Rooftop glass canopy for Cambridge hotel refused by council

A planning inspector said The Varsity Hotel and Spa's proposed roof terrace canopy would be a "jarring" addition to Cambridge's skyline

A planning inspector has described a proposed roof terrace canopy on a city hotel as an "unfinished warehouse".

Managers at the Varsity Hotel and Spa in Cambridge want permission to install a glass canopy over its existing rooftop terrace bar.

Will Davies, who runs the hotel, told councillors the canopy would keep the roof terrace bar open and provide job stability for staff.

The redesigned proposals were refused at a Cambridge City Council meeting on 4 October.

Original proposals for an “all weather lightweight retractable canopy” were refused by Cambridge City Council last November.

One councillor at the time described the plans for the hotel on Thompson's Lane as looking like an “industrial greenhouse”.

An appeal by the hotel to overturn the refusal was dismissed, with the planning inspector stating it would be a “jarring” addition to the city skyline.

Its redesigned proposals for the canopy were then refused on 4 October.

The planning inspector said the proposed canopy failed to preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area, and would also fail to preserve the setting of the nearby listed buildings at Magdalene College.

"The proposal would introduce a large and tall glazed structure on this already tall building," they added.