®Planning appeal decision
21 Hobson Street, Cambridge, CB1 1NL
Planning appeal 3365274 at 21 Hobson Street, Cambridge, CB1 1NL (Cambridge City Council) was dismissed on 21 November 2025 by Inspector Martinson P, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposals would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the CA.
‘Redevelopment of site involving: 1. demolition of existing buildings except for 16 – 17 and 18 - 19 Sidney Street façades, 16 – 17 street facing roof aspect and chimneys; and 2. provision of: - no. replacement retail units totalling 882m2 (use class E (a) (b) (c) & (e)); - 4,107m2 of office space (use class E (g) (i) & (ii)); and - 349m2 of community space (use classes F1 and F2); 3. new shopfront to 16 – 17 Sidney Street and alterations to roof and northern chimney; and 4. public realm enhancement works’
- Authority
- Cambridge City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- employment-industrial · Minor retail and services
- Inspector
- Martinson P
- Postcode
- CB1 1NL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposals would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the CA
- whether the proposals would preserve the nearby Grade II* buildings, Grade II listed buildings and Grade II listed RPG, including settings
- the effect of the development on non-designated heritage assets (NDHAs)
What decided it
The harm to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area (including the incongruous top-floor addition and loss of the former cinema) outweighed the public benefits of the scheme.
The moderate to significant public benefits of the scheme did not outweigh the considerable weight attached to the less-than-substantial (towards the higher end) harm to the Conservation Area and the Registered Park and Garden.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 10c)Policy 40Policy 55Policy 56Policy 57Policy 60Policy 61Policy 62Policy 73
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 215Paragraph 57
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.