Councillor dubs apartment building 'brutal'

A Labour councillor has described a planned apartment building as 'brutal'

The design of a planned apartment building in a famous university city has been described as "brutal" by a councillor.

Members of Labour-controlled Cambridge City Council have approved plans for the building, which will contain almshouse apartments, in Cambridge.

Liberal Democrat Katie Porrer told a planning committee meeting how she “quite liked the look of the new building”, which is due to go up in Albion Row.

But Labour's Martin Smart told the meeting that he did not think the design “looked good” - and described it as “brutal”.

The former Edward House care home in Cambridge is being replaced

Councillors were told that the building would replace the former Edward House care home.

The 15-bed care home closed in 2021 after it was found to be uneconomical to run.

Plans for 16 "Almshouses apartments" have been put forward by The Foundation of Edward Storey, a charity which offers sheltered housing for people over 60 who are in financial need and have a link to the Church of England.

The proposals were considered at a recent council planning committee meeting.

What is an Almshouse?

The Almshouse Association says:

• An almshouse is a normally a house or flat which belongs to a charity and is provided to meet the charity’s purposes - for example, the "relief of financial need or infirmity"

• An almshouse charity is usually set up for the relief of financial hardship by the provision of housing and associated services

• For historical reasons, almshouses do not necessarily have the word “almshouse” in their name: they can called "college", "hospital" or "homes"

• The history of almshouses stretches back to medieval times, when religious orders cared for the poor.

• The majority of almshouse residents today are of retirement age, of limited financial means and living within the vicinity of an almshouse charity

Planning officers said the proposed redevelopment offered a “high quality” scheme with a design that was “appropriate to the area”.

They said it would “contribute positively to its surroundings”.

Mr Smart said he was “not keen on the scheme”.

Cambridge City Council is made up of 25 Labour councillors, 10 Liberal Democrats, five Greens, one Conservative, and one independent.