New plans published for Cambridge Civic Quarter

Fresh plans to upgrade the Cambridge Civic Quarter have been announced.

Cambridge City Council has published its proposals for the civic quarter – an area consisting of the Guildhall, Corn Exchange and Market Square.

It follows a summer engagement programme to hear what residents and visitors currently like, dislike, and would like to see changed.

The aim is to ensure the city centre is fit for the 21st century, offers a focal point that residents are proud of, and is sustainable.

Star Radio has put together an overview of what to expect in the proposals.

Opening up the Guildhall

With a shared ground floor lobby with improved natural lighting and a café for the public, council staff and commercial tenants; increasing the use of the civic halls; and creating space for a cultural attraction – with the Museum of Cambridge considering a potential relocation to the Guildhall. The council’s office spaces will be consolidated, moving staff from Mandela House into the Guildhall, with commercial office space being provided on the upper floors to support the council’s plan to generate income.

Corn Exchange upgrades

The proposal is to increase event capacity to 2,000; transform the Parson’s Court passageway next to the Corn Exchange into a pedestrianised breakout space with food and drink offerings; add lifts to ensure full accessibility; improve back of house, Audio Visual and temperature control systems; and to get as close to net zero as possible within the building’s heritage constraints, including introducing air source heat pumps and solar panels.

Make Market Square accessible and sustainable

The proposals include introducing an accessible shared surface to promote and prioritise pedestrians; and a commitment to water efficiency and renewable energy. A lightweight canopy is also proposed to cover approximately half of the market, providing storage for permanent traders and offering covered seating for the general public. The other half would be available for additional trading during weekends and busier months, with demountable stalls, providing flexible space for occasional events.  

Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, Simon Smith:

"We are seeking to secure the long-term viability of the Guildhall, Market and Corn Exchange for heritage and environmental sustainability, with a range of public, commercial and cultural uses. 

"The largest investment will be for the Guildhall so we can reduce the council's operating costs and generate commercial income to protect frontline services."
 
The updated proposals have been published ahead of being discussed by councillors at on Thursday 21 November 2024. 

If the proposals are approved on Thursday 21 November 2024:

• a procurement process will take place for the appointment of a contractor by spring 2025
• design work would continue with a planning submission submitted in late summer 2025 following a second public consultation in spring 2025
• a capital budget of £55 million would be allocated to support the Civic Quarter project.

Funding

The indicative investment budget to refurbish the Guildhall is estimated at £41 million, and the current net running cost of the Guildhall and Mandela House is around £2.4 million.

This investment is estimated to generate a net saving for the council of £1 million per annum, after the cost of capital.  
 
The cost to redevelop the Corn Exchange, along with Parson’s Court, is estimated at £22 million, and an initial budget of £4.5 million, if approved on 21 November, would enable completion of a full roof replacement and installation of solar panels on the roof.

A new business plan for the Corn Exchange is proposed to consider additional funding for further phases of work.
 
The cost to make the proposed improvements to the market and surrounding public spaces is estimated at £12.6 million, and, if approved on 21 November, an initial capital investment of £3 million would support resurfacing works.

A new business plan for the Market Square is proposed to consider further phases of work, including further funding opportunities, a Balance of Trade policy, and a management approach for a fully redeveloped market. 
 
From the £55 million proposed capital budget, £3.6 million is likely to be used for planning and £2.9 million on other project costs. 

The city council said market traders are "key stakeholders for this project", and the authority has been engaging with traders on a regular basis throughout this project, including recent discussion about their preferred options for relocating temporarily, if required, for work to start on the Market Square.

Councillors said the majority of respondents (88%) supported the idea of remaining close to the Market Square, and there was little support for an off-site solution.

Therefore, this option is set to be pursued in the next stage of design, with further work in the pipeline to develop a support package for market traders.