Ground broken for Cambridge hotel where guests stay for months

A new aparthotel will begin to be built on Milton Road, Cambridge, as the two-year construction project gets under way.

Ground was broken on Friday (January 12) by developers, TLC Group. It aims to build an aparthotel with 133 suites, or apartments, aimed at short let guests who might stay for between one and three months.

The company says it will be the first building of its kind in Cambridge.

Paavan Popat, chief executive of TLC Group, said: “The aim is to be able to offer accommodation that’s different. It’s a very design-led place to stay. It’s very Cambridge.”

Milton Road County Primary School used to stand on the land, and Mr Popat said the building has been designed with this in mind. The firm appointed architects from Cambridge and says the aparthotel will also have a community offering.

He said: “This site was the old Milton Road primary school, which has relocated. Lots of people who live in the area had their children go this school, and that’s why we stuck to a collegiate design.

“We think it’s going to be a really good fit. We think there’s going to be facilities for people around, like a place to go and have a coffee, or there’s a community room people can use for meetings or for the local community to get together, or you could use it for small classes. We want it to be inviting and welcoming to everyone around.

“One of our aims is that we want people to stay in an affordable place and to feel part of Cambridge. We’re right around the corner from Jesus Green, it’s a great walk into the city, the Science Park is a short cycle away. We’ve got 150 cycling spaces nd we’re going to offer bicycles to our guests. We’re very pro-Cambridge. We love the city.”

TLC Group has held the land for 10 years but didn’t get planning approval for the structure until it won permission on appeal in June 2015.