Horse racing grandstand to become new home

The grandstand was built in the 1920s in the Cambridgeshire village

A grandstand built in 1925 to host fans of horse racing is set to be converted into a four-bedroomed house.

Plans to turn the Cottenham Racecourse Grandstand, on Beach Road in the village, into a family home have been approved by South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The developer, Dakin Estates, said the historical building - last used for horse events in 2021 - had become "neglected" and been vandalised in recent years.

The council said: "This proposal will repair and restore the buildings and their setting and secure their long term preservation."

A four-bed home will be built on the site

The conversion of the grandstand would be done "sympathetically", the developer said.

In the planning documents, it says: "The grandstand is a solidly built edifice which dates back nearly 100 years.

"Internally, there are already elements similar to domestic accommodation and infrastructure.

"This building maintains associations with the long history of amateur horse racing at Cottenham, and is therefore deserving of preservation by sympathetic conversion to become a fitting memorial to local history."

Approving the plans, the district council said the site was not currently used and had suffered from a lack of general maintenance.