An empty Cambridge pub with links to the formation of rock band Pink Floyd looks likely to reopen after plans for development around it were approved by councillors.
Cambridge City Council’s planning committee unanimously approved proposals by Socius and Railpen to keep the pub and build an office scheme called Botanic Place around it, at its November 1 meeting.
Original Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett is said to have met future guitarist David Gilmour there in the 1950s but it closed in October 2021.
A planning application to demolish the pub was initially approved by the city council in 2007 as part of a development of 156 homes, as well as offices and shops.
A later plan by Pace Investments to keep the pub along with two new office buildings was refused by the city council in 2021 but allowed on appeal.
The new Socius/Railpen’s revised scheme includes reducing the number of car parking spaces from 200 to 72 and adding more office space.
Doug Higgins, development director for Socius, told the meeting: “The pub on-site is outside the scope of this application as we are not proposing any changes to the current consent, which will see it retained and brought back to life, capturing everything that made it a well-loved pub, but within a building that meets modern regulations.
“We are obligated to open the pub ahead of the office buildings and we will ensure that pints are being poured as early as possible once it is safe to do so.”
© Eastern Echo (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).
Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.
