Roof canopy plan for Varsity Hotel in Cambridge rejected again – despite owner’s plea over economic impact

Revised plans for a glass canopy over the rooftop terrace at the Varsity Hotel and Spa in Cambridge have been quashed, despite the owners’ plea that it would help secure work for his staff.

One city councillor described the design as “brutal”, while another appreciated the effort to “innovate” to improve the hotel’s business.

The hotel, in Thompsons Lane, first sought permission for a retractable roof canopy over its existing outdoor terrace last year, but city councillors rejected the plans in November, with the design being described by one as like an “industrial greenhouse”.

The owners returned with a new design for the roof canopy, which was supported by planning officers, who recommended that councillors approve the planning application.

At a city council planning committee, officers suggested the new design was an improvement, although the authority’s conservation officer still had concerns, arguing the canopy would be an “incongruous feature” over the existing rooftops and would have an “extremely harmful visual impact”.

Will Davies told councillors he had run the hotel since it opened and said the hotel had done its utmost to address the concerns raised by councillors at previous meetings.

He said “overwhelming” public support had been shown for the plans, including a petition signed by around 140 people, and the 28 comments in support submitted to the city council.

Mr Davies also highlighted the support from the city council’s urban design officer, who said the new canopy would create a “more visually coherent design” to the top of the hotel building than what currently exists.

Mr Davies said: “The weather this summer – which should have been our busiest time – has been far wetter than usual and we have had to cancel numerous celebrations and trips by persons at short notice.

“Other than disappointing guests, many of them local residents and local companies of various sizes, our staff have had little in the way of work.

“This summer we have had to make several redundancies during a terrible July and August.

“Having a more stable working environment with a regular working schedule is far better for staff wellbeing than relying on weather to make a living.

“Job stability and an increase in full-time positions whilst strengthening the local economy is a key planning policy both nationally and locally, and clearly applies to this application.”

Cllr Katie Thornburrow (Lab, Petersfield) recognised it was important to support the service economy in Cambridge, noting she had been concerned about this since the pandemic.

She said: “Certain areas of Cambridge are doing extremely well, the life sciences, tech and universities and colleges seem robust,” she said.

“I have been worried about service industries in Cambridge - worried [about whether] they would bounce back and how they are doing.

“This business is one of the service industries looking to improve and strengthen their own business, increasing productivity and innovation.

“They are looking at a way to innovate an asset they have got, increasing productivity to provide continuity in the employment, maybe extending employment to give people working there more security, which I think is a positive thing.”

Cllr Dave Baigent (Lab, Romsey) said the city had “evolved” over time and said the proposed roof canopy would be another evolution.

However, other councillors had concerns about the design and the impact of the roof canopy on views across the city skyline, with one suggesting it looked like scaffolding.

Cllr David Levien (Lib Dem, Trumpington) thought the proposed canopy looked “brutal” and was out of character with the area.

Cllr Katie Porrer (Lib Dem, Market) acknowledged “real improvements” in the proposals, including low level LED lighting, but remained concerned about the harm of the canopy on the views.

She said: “For me the harm has to be outweighed by public and economic benefit and what we are basically saying is there will be maybe 12 to 15 to 20 jobs possibly, again not secured, against what is permanently there forever, visible to everybody.

“It is that huge metal structure. I appreciate it rounds it off better, but it is three metres higher, so for me I am afraid at the moment despite lots of good work by the applicant and the new views of that skeleton, it looks like scaffolding and it still does unfortunately.”

The application was refused by a majority of the committee councillors, with five voting against it and three voting in favour..