®Planning appeal decision
Land at 104-112 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 1LQ
Planning appeal 3282911 at Land at 104-112 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 1LQ (Cambridge City Council) was allowed on 21 March 2022 by Inspector Price J, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would provide an appropriate redevelopment of this site, with regard to: the intended mix of uses.
Demolition of Betjeman House, Broadcasting House, Ortona House, Francis House and rear multi-storey carpark to construct two new commercial buildings (five and seven storeys) providing flexible B1(a)/B1(b)/A1/A2/A3 uses, with basement parking, refurbishment of the Flying Pig public house, and new public realm, landscaping and access
- Authority
- Cambridge City Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- employment-industrial · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Price J
- Postcode
- CB2 1LQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would provide an appropriate redevelopment of this site, with regard to: the intended mix of uses
- its effects upon the character and appearance of the area, including that of the New Town and Glisson Road Conservation Area and the settings of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden (a Grade II* registered park and garden) and Cory Lodge (a Grade II listed building)
- the viability of the Flying Pig public house, as a community asset
What decided it
The substantial economic, social and environmental public benefits of the redevelopment were found to outweigh, by some margin, the less than substantial heritage harm and the moderate harm from the lack of residential provision.
Substantial economic benefits and significant social/environmental benefits (high-quality office delivery, retention of the Flying Pig, public realm, sustainability credentials) outweighed the moderate harm from conflict with Policy 21 over the absence of housing and the less than substantial heritage harm to the conservation area, the Botanic Garden and Cory Lodge's settings, tipping the balance in favour of the scheme.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 2Policy 14Policy 21Policy 25Policy 28Policy 31Policy 32Policy 33Policy 35Policy 36Policy 37Policy 40Policy 45Policy 55Policy 56Policy 57Policy 59Policy 61Policy 62Policy 67Policy 69Policy 70Policy 71Policy 76Policy 80Policy 81Policy 82
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 202Paragraph 56Paragraph 170Paragraph 178Paragraph 179Paragraph 163Paragraph 165
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.