3.9 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 14 of 14 current wards have comparable figures. | Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
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| Connect local skills to local opportunities55.8% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 1.5% in Newnham to 17.2% in King's Hedges — a gap of 15.7 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 14 of 14 current wards have comparable figures. | Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority | |
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| Target safety work where problems repeatUse the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate. | The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
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| Target support where disadvantages overlapHouseholds facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 6.5% in Newnham to 19.8% in King's Hedges — a gap of 13.2 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 14 of 14 wards. | The council's housing, public health and employment teams, with local services | |
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