Mixed feedback over £20m city centre proposals

Cambridge City Council proposed improvements to the Corn Exchange, Guildhall and Market Square to increase visitor numbers and reduce operational costs

Feedback on £20m investment proposals to reimagine a city centre have been published.

Cambridge City Council proposed improvements to the Corn Exchange, Guildhall and Market Square to increase visitor numbers and reduce operational costs.

Mixed feedback was received in relation to a proposal for a hotel in the Guildhall and conflicting interests were also logged in relation to Market Square plans.

Executive councillor for finance and resources, Simon Smith, said the council faced "the same budget pressures as councils up and down the country," and it aimed to adopt a long-term plan to balance the budget and care for local landmarks.

The money for renovations would come from the council's existing general reserve with most of the funding going towards improvements at the Guildhall.

The council's plans for the site included making the grade II listed building more open and accessible with modern flexible office facilities.

While the project is still in its early stages, feedback will help update proposals before they go to councillors on 11 November.

If approved at a strategy and resources scrutiny committee, further development will progress in 2025.

Mr Smith thanked respondents for their "valuable insights and suggestions".

"Investing in these historic sites is an important thing to do, but it also gives us an opportunity to reduce our overheads and generate income," he said.

"We have been eager to hear from local people how these spaces could be improved and I’m delighted with the level of engagement over the summer."

Ideas to add libraries, free seating areas and affordable spaces for community groups to hire, were all suggested as part of the refurbishment of the Guildhall

Suggestions on plans for the Guildhall looked at how the space was used and could be used in future.

There were suggestions the Guildhall could become an open-plan design with better visibility from the outside and less formal interiors.

Mixed feedback was also submitted regarding a hotel proposal with 260 comments in support, 232 comments against and 48 indifferent.

There were worries about its impact on locals, traffic, noise and other hotels in the area, but support was shown for a rooftop pavilion, especially if it was open to all and not just guests.

"Inaccessible and uncomfortable seating" was criticised at the Corn Exchange

Feedback on the Corn Exchange reflected a desire for better acoustics for speaking and music events.

There were criticisms about inaccessible and uncomfortable seating, and requests for ground-floor toilets and better access for those with a disability.

Suggestions were made both for and against building a permanent structure at the Market Square

Conflicting interests were clear from the feedback gathered on the Market Square, with heritage groups and some market traders preferring to retain the cobblestones.

However, wheelchair users said the cobbles created accessibility difficulties. Other market traders highlighted issues with cleaning and maintaining the cobbles.

There was a desire to improve security and deter anti-social behaviour and also suggestions for solar panels, green spaces to sit and eat, trees and moss roofs.