Part of pub to be demolished for new office block

Part of The Emperor pub will be demolished but the frontage will stay

Part of a city pub is set to be demolished to make way for a new office block.

Plans to redevelop The Emperor in Cambridge were first put forward by MPM Properties but rejected by the city council in 2022 after members argued the development "crammed too much in".

Developers submitted a new proposal to keep the front facade of the Hills Road building and create a new space for the pub alongside new offices in the rear.

They were approved at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday.

'Daylight is wholly inadequate'

The latest application proposed reducing the height of the rear of the new office block to address previous concerns.

Additional office space was proposed at a basement level, alongside cycle parking.

One roof light was proposed for the basement office, but a representative for the developers acknowledged it would rely on artificial lighting.

However, Liberal Democrat councillor Karen Young said: “We have an office in the basement with no light; daylight is core to people’s mental health and general health.

"Are we really saying we do not have a policy that prevents this? I think the daylight is wholly inadequate.”

Planning officers said the council had policies requiring daylight levels for homes, but not for businesses.

Liberal Democrat councillor Nadya Lokhmotova also raised concerns over the height of the building and internal ceilings, along with light levels in the basement, arguing it did not offer “high-quality office space”.

The developers' representative said the redevelopment would create an “enhanced pub space”, and claimed the business would still be viable.

They said the plans made “best use” of the brownfield land and would create “much-needed office space”.