Petition launched to save shops in The Grafton centre and Fitzroy Street area of Cambridge

A bid to save the retail area around The Grafton centre in Cambridge has been launched after a number of properties were snapped up by developers.

The Grafton centre and most of the properties in Fitzroy Street have been purchased by Trinity Investment Management and other Fitzroy Street and some Burleigh Street properties have been acquired by Brydell Partners.

The change in ownership has taken place over the past 12 months, with both developers setting out plans to meet the demand for laboratory space in the city rather than maintaining the current retail uses.

Cllr Tim Bick, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on Cambridge City Council, said: “Given the general state of the high street, it’s probably unavoidable that a centre like this one undergoes change.

“The large number of vacant shop fronts underlines the point, and if nothing is done there will be a downward spiral from which it is difficult to rescue much at all.”

He launched the petition alongside fellow Lib Dem Cllr Katie Porrer, who both represent Market ward.

The petition warns developers that the shops are an important local centre for the Kite and Brunswick areas of the city.

The change has come into focus following Brydell’s planning application for the 2-14 Fitzroy Street block, as revealed in the Cambridge Independent.

It wants to replace Waitrose, Greggs bakery, two smaller units including a newsagents and the vacant former Argos premises with lab workspace.

A planning application has been submitted to Cambridge City Council for the refurbishment and extension of the building which states: “With a significant under-supply of lab space in Cambridge, the city’s first urban lab will aid much-needed growth in the life science sector.”

Cllr Bick and Cllr Porrer have joined forces with residents to call for the continuation of food and household shopping in area, which would include saving the Waitrose and Greggs.

A consultation on the future of The Grafton is ongoing, with Trinity Investment Management looking to convert part of the building into science and technology space for researchers.

A smaller shopping area around a public square would be retained, with the gym and cinema remaining at the centre. The East Road entrance would be improved with new restaurants.

Lib Dem councillors are urging the two new owners of the sites to work together to secure the future of shops in the proposals.

Cllr Bick said: “We don’t have a problem in principle with new uses such as laboratory workspace for start-ups and more mature businesses, so long as their activities don’t conflict with surrounding residential areas. In principle this could help to make a reduced number of retail shops viable. It would be appealing for employees coming to work in these new spaces to have a range of convenience shops.

“But it’s vital that there is some sensible joined up thinking about what is retained. From the outside, The Grafton area is regarded as the city’s secondary destination shopping centre, but for the residential community of the Kite and Brunswick areas, it includes their neighbourhood shops, in a way the historic centre never would.

“There is a huge loyalty to many of these shops. Residents recall the shops’ support to them during the pandemic. It would be very upsetting if this was to be broken up by the new corporate owners.

“We think there is an identity of interest between the local neighbourhood and the workforce of the new laboratories.

“Both need convenience and household shopping and both together have the purchasing power to continue to make such shops viable and attractive to retailers.

“It is terrible that the government’s deregulation of planning means that a change of use from retailing to laboratory workspace no longer requires any planning permission, so we are fighting our campaign with one hand tied behind our backs.”

Ward councillors have held initial meetings with the new owners during which they have suggested they are willing to listen and co-operate, but Cllr Bick says these are “early days”.

He said: “Our petition is a means of demonstrating the support there is for household and food convenience shopping within the centre, which will help our discussions with the new owners.”

The proposals for The Grafton centre from Trinity Trinity Investment Management include:

• Increasing activation of ground floors and improving connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians – restoring some of the historic connections that were blocked when the Grafton centre was built;
• Reducing the number of shops to reflect the growing number of empty units at the centre – but retaining some retail around a new public square at the Fitzroy Street end of the centre;
• Retaining leisure, including the cinema and gym, alongside new restaurant space around improved public spaces on East Road;
• Repurposing as much of the existing structure as possible – to limit disruption to neighbours and minimise the amount of carbon-intensive demolition and construction; and
• Delivering much-needed research space for promising life sciences start-ups – a sector which is growing and needs more space across the city.

The east side of the current shopping centre would be converted into laboratory and office space for start-ups, small businesses, and established companies.

The developers say: “The demand for this kind of research space in Cambridge outstrips the supply available. The knowledge-intensive sector is one of Cambridge’s key economic strengths, contributing to the growth of the local economy and jobs across a range of levels – from entry-level to PhD level.”

To sign the petition, visit cambridgelibdems.org.uk/protectgraftonshopping.