Enterprise Rent-a-Car seeks switch from Histon to Cottenham

A car rental outlet in Histon is set to close, with an application submitted for a replacement site in a neighbouring village.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car is seeking permission from South Cambridgeshire District Council to open in Cottenham to replace its Histon site.

The new shop is proposed for the former B&C Motors car showroom off the village High Street.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car wants to refurbish the front of the existing building that faces the High Street, explaining that the rear part of the site will continue to be used by B&C Motors as a garage for MOT and servicing.

The company said it expects to employ six staff at the site, as well as two third-party valets.

In documents submitted with its application, the company said providing car rental services would help to reduce car ownership in the area. Rental services, it says, allow “local residents and businesses to transition from private vehicle ownership to shared access to vehicles, with many different people using the same car over a week or month”.

It added: “Where private car ownership induces residents to use their cars for short trips, car rental acts to reserve car use for longer journeys or specific occasions of need.

“This then supports public transport or active travel modes as the favoured option for shorter, daily trips.

“It can therefore be concluded that the use of the site as a car club and car rental facility will support sustainable transport patterns in the wider area and will make a real and positive impact on air quality and congestion in the local area surrounding the site.”