Work to begin on four-star Novotel hotel by Cambridge North
Work is about to begin on a new four-star hotel next to Cambridge North railway station.
It will be operated by AccorInvest under the Novotel brand and is due to open in autumn 2020.
The 217-bed hotel located at Cambridge Square will feature a restaurant, bar, gym, 10 metre swimming pool and conference facilities and create more than 60 full-time jobs.
Further developments are designed to bring homes, shops and offices as the new district around Cambridge North takes shape.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the new hotel takes place tomorrow (Thursday). It represents a milestone for Brookgate and landowner Network Rail, which have spent five years working on plans for the Cambridge North district.
Olivier Daguzan, chief operating officer at Northern Europe at AccorInvest, said: “This new development in Cambridge which is one of the first fully funded by AccorInvest since the official creation of the company in May 2018 is demonstrating our ability to seize development opportunity in key locations. It is fully aligned with our strategy of owner and operator in the midscale segment in Europe.”
The hotel is one the first investment projects funded by AccorInvest, which will take a long-term interest in the property.
Sven Topel, chief executive at Brookgate, said: “It’s fantastic news for Cambridge North to attract an international hotel operator to the area.
“We’re excited to see the development win this commitment, a key step in the growth of Cambridge North into a great place to live, visit and work. The hotel will be a catalyst for bringing life, jobs and amenities to the area and encouraging further phases to progress.”
Site enabling work has begun for services to the hotel and other development plots. Construction of the hotel will begin next month.
The new Cambridge North district could transform the north-eastern fringe of the city. If a new home can be found for the water works, up to 7,600 new homes and more than 7,000 new jobs could be created.
Cambridge City Council and Anglian Water submitted a bid to the government to cover the cost of relocating the water treatment centre in September 2017.
In March 2018, the government announced that the bid had been shortlisted and was advancing to the detailed business case stage.
A formal announcement is expected early this year.
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Next steps for north east fringe development on Cambridge water works site
