Block of flats on ring road given go-ahead

A new block of flats situated close to the Cambridge ring road have been given the green light, albeit only just.

When issued with the building request, four of the nine-member planning committee voted for the plans, with four voting against.

With the result tied, it came down to the committee leader, councillor Sheila Stuart, to cast the deciding vote - eventually coming down in favour, cambridgefirst.co.uk reports.

The new five-story apartment block will be situated between Newmarket Road and Harvest Way, alongside the new Travelodge, which has also recently been granted planning permission. It will feature 75 flats, regenerating an area of the city that had begun to fall into disrepute.

This may not be the only potential new opportunity for lettings Cambridge has to offer, with permission also granted recently for a total of 3,000 homes and 2,000 student properties to be built around the university grounds.

However, despite the volume of new buildings, traffic around the area may not rise as expected, as the university has pledged to donate £9.3 million towards transport improvements in and around the city. These will include bus subsidies, highway works and improving the M11 slip road.

Speaking to cambridge-news.co.uk about the newest planning application, surveyor Colin Brown enthused: "This would be an appropriate and indeed fitting redevelopment of the site.

"It will immeasurably improve Newmarket Road, bringing sufficient environmental benefits with tree planting, and deliver much needed housing in a highly affordable location."

Posted 17-11-2011
Author: David Howells