2.2.27 Listed buildings

Support

Representation ID: 31094

Received: 22/07/2016

Respondent: Mr Mark Boysen

Library must be retained and should be converted so that it is available for all local residents / community groups to use on an equal footing.

Object

Representation ID: 31203

Received: 22/07/2016

Respondent: Cambridge GRT Solidarity Network

The draft SPD seeks to retain the former Library, a Grade II listed building, without consideration to the issues and challenges relating to the now Bharat Bhavan.

Its condition and future has been a concern since the Library closed. There have been unauthorised internal alterations and progressive deterioration of key architectural details. The building was independently noted as being "at risk", in the Mill Road Conservation Area Appraisal(p.55), and continued to deteriorate since then.

There is no evidence of efforts to repair the former Library which now requires potentially expensive specialist manufacture and repair works. Given this, the City Council's claim in a Local Plan hearing that the building is no longer at risk was untenable to the point of absurdity.

Retention of the listed building will depend not only on resourcing the major repairs, but also on providing a viable long-term beneficial use. These in turn depend on achieving;
(a) secondary means of escape; and
(b) adequate external functional space for servicing etc.

The draft SPD does not recognise the challenges, let alone offer solutions. Notably, the draft access layout impinges even more on the limited space adjoining the listed building. The consequence is that the difficult situation will be made worse.