New student accommodation at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, could replace area of ‘budget’ landscaping

New student accommodation has been proposed to replace an area of “budget landscaping” within the grounds of Fitzwilliam College.

The University of Cambridge college wants to extend an existing building to create 17 en-suite student rooms, three of which are planned would be fully accessible.

The three-storey extension would also include a shared communal kitchen to serve the new rooms and a “communal reflection room” for all members of the college, which would “provide enhanced spiritual and wellbeing facilities within the heart of the college”.

The application submitted to Cambridge City Council said the extension is proposed to be built north of the P staircase, which was described as “lacking the quality of other parts of the college”.

The college, off Storey’s Way, said the area was “dominated” by concrete paving slabs and it had the “sense of mid- to late 20th-century council landscaping on a budget”.

The college said the proposals will have a “neutral to minor positive effect on the surrounding heritage assets” and a “minor positive impact” on the conservation area.

The planning documents added: “The proposals bring social benefits through the provision of improved facilities for the college; economic benefits through the enhancement of the local economy through the growth of college facilities; environmental benefits through the enhancement of hard and soft landscaping; and the introduction of a high quality new building providing student accommodation within college.”