Cambridge college library 'slowly falling down'

Residents of Christ's lane had raised concerns about the plans

Plans to demolish and replace a Cambridge University college library that is "slowly falling down" have been approved.

Christ's College asked the city council for permission to demolish the existing 1970s building, described as no longer fit for purpose and having poor accessibility.

Objectors argued its replacement would be "monolithic" and would negatively impact Christ's Lane.

The majority of councillors agreed to approve the plans at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday.

Plans were previously approved for a replacement library but this development was never built, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Master of Christ's College Simon McDonald said students at the College "deserve better".

He recognised the proposed chimneys would make the new library taller than the existing building, but said it would not be as tall as the building on the other side of Christ's Lane.

"We are building something beautiful for the college for sure, but also for the city," he said.

Roger Hepher from Christ's Lane Action Group said many local residents were concerned about the plans, stating the design was "unnecessarily tall, bland and unwelcoming".

"The current proposal is significantly taller and more massive than the previously consented 2016 scheme, and it features these monolithic chimneys, which really result in, what I would say, is an unrelenting fortress-like wall."

Concerns about the project were also raised by councillors, including Green councillor Hugh Clough, who said the redevelopment would "damage the look, feel and even daylight of one of the city's most-loved historic routes".

Others agreed with the college over the current library building, including Liberal Democrat ward councillor Tim Bick, who said he understood the reasoning behind the wish for a "transformational improvement".

But he questioned if more could be done to create more "openness" at ground level to make Christ's Lane a "less one-sided street".

Some of the councillors said they believed the redevelopment would create a better boundary wall with Christ's Lane.