Major redevelopment could see shopping centre buildings knocked down
Plans have been submitted which would see a Newmarket Road shopping centre redeveloped into offices and retail space. The plans for 230 Newmarket Road were validated by Cambridge City Council by Leonard Design Architects on behalf of Railpen on Thursday (September 12).
The plans include new shops, offices, cycle parking spaces, and car parking spaces. Three existing buildings, including an empty floor shop and empty G4S unit, would be demolished to make way for the new development.
The site is part of the Cambridge Retail Park, which is also owned by Railpen. The hybrid application includes an outline application for the erection of a new retail and food and beverage block, as well as a full application for the demolition of existing buildings, enabling works and redevelopment of the site to provide a new building.
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A design and access statement submitted as part of the application said: "The existing poor building stock will be replaced with a high quality, sustainable and adaptable building proposal. This building will enhance the frontage, architecture and streetscape of Newmarket Road and create a more appropriate way-point that marks the transition into the City Centre."
It described the redevelopment plans as creating a "pedestrian focused experience with strong consideration of cyclists". The amount of cycle parking spaces will be increased from 70 to 512, with car parking spaces reduced to 150 from the existing 192.
A Railpen spokesperson said the redevelopment is part of a "long-term plan to create more reasons to visit Cambridge Retail Park with a wider mix of uses that can attract a good range and quality of retailers to serve the local community". The application for 230 Newmarket Road follows after Railpen modified plans for redevelopment of the nearby Beehive Centre in July.
You can view and respond to the planning application here.