Cambridge Ice Arena comes a step closer to development

Twenty-year plans for an ice rink in Cambridge have come a step closer to being realised after investment by South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The council have backed the build with a £1.85 million loan, which will be paid off at a premium over 25 years.

Cllr Simon Edwards, cabinet member for finance, said: “This is a win-win situation all around. The Council has the opportunity to both bring forward a key facility that a huge number of our residents will benefit from, while also making a good commercial decision that will see us generate a return on our investment that we can put straight into local service people want and need.”

Planning permission was given last year. With the loan in place, building aims to begin later this year with the ice rink potentially opening as early as autumn 2017.

The rink has been planned for over 20 years. It is the result of Cambridge University alumnus David Gattiker’s £1 million donated, which is now worth almost £3 million.

A Canadian national, he left the money to assist the Cambridge University Ice Hockey Club so that they would have facilities equal to their 130 year rivals, the Oxford University team.

Plans are for a 56 metre by 26 metre permanent rink, with room for up to 1,000 spectators, built to international standards, on land leased from Marshall next to the Newmarket Road Park & Ride site.

Jim Kay of Cool Venues, said: “The positive approach taken by the Council and Marshall have contributed greatly to breaking the deadlock. All now looks set for local communities and beyond, together with the University’s ice hockey teams, to be strapping on skates later next year.”

The loan will require a final decision by all councillors at a Council meeting in September.