Mill Road, Cambridge

At Mill Road, Cambridge, the Co-op owned a former car showroom with a site area of 1.48 acres. The local plan safeguarded the site for residential use including 40% affordable housing. The site was marketed on that basis and 12 credible offers received. McClaren Construction offered £5.4m on a conditional basis for a student accommodation scheme and conditional contracts were exchanged with a 21 month longstop date. The application was refused at first instance as a wholly student accommodation scheme didn’t accord with policy. However, on appeal it was argued that such a scheme would free up accommodation in the private rented sector and the scheme was allowed.