Starbucks and Pizza Hut to be demolished for offices

Councillors have agreed on plans to knock down a Pizza Hut and Starbucks and replace them with new offices.

Developer and pensions manager Railpen said it planned to create a "bold striking development" to replace "three low quality buildings" on Cambridge Retail Park.

The office block would be part of a wider project to redevelop the retail park.

Cambridge City Council approved the plans, but concern was raised the new building could dominate Newmarket Road because of its height, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

At a planning meeting on Thursday, Railpen also outlined plans for a new retail food and beverage unit, which have not yet been submitted.

The developer said it wanted to offer a "diverse mix of facilities" and provide compelling reasons for visitors to return.

It also hopes to redevelop the Beehive Centre, near Coldham's Lane, although that scheme was recommended for refusal.

A spokesperson said: "It [Cambridge Retail Park] will feature retail frontage to the park, offices facing Newmarket Road, and extensive landscaping to align with the council's vision for this key city gateway."

One ward councillor for the area, Naomi Bennett, said she "welcomed" redevelopment of the current "eyesore" site.

But she added people living nearby were "extremely anxious about the construction process" and asked the developer to keep people informed throughout the work.

Dave Baigent, another councillor, said another interpretation of the description of the office block as a "strong building" could be that it "dominated Newmarket Road".

Officers explained plans for the building were to make it a "focal point in Newmarket Road" and it was "not much higher" than an existing Premier Inn.

Matthew Howard, head of property at Railpen, said: "230 Newmarket Road is the latest of Railpen's investments in Cambridge.

"Part of its strategy of supporting the UK's economic and social growth through the clustering of assets in key sectors and locations, it joins Mill Yard, its 180,000-sq-ft (16,700-sq-m) mixed-use campus adjacent to Cambridge rail station, and the nearby Botanic Place, Railpen's 500,000-sq-ft (46,450-sq-m) headquarters office development.

"Railpen also has a number of other significant proposed developments in the city, including its 1m-sq-ft (92,900-sq-m) Beehive scheme, which has been called in by the Secretary of State."

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