Consultation runs from: 1 December 2025 9:00am - 30 January 2026 5:00pm
1.
proposals for the Old Press/Mill Lane site will be supported if they are in accordance with the masterplan, submitted and agreed with the Local Planning Authority (application 18/1930/FUL) and:
a. preserve and enhance the special historic character and appearance of heritage assets, including the Cambridge Historic Core conservation area and, listed buildings and their settings;
b. create the opportunity for the adaptive reuse of existing buildings, where possible;
c. create the opportunity for redevelopment to provide high-quality, sustainable new buildings of innovative design, which contribute positively to the Cambridge Historic Core conservation area and the settings of listed buildings their surroundings;
d. create and enhance areas of public open space and public realm to a high quality, potentially including a new public space fronting on to the river;
e. development proposals should complement and enhance the wider setting of the site, including the green corridor formed by the River Cam and the surrounding Greens and Fens.
f. minimise non-essential car parking and improve servicing; and
g. improve accessibility and permeability through the site and create safer streets with priority for pedestrians and cyclists; and
h. provide high quality, well-designed areas of cycle parking.
Supporting information
The Old Press/Mill Lane site lies in the historic core of the city and currently accommodates a range of the University of Cambridge’s academic and administrative facilities. The area south of Mill Lane has now been developed for a range of faculty uses including student accommodation, college administration and teaching spaces.
The remaining undeveloped site allocated under site allocation reference Site S/C/OPM, provides a range of university related uses and the opportunity to support the area’s on-going reconfiguration to create a lively, attractive area adjoining the river; scope to enhance the public realm and the setting of heritage assets; to address existing conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians; and to reuse and redevelop buildings for a range of land uses. It is therefore important that site proposals conform with an agreed masterplan to ensure they consider the area’s over-arching objectives, including their contribution towards access public realm treatments and the inclusion of active uses between all land parcels.
Applications will be accompanied by Design and Access Statements, which will state how the proposal relates and contributes to achieving the aims of this policy aims and the wider masterplan, and the opportunities and constraints that the site presents.
Tell us what you think
We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the .
All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.