Christ's College appeals over rejection of student flats plans

By Ben Hatton, Local Democracy Reporter

Christ’s College is appealing for the government to overturn a planning decision made against it by Cambridge City Council for plans to demolish buildings in King Street and replace them with new student accommodation.

In September 2017 the college applied for planning permission to demolish or modify buildings 6-18 in King Street to make way for 64 student flats and teaching space.

It was the college’s second attempt after an application in 2016 was unsuccessful.

The city council rejected the latest application, which would have retained more of the current buildings’ facades, in February last year, on the basis that its image would “detract from the character” of the historic core of the city, and the increased height in the plans would “introduce a level of visual clutter”.

The University of Cambridge college is now appealing to the housing secretary, James Brokenshire MP, and the government’s Planning Inspectorate to overturn the city council’s decision.

A spokesman for Christ’s College said: “The college believes the scheme would make a positive contribution to King Street, however it would be inappropriate to comment further while the appeal process is ongoing.”

A planning statement on behalf of the college says: “As well as providing new college facilities the proposals would create the opportunity for enhancement of the existing commercial floorspace on King Street with new retail/restaurant space, providing the active frontage currently missing from this part of the street.”

And it also notes the college is “urgently in need of new accommodation”.

King Street borders the college on its north side and as well as altering its street facing appearance, it would also create a new courtyard inside the college.

The buildings on the proposed site have been used recently as retail space, student accommodation, and temporarily by the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts.