Debate over roof canopy plans for Varsity Hotel in Cambridge to continue

A decision on whether The Varsity Hotel and Spa can install a new roof canopy has been delayed amid concerns about its impact on the skyline and how it will look lit up at night.

The hotel, in Thompsons Lane, Cambridge, is seeking permission for a retractable glass roof canopy over its existing outdoor terrace.

Cambridge City Council previously refused plans to install a canopy over the terrace, with one councillor at the time describing it as looking like an “industrial greenhouse”.

A hotel representative told councillors at a planning committee meeting last Wednesday (July 5) that.the proposals had been adapted in consultation with council officers.

The representative said the remodelling of the designs meant the proposed canopy would improve the existing building and “reduce the prominence of the overall block in the skyline”.

Low level LED lights are planned and the hotel submitted 14 images to show how the new canopy would look from different points in the city.

A petition signed by 140 people in support of the plans was also submitted.

The application had been recommended for approval by planning officers, despite the council’s conservation officer objecting to it.

The case officer told councillors that while there would be harm to the conservation area, it would not be as harmful as the previously refused plans.

The officer said the employment and tourism benefits also helped to outweigh the harm.

However, objectors argued the “detrimental impact” of the canopy on the conservation area was not outweighed by the benefits. They highlighted that the frame of the canopy would be permanent and said this would add “another storey” to the building.

Magdalene College also objected, with a representative saying the report did not show the impact on the “most sensitive viewpoints”.

The college argued the gains “appear to be commercial benefits for the operator of the hotel, rather than any public benefits”.

Cllr Katie Porrer (Lib Dem, Market) said the impact of lighting was a “huge concern” and did not understand why more information was not provided when it was one of the reasons for refusal.

She did not feel she had enough information to let the plans go ahead.

Cllr Naomi Bennett (Green, Abbey) also wanted to defer making a decision, so councillors could go on a site visit.

She said: “I feel because this is one of the most famous views in the UK I think it is so important that we really have to take every step.”

However, Cllr Dave Baigent (Lab, Romsey) did not see how a site visit would help the councillors.

Cllr Robert Dryden (Lab, Cherry Hinton) said he believed the lighting proposed would be better than it is currently on the roof terrace, and was in favour of the plans.

A majority of councillors agreed to defer making a decision so that a site visit could be organised and the applicant would be asked to provide more information about the impact of lighting.