Newnham road, Clare College

Beacon was appointed by Clare College in 2008 as the planning and heritage consultants to secure permission for new post-graduate student accommodation on Newnham Road in Cambridge's Central Conservation Area. Following the refusal of the previous proposals, the scheme was amended to address the concerns of the Planning Committee.

Working with award winning architects Cottrell and Vermeulen, Beacon provided specialist heritage advice on the works to the retained Victorian terrace on the site and on the design of the new garden building in the site. The site is in one of Cambridge's most desirable residential areas and an awareness of the sensitivity and conservation importance of the whole setting was crucial to the success of the scheme.

The scheme was commended and a resolution to grant planning permission (subject to completion of the S106 agreement) was approved unanimously by Cambridge City Council in January 2011. The approved scheme will see existing poor quality buildings demolished and replaced by a new terraced garden building to the rear of the site and an extension to the Victorian terrace which fronts Newnham Road. 32 graduate student rooms and flats will be accommodated in the refurbished and new buildings on the site which is on the corner of the historic Fen Causeway.

Work on the site is due to commence in September 2011 with the rooms scheduled for occupation in July 2013.