Cambridge University proposes to run community centre

A university and city council could jointly run a community centre on a new housing development in Cambridgeshire.

Cambridge University is applying for planning permission for a 3,000 home scheme between Huntingdon Road and Madingley Road in Cambridge.

The university and Cambridge City Council plan to set up a not-for-profit company to manage the community centre and surrounding open space.

The plan is to build the centre before work starts on the rest of the scheme.

The long view

Tim Bick, leader of the city council, said: "The fruition of this proposal will represent a historic innovation in partnership between two of the city's oldest institutions."

Paul Barnes from the university project team said: "The thing about the university is that we're here for the long term.

"We want to invest in community facilities, and invest in good transport facilities, because it's really important that the people living there feel it's a good strong thriving community and want to come and live and work in Cambridge."

Cambridge University has applied to build the homes, up to 2,000 student units, a hotel and a community centre on the site in north west Cambridge.

If the university's application is approved by the city council, the community centre would form part of the development's Section 106 agreement (used by councils to gain funding for infrastructure projects from developers).

A decision will be taken on 8 August.