Newnham College has submitted a planning application to Cambridge City Council to seek permission to replace ‘outdated’ student accommodation with new student facilities.
The College has requested approval to demolish Strachey, an existing outdated accommodation block, and the Porters’ Lodge.
The College has also asked for permission to partially demolish Fawcett, an office and student accommodation building, to remove substandard bedrooms and social spaces.
The submission of the College’s planning application follows extensive pre-application consultation with Cambridge City Council, Cambridge Design and Conservation Panel, Historic England and local residents which helped to influence the development of the designs.
Jenny Raine, Bursar of Newnham College, said: “Newnham is always evaluating what it can offer students – undergraduate and graduate. The proposed developments will ensure that the long-term needs of the students are met with an exciting new environment that is sensitively integrated with the College’s existing historic buildings and gardens.”
Newnham proposes to replace the buildings with en-suite student accommodation on the upper floors and a new Porters’ Lodge, conference facilities, a café, suite of offices and supervision rooms on the ground floor.
Plans for high quality social areas, additional cycle parking spaces and improved gym facilities are also outlined in the proposal.
A total of 86 student bedrooms will be removed and replaced with 90 en-suite bedrooms.
Walters and Cohen Architects was appointed by Newnham College in November 2014 to design the ‘inspirational’ student accommodation.
The practice has designed award-winning buildings in both the public and private sectors and has completed projects for Kew Gardens, the Bank of England, the Horniman Museum and many education institutions.
The planned improvements to the site will meet the educational needs of the students and help maintain the College’s status as a world-leading education facility.
If the plans are approved, building work is expected to begin in September 2016.
Photograph Caption: An artist’s impression of the historic Pfeiffer Arch and the new building from Newnham Walk.