Church to move from Cambridge site earmarked for R&D to Histon
Permission has been granted to turn an office block near Cambridge into a new place of worship.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God City of David Parish in Cambridge (RCCG) told South Cambridgeshire District Council that it needed to move as it had been given a notice to vacate its current site at The Paddocks employment area in Cherry Hinton Road.
The church sought permission to convert an office block in Trust Court, Histon, into a place of worship.
Some parts of the building will still be used as office space, while other areas will be used for worship services and group meetings.
The plans described RCCG as “a vibrant, multicultural church” and added: “Due to plans to redevelop The Paddocks into a research and development facility the church has been given notice to vacate the building by March 2025, hence the need for the new accommodation.
“Units one, two and three Trust Court are ideal for the church with ancillary offices as well as serviced offices to rent out.”
The church office will be open from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Monday to Friday and a timetable of events is planned, including Sunday services from 11am to 1.30pm, and group meetings – such as Bible study, a mother and baby group and choir practice – during the rest of the week.
The church would like to offer a foodbank service on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The council granted planning permission for the change of use, but advised that a management plan should be put together and regularly reviewed to reduce noise impacts after concerns were raised by environmental health officers about sound from the choir practice or services.
The report said: “This could include keeping windows and external doors closed during these activities, use of acoustic equipment rather than amplification, amending times when these activities take place so as to have less impact, noise attenuation schemes and a complaints procedure (if complaints are received).”
