Revealed: What the public said about civic quarter plans for Cambridge city centre

Feedback from a consultation on Cambridge City Council’s £20million proposals to create a civic quarter has been revealed.

Residents and visitors shared their views over the summer on the future of the Guildhall, Corn Exchange, market square and surrounding public spaces.

Calls to provide greater community use of the Guildhall, upgrade the seating, acoustics and accessibility of the Corn Exchange and deter anti-social behaviour in the market square while providing green seating areas were among the responses from members of the public.

A better strategy for transport and improved cycling infrastructure were also suggested.

A design team for the project will now refine their ideas and put them forward to councillors in November to consider the next steps.

Cllr Simon Smith, executive councillor for finance and resources, said: “Investing in these historic sites is an important thing to do, but it also gives us an opportunity to reduce our overheads and generate income. We are facing the same budget pressures as councils up and down the country, so we are taking a long-term view and ensuring we can balance our budget while also looking after these local landmarks.

“We have been eager to hear from local people how these spaces could be improved and I’m delighted with the level of engagement over the summer. Thank you to the 900-plus respondents who shared your thoughts with us, making this the highest number of responses received since launching our new online engagement platform.

“These comments have been really encouraging, broadly endorsing our ambitions while also providing valuable insights and suggestions which can be carried forward into the detailed design stage.”

Among the aims is to create a focal point in the centre of Cambridge that local people can be proud of, while attracting residents and visitors to spend more time in the market square, Corn Exchange and city centre shops, restaurants and bars.

The council has set aside £20million for the plans, but that would mostly be eaten up by work on the Guildhall, which it intends to convert into a net zero carbon building. Further decisions on funding will be made once updated proposals have been provided by the Cartwright Pickard-led development consultancy team, although the council is also facing an £11.5m budget gap over five years.

Initial proposals from the architects put forward before a series of workshops and public engagement events showed how a revamped Guildhall could feature a hotel and a rooftop pavilion “with stunning views of Cambridge” that would offer “space for community events, dining, and private functions, enhancing the Guildhall’s appeal and bringing in commercial income”.

Outside in the market square, the initial proposals featured a reduced area for permanent stalls, with half of them becoming removable to create space for “temporary evening events, Christmas markets, theatre and music performances and cultural festivals”. The council intends to keep the seven-day market “while creating more space for people and events”.

The council admitted there was a mixed response to these ideas, with concerns over the impact on traders.

Cllr Smith (Lab, Castle) said: “We are committed to working closely with market traders to ensure a prosperous future for the seven-day market. Thanks to all traders who have engaged with us. Please be assured that we want to continue to involve you on ways to limit the impact any future working could have on your businesses.”

Meanwhile at the Corn Exchange, which is managed by the council, the original proposals included better acoustics and audio-visual systems, along with more food and drink options and energy-efficiency upgrades.

A council report reveals that more than half the responses it received came from households with CB1 and CB4 postcodes. Some 53 per cent of respondents were female and those aged 65 to 74 and 44 to 54 were the most likely to respond, although three quarters of respondents did not give their age. The household income groups with the largest number of respondents were ‘more than £100,000’ (16 per cent) and £30,000-£39,000’ (10 per cent), although 27 per cent preferred not to disclose theirs.

Updated proposals are due to be published on 11 November. If the strategy and resources committee approve them when meeting on 21 November, further development work would progress beyond RIBA stage 2 in 2025, with “comprehensive community engagement” promised throughout the project, which could take a number of years to come to fruition.

The responses

Market square: Both the public and traders asked for improved security and measures to deter anti-social behaviour. There were calls for enhanced biodiversity and sustainability, and suggestions including solar panels, green spaces to sit and eat, trees to provide shade, and moss roofs.

Wheelchair users noted issues created by the cobblestones and market traders pointed to challenges maintaining them, but other traders and heritage groups liked their historic character.

The idea of a permanent structure and/or demountable stalls got a mixed response. There were concerns over the impacts on traders of any work and how it would be managed.

Corn Exchange: Better acoustics for speaking and music events were requested. The seating was criticised as inaccessible and uncomfortable , and ground-floor toilets and better access for those with a disability were suggested. The entrance was described as dark and unwelcoming, with calls for a more transparent design.

Guildhall: Community uses ranging from libraries and cafes, to free seating areas, and affordable spaces for non-profit and community groups to hire were put forward. The idea of a hotel got mixed feedback, with some support for a rooftop pavilion if open to all. Others said the Guildhall should have a more open-plan design with better visibility from outside, less formal interiors and more comfortable seating, with sustainable features such as solar panels.

Public spaces: An overarching transport strategy was called for. Pedestrianisation with limited vehicular access in public areas, including bicycles and delivery mopeds, was mentioned, along with improvements to the cycle route around the Corn Exchange. Cycling infrastructure such as bike parking, a new cycle hub, improved roads, and restrictions on mopeds were out forward, and sustainable features – such as greenery and reuse of materials – were popular ideas.

Visit cambridgecivicquarter.co.uk for more and engage.cambridge.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/cambridge-civic-quarter to view the engagement report.