Plans for a major new development site in north-west Cambridge could be unsafe and unprofitable, according to University academics.

The North West Cambridge Project seeks the largest expansion in the University of Cambridge’s history, with a 140ha site on the land bordered by Huntingdon and Madingley road identified for university accommodation. The site will contain up to 3,000 homes. The University hopes to receive planning consent by 2011 and begin work a year later.

In a recent Senate House debate, however, these plans were strongly criticised by members of the Cambridge academic community.

There were concerns expressed regarding the accessibility of the land and its potential to increase noise pollution in the Girton area.

There were also health and safety concerns. Dr John Ash argued, "Risk to reputation is a major factor. Nothing would harm the University’s reputation more than were it to suffer a serious fire or incident on the site which emergency services were unable to attend in good time."

Professor Ross Anderson argues that the development should be built with a more communal sense, rather than simply being land for the new sciences and technology departments.

"Rather than just building a thousand or two thousand apartments for postdocs to live in, let’s create a community," he said. "Let’s see if we can create a new kind of college for postdocs and postgrads; the latest financial projections show that we would be better off keeping our money in more traditional investments".

Proponents of the project argue that it could be very beneficial to the University and would exploit an empty patch of land, which is something difficult to find in Cambridge.

The University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Affairs, Professor Ian White, said that "one of the features of the successful growth of the University in recent years has been the development of new buildings both to enhance established academic activities, and make possible new avenues of study and research.

"The Green Paper sets out a vision for the development of North West Cambridge as a vibrant extension to the City that predominates as a University quarter but one that is also a mixed academic and residential community."