4th July, 2012
Ms Sarah Dyer
Planning Department
Cambridge City Council
Dear Sarah
Demolition of Wilton Terrace, 32 - 38 Station Road, Cambridge
Planning Applications 12/0502/FUL and 12/0496/CAC
Whilst we recognise that this is an eleventh hour intervention and that
outline planning permission has already been granted, CambridgePPF believes
that the City Council should give very serious consideration to the
groundswell of public opinion against the demolition of this Victorian terrace. The
four local Resident' Associations are strongly opposed, as is the Victorian
Society, and the local MEP, David Campbell Bannerman, has also now
expressed his objections. It is this weight of public opinion that has persuaded
us to call for a delay in making a final decision on these applications to
allow more time to assess the practicality of their retention.
The reason for our concern is that the terrace lies within a Conservation
Area, that it is recognised by the City Council as comprising 'Buildings of
Local Interest', that they could be regard as being a 'Significant Heritage
Asset' to the local community, and that their demolition would be a loss
to the heritage value of the locality. The masterplan for the CB1
development has to date shown little regard to the Conservation Area status of the
area, although I do appreciate that the old railway offices fronting onto
Hills Road were saved - and I believe significantly enhance the overall
appearance of the development.
CambridgePPF believes that the most sensible course for the Planning
Committee would be to defer the decision on these applications so that more time
can be given to explore the practicality of retaining the terrace and the
feasibility of incorporating it into the overall design of the CB1
development.
Yours sincerely
Robin Pellew
Chairman
CambridgePPF