Skip to main contentCambridge University Reporter

No 6549

Thursday 30 May 2019

Vol cxlix No 31

pp. 615–646

Reports

First-stage Report of the Council on the refurbishment of the Royal Cambridge Hotel

The Council begs leave to report to the University as follows:

1. In this Report the Council is seeking approval in principle for the refurbishment and regeneration of the Royal Cambridge Hotel, a University-owned investment property at 7–12 Scroope Terrace, Trumpington Road. The project is being developed as an income-generating scheme capable of delivering returns that will qualify it for funding from the bond proceeds.

2. The Royal Cambridge Hotel is currently run as a 3-star hotel by a hotel operator under a management contract, and the building is in need of updating. The Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS) has identified the ability to provide good quality, flexible hotel accommodation in Cambridge as an important element in supporting its research and collaboration with businesses and other organizations. CJBS wish to upgrade and operate the hotel to provide a 4-star establishment, working with an experienced hotel operator under a management contract. The refurbished hotel would provide accommodation and service to those collaborating with CJBS and other University institutions as well as other clients.

3. It is anticipated that the project to refurbish the hotel will be funded from the proceeds of the bonds issued in accordance with Special Ordinance A (viii) (as approved by Grace 1 of 5 December 2018). The operation of the management contract will be administered by an operating company under the control of CJBS. The operating company will ensure that the terms of the management contract are adhered to and will monitor the performance of the operator against key performance indicators.

4. The refurbished hotel will provide 80 rooms; 58 in the original building and re-configured roof-space and another 22 in two new extensions. In addition there will be a small gym, bar and dining facilities. There will be 21 car parking spaces with two slow electric charging points. The original listed terrace comprising of six townhouses will be refurbished to BREEAM excellent standards.

5. The Finance Committee, at its meeting on 1 May 2019, received information on the concept case to RIBA Stage 2 and approved the project in principle. The Committee expects to receive a full business case for the project for approval in Easter Term 2020. If that business case and the use of the bond proceeds are approved, a Second-stage Report giving final details of the project will be published.

6. Drawings of the proposed scheme are displayed for the information of the University in the Schools Arcade and are reproduced online at https://www.prao.admin.cam.ac.uk/capital-planning/plans-and-drawings. A location plan is shown below.

7.The Council recommends:

 I.That approval in principle be given for the refurbishment of the Royal Cambridge Hotel as described in this Report.

II.That the Director of Estate Strategy be authorized to apply for detailed planning approval in due course.

 

30 May 2019

Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor

Nicholas Gay

Jeremy Morris

Sam Ainsworth

David Greenaway

Richard Penty

R. Charles

Nicholas Holmes

Sara Weller

Stephen J. Cowley

Fiona Karet

Mark Wormald

Sharon Flood

Christopher Kelly

Jocelyn Wyburd

Anthony Freeling

Mark Lewisohn

Location plan: Royal Cambridge Hotel