Vandalised pavilion at Darwin Green in Cambridge could become ‘kinder café’ and family venue space

A vandalised pavilion building could be turned into a new ‘kinder café’ for Darwin Green. Plans have been put forward to refurbish and extend the pavilion to create a family-friendly venue at the development on the edge of Cambridge.

The building was last used alongside the former Christ’s College and Sidney College sports pitches.

Planning documents submitted to Cambridge City Council said the building has been empty since 2006 and has “fallen into a very poor state of repair” due to vandalism.

It sits in the corner of the Darwin Green development, backing onto Woodlark Road, and will face onto a new open space and play area.

The ‘kinder café’ would include a play zone for children. The first floor could be used for children’s parties, events and group uses, such as yoga and Pilates sessions.

The plans said: “It is intended that the property will be known as ‘Livies’ with the applicants being a family business seeking to create a ‘kinder café’ and venue space for local families.

“The aim of ‘Livies’ will be to cultivate a community to enhance the lives of families by creating a welcoming space outside the home for them to have fun, grow and thrive.

“The facility would operate as a commercial enterprise, but with the aim of serving the local community.”

The documents stated: “The proposals will bring a long vacant and vandalised building back into a sustainable use that will form an integral asset of the Darwin Green development site.”

The city council will determine whether the plans can proceed.

Outline permission for the Darwin Green development was granted in 2013 for up to 1,593 homes, with outline permission for a further 1,000 approved last year.