Reports

Report of the Council on the demolition of derelict buildings on the North West Cambridge Estate

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

1. The buildings at Howe Farm are made up of a combination of residential and office buildings and farm sheds. Planning permission for demolition of all buildings on the site was given as part of the outline application for North West Cambridge in 2013 (see the 2011 Report, Reporter, 6224, 2010–11, p. 760). The residential buildings (1–3 Howe Farm Close and flats 1–2 Howe Farm Close) were previously rented out by the University but have been unoccupied since 2020. The remaining office and farm buildings (Howe Farm Office, Bulk Corn Shed and Cattle Yard Shed) have been unused since the earlier demolition of other farm buildings at Howe Farm.

2. The buildings are in a state of disrepair. They have had steel security shuttering installed, yet there have been several incidents of intrusion and anti-social behaviour, with evidence that a vehicle has been used to remove the shuttering to gain access to one of the buildings.

3. The cost of demolition is estimated at £333k and will be met from the Phase 1 North West Cambridge development project reserve.

4. Whilst preparing this Report, it has become apparent that some farm buildings at Howe Farm were previously demolished in accordance with the approved demolition plan but without building-specific approval from the University. Retrospective approval is therefore being sought for their demolition, the costs of which were met as part of the Phase 1 development. The buildings shown in black in the location plan below (p. 599) are all the buildings at Howe Farm that were marked for demolition in the 2011 Report.

5.The Council recommends:

I.That approval be given for the demolition of the buildings at Howe Farm as described in this Report, including retrospective approval for farm buildings previously demolished.

II.That the Director of Estates be authorised to accept a tender for the demolition and associated works in due course.

21 May 2024

Location plan: Howe Farm buildings