Plans for new Cambridge flats branded 'totally inappropriate'

Existing flats at Fanshawe Road could be demolished to make way for a new development

Residents have described proposals for blocks of flats near their homes as "totally inappropriate".

Cambridge City Council wants to demolish 30 outdated 1950s properties on Fanshawe Road to make way for a new development.

But the Fanshawe Neighbours' Group said the proposals, which could include buildings five storeys high, would be "out of character" with the area.

The council said the scheme would provide modern and sustainable housing.

Margaret Ingram, who has lived on Fanshawe Road for 30 years, said the new blocks would be much taller than the three-storey buildings earmarked for demolition.

"Five storeys instead of three is totally out of keeping with the locality," she said.

The Fanshawe Neighbours' Group is concerned about the proposals on their doorstep

"There will be 84 flats. What about pressure on the infrastructure? We are talking about cars, drainage, water, public transport, which is almost non-existent in this immediate area.

"We feel that the design of this as proposed is totally inappropriate."

Steve Holliday, who lives next to the proposed development, said: "These blocks of flats are just going to pretty much block everything out and they are really out of character in the area."

'A gentrification project'

Sarah Nicmanis, who also lives on Fanshawe Road, was unhappy about the amount of social housing in the proposals.

She said: "What we are ending up here with is, in essence, a gentrification project."

Another resident, Pip Wilson, said she was worried the plans would mean a loss of habitat for hedgehogs and birds.

The council said it was no longer cost effective to renovate or repair the existing flats. It said extensive consultations had taken place with residents who needed to be rehomed.

The plan is for four new apartment buildings and eight houses, providing a total of 84 properties - which include 39 private and 45 council homes.

Regarding the council properties, 34 would be at a rent of 60% of market rate, which is the council's standard for new builds, with 11 at 80% of market rate.

Gerri Bird (Labour), executive councillor for housing and homelessness at the council, said: "We understand that this is a difficult time for residents - anyone facing the uncertainty of moving home is bound to be concerned about the future. But we have a fantastic track record of supporting residents who are impacted by regeneration schemes like this.

"Fanshawe is part of a wider programme of work across Cambridge to improve accommodation standards for people living in existing council homes, to build additional council homes to meet local need and to address wider housing supply issues."

The developer is the Cambridge Investment Partnership - a joint venture between the city council and Hill Investment Partnerships.

In a statement, it said: "It is important that we provide new developments across the city that are socially inclusive, diverse, and cohesive with a mixture of homes that reflect the needs of people from different ages and abilities along with the council's housing requirements."