Plans for Flying Pig pub in Cambridge rejected by councillors

Councillors have unanimously rejected plans that would have seen popular music pub The Flying Pig partially demolished.

Pace Investments, which owns the Hills Road site, applied for planning permission to build an office and retail development behind the pub.

The proposals included the demolition of Betjeman House, Broadcasting House, Ortona House, Francis House, and the rear multi-storey car park to Francis House and the construction of two new commercial buildings of five and seven storeys.

They also included a plan to redevelop The Flying Pig, which would have led to part of the historic building being demolished.

The decision was made by Cambridge City Council’s planning committee today (Wednesday, March 24).

Committee chair Cllr Martin Smart said following the decision: “I would like to see a clear package of measures in place for the future sustainability of The Flying Pig presented to us which hasn’t been done today.

“I think what has been done is we’ve seen a picture of The Flying Pig still there in front of the building but we haven’t been assured how that is going to happen because it’s more than just the building, of course.”

He added: “I think the scale and massing of the building as proposed is still very large on that street.”

Musicians and regulars had warned that any loss of seating space in the pub or its garden could mean financial trouble for the venue, especially now customer numbers must be reduced due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The proposal had been recommended for approval by planning officers who said the development would provide “additional employment floorspace in a location where there is strong demand and which results in a significant benefit to jobs in Cambridgeshire”.

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