Vision for Cambridge market, Guildhall and Corn Exchange refreshed but hotel plan ditched
Updated multi-million pound proposals for a civic quarter in Cambridge could be submitted to decision-makers this summer – but plans for a hotel in the Guildhall have been ditched.
The project was launched by Cambridge City Council to “revitalise” the city centre, increase visitor numbers and reduce operational costs.
It asked for views on the plans to improve the Corn Exchange, Guildhall and market square last summer.
Mixed public feedback was received and now the council has refreshed its proposals before a planning application is submitted later in the year.
A café is planned in the Guildhall, the number of permanent stalls in the market has been increased and new images showing how the area could look have been released.
But questions remain over how the project will be funded and whether it will meet the needs of market traders.
Cllr Simon Smith, executive councillor for finance, said: “This is our chance to create a civic quarter that reflects Cambridge’s values – forward-thinking, inclusive, and proud of its heritage.
“We’ve listened closely to last summer’s feedback, as well as to experts providing guidance on heritage sites, carbon reduction, water reduction, biodiversity and community safety.
“This new phase of engagement is about further refining the proposals to get them right before we submit a planning application.
“Whether you’re a resident, a visitor, a trader or a business owner, please take our short survey so that you can help shape the final proposals.”
The council says its proposals prioritise a seven-day market, which will have new permanent stalls, alongside new demountable stalls to allow flexibility on the market square depending on demand from traders, with demountable stalls being trialled with traders in the coming weeks.
An increase in the overall number of stalls is being proposed to 94 – from the initial proposal of 91 – with an increase in the number of permanent stalls to 36, up from the previous proposal of 27.
However, this is still below the 54 permanent stalls that market traders had called for in a petition earlier this year.
Market trader Glenys Self told the Cambridge Independent: “Because the market redevelopment has been going on for seven years, it has created a hiatus in the market thriving during the week, and it’s blighted it.
“This is causing its own demise and because of that condition, having a new market that can shrink or expand as needs require is probably the only way the market can look full all the time.”
She said traders were pleased the new gazebos will be tested, but questions remain over the permanent stalls.
“They’ll be really good for the hot food stalls, but you have to trade five days a week, or you'll have your kiosk taken away from you. And they're ultimately going to be quite expensive,” said Glenys.
“My impression is that the shoppers are still really shocked that the main, traditional market is going to be taken away.
“The permanent stalls that we’ve got at the moment really work well for the big four and five-day-a-week businesses that we've got on the market. But the gazebos, because they are more flimsy, they're less stable than the stalls that we have at the moment.
“I fear that a lot of the big businesses are talking of leaving the market. So we’ve got lockable kiosks, we've got gazebos, but we need something in between and they're not hearing us.”
There will also be new covered seating areas along with better lighting for safety reasons under the plans.
The council has planned for an underground bin storage area and there will be a “small-scale cultural events and community activities” space.
In response to feedback last year, the council will also retain and restore the existing fountain in the market.
The council has also revealed that it has now removed the plan for a hotel in part of the Guildhall from the project.
However, it still wants to conserve the Grade II-listed building and operate it at net zero.
Plans include a new customer service centre for visitors, a public café as well as public toilets. It will have work spaces and meeting rooms for council staff as well as space for commercial tenants.
To address issues over the use of the council’s chamber, in particular that it had various fixed furniture pieces and an uneven floor which make it difficult to access, the latest proposals suggest removing this furniture to allow the space to be used for other events.
The council says it will improve the Corn Exchange with energy-saving measures, which will include better insulation and solar panels.
It will be accessible in all areas and there will be better sound quality and new audio visual systems for events.
Increasing event capacity is also proposed and there would be an introduction of more concessions and bar areas.
It is estimated that it will cost £55million to complete the planned improvement work to the Guildhall, and the first phases of work to the market square and the Corn Exchange.
Green city councillor Naomi Bennett said: “The city council does not have the funds to complete this project and there is no guarantee that those funds will materialise. If there are no funds to build this, the millions already spent on consultants will be wasted.
“There is huge pressure on public finances at the moment with previously unthinkable cuts being proposed by the national government. These include redundancies at our much-loved but already overloaded hospital, cuts to key NHS services including palliative care and of course the cuts to Winter Fuel Allowance and disability benefits.
“It seems very optimistic, perhaps even out of touch, to think that the national government will choose to spend money on refurbishing the Guildhall in these circumstances.”
The council is asking the public for its thoughts on the plans and will hold two events in the summer before closing comments on Sunday, 22 June.
You can read more about the proposals and take the short survey online now: cambridge.gov.uk/ccq.
Attend a community workshop:
Tuesday 27 May, 5 to 7pm, at the Guildhall
Saturday 14 June, 10 to 11.30am, at Lichfield Community Hall
Request further information or surveys in other languages or formats by emailing info@cambridgecivicquarter.co.uk