Marshall to rearrange Cambridge car dealership to enable 1,300-home Marleigh development to continue

A Marshall car dealership in Cambridge’s Newmarket Road will be rearranged to enable the continued development of the 1,300-home Marleigh development.

New buildings have been approved by councillors to allow the businesses to relocate.

The application from Marshall of Cambridge (Garage Properties) Limited covers four main buildings, including a sales area and showroom, a valet centre, a MOT and servicing workshop and a four-level multi-storey car park, plus an extension to the existing Ford dealership store. The latter will raise the showroom’s height by 7.3 metres and accommodate vehicle servicing previously found in Hangar 6 on the Northworks site.

It said: “This critical migration of the car businesses is essential to allow for the phased delivery of the remainder of the Marleigh development.

“These car businesses will include primary sales and servicing facilities together with secondary car businesses activities such as vehicle valeting, smart repair and electric vehicle charging.

“The successful execution of the migration of the car businesses in a sustainable development will safeguard the viability of and provide new opportunities for the Marshall Motor Group car businesses.

“The site and building layout is optimised for the customer experience and to ensure that it adheres to the design principles set out in the Wing masterplan and complies with the conditions attached to the outline planning permission.”

It said the design had been subject to “rigorous discussion” and noted: “Marshall Motor Group have been required to consider and adopt a very different model for a car dealership to meet the aspirations and requirements of the planning authority.

“The proposal now represents a positive and valuable addition to the Marleigh development that integrates well with the overall plan.”

Cambridge city and South Cambridgeshire district councillors at a joint development control committee on Wednesday (16 October) discussed the reserved matters application, which follows earlier outline permission.

Cllr Katie Porrer (Lib Dem, Market) asked if planning officers had considered the impact of the multi-storey car park on nearby homes.

Officers said this had been “reviewed thoroughly” and did not expect a significant impact, with the line of mature trees between the site and homes providing a barrier.

Some councillors asked for the flat roof of the proposed cycle store to be made a green roof, so it would be “resilient” to the impact of climate change.

A majority of councillors agreed to approve the plans.