Cambridge City Council have given planning permission for a significant development of the Cambridge Union’s Bridge Street site.

The project will involve the construction of a new entertainment space for the Cambridge Footlights and an extended cafe/bar. There will also be accommodation for Trinity College postgraduate students.

Construction is expected to start in Summer 2018, with completion of the joint build in early 2020. The Union will function as normal during this time, other than the presence of some temporary facilities whilst new ones are constructed.

The planning permission follows years of uncertainty over what form the development of the site should take, as well as how it would be funded.

The project was prompted by a 2008 survey of Union buildings. This found structural irregularities and other flaws, requiring repair work costing million of pounds.

The Union originally tried to raise the money by developing its cottages, on Round Church Street. It found that this would not yield a high enough return on investment. The society then considered leasing the land on which the cottages stand. Although several hotels were interested, the Union decided that this plan could not raise enough money and would intrude on the debating society’s activities.

In 2014, a deal was struck with Trinity College, whereby the College would lease land for £4.5 million in order to house postgraduates in a new building.

This joint development plan was accepted by Cambridge City Council in 2017. It was thrown into jeopardy, however, when the Cambridge Union was unable to pay the £7.2 million for its part of the project, despite the money from Trinity and a telephone campaign.

On 10th January 2018 the Council gave permission for a revised plan. The Union say that this is “simplified” but with “nearly all of the advantages of the previous plan”. Cambridge Union President Jonah Surkes has told Varsity that the new plan will cost the organisation around £5 million, adding that he was “confident” it will prove affordable. This figure does not include the cost of building the Trinity accommodation, which will be paid for by the College.

The project involves the removal of a 1930s facade on the Grade II-listed main Union building. Surkes downplayed any heritage concerns, telling Varsity that the 1930s additions were “poorly conceived and poorly built”. The addition of a new entrance to the building has been seen positively by the Victorian Society and Heritage England.

Surkes added that “the partnership between the Union and Trinity College represents the culmination of many years of work to find a solution that would allow the refurbishment of this unique building, replace past harms and make the building fit for the present and the future of the Union.”

Trinity College told Varsity: “Trinity has worked closely with the Union Society to advance this project collaboratively and the College is delighted planning permission has been given.”