Multi-million market plan has 'too many loose ends'

A multi-million pound plan to redesign an historic market has "too many loose ends" and appears "a bit rushed", councillors said.

Cambridge's Market Square has had traders since the Middle Ages and it is part £92m city-centre redevelopment, with those behind the proposals hoping it will have a mix of permanent and removable stalls, and claiming its current cobbled surface is slippery when wet.

Cambridge City Council's planning committee heard traders were worried the plans would increase financial pressure upon them, as well as concerns from highways officials.

The committee at the Labour-run council, which was asked to approve the plans, voted to defer the decision.

Councillors did, however, vote to approve refurbishment of the Guildhall - where council meetings are currently held - and the Corn Exchange, which holds gigs and events.

The current plans for Market Square include 96 stalls - 44 permanent and 52 removable - which the council said were designed to offer "flexibility" for daily trading while allowing space for events and cultural activities.

However, Zoe Hardinge, representing Cambridge market traders, told planning committee members the city was "almost unique" in having a seven-day outdoor market, adding: "This application risks the irreversible loss of [this] unique heritage asset."

She said the introduction of permanent kiosks removed the flexibility to allow stalls to be shared throughout the week and a move to five-year leases would be "towards something closer to fixed retail units".

She added that they were still waiting for a trial for the demountable stalls, and that "financially, these proposals put huge pressure on the future of the market".

Hugh Clough, Green councillor, said he was "truly alarmed" by the proposals.

Papers to the committee said the highways officials objected, saying "the scheme in its current form is not safe, not proven deliverability and not acceptable from a highway and public safety perspective".

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Bick said "there are just so many loose ends here", highlighting the highways concerns.

His feelings were echoed by Labour planning committee member Tim Griffin, who said he was "a bit disappointed by the application".

"There are so many important things that are left to [planning] conditioning that I feel kind of put upon almost to make decisions that should have been worked out long ago," he said.

"This seems a little premature, a bit rushed, too many things are left to be resolved and I'm very uncomfortable with that."

Griffin proposed they deferred making a decision, and this was supported by three votes to two.

The meeting took place in the Grade II listed Guildhall, which the planning committee approved for redevelopment, with the council hoping to "modernise" it and make net zero carbon neutral and fully accessible.

Plans include creating a public cafe, new work spaces and meeting rooms for council staff, as well as work spaces for commercial tenants.

Under the plans, the Corn Exchange would be upgraded with energy-saving measures, including insulation and solar panels, and improved accessibility throughout the venue.

Proposals also include enhanced sound and audio-visual systems, some more standing room capacity, and the creation of additional bar and concession areas.

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