Plans for new flats in Cambridge have gone ahead, despite concerns that they do not provide enough space for a fruitful sex life.

Councillor Naomi Bennett raised concerns over plans to build new single-bed flats in Cambridge, claiming that tenants don’t want to rent a flat without a double bed as this would involve admitting “their sexual life is completely without prospect”.

The plan to build a new floor above an existing block of flats in Edeva Court, Wulfstan Way was proposed by Avon Ground Rents Ltd. Two of the one-bedroom flats put forward would only have room for a single bed. However, the proposed flats met the minimum space requirements according to planning officers.

Concerns that the new homes would not have enough space for the people inhabiting them led the City Council to initially refuse permission for the extension of the building. However, this decision was reversed after an appeal and planning permission was given.

In a planning committee meeting this week (07/08) a representative of the developer claimed the smaller flats suited what was needed in the local market. Councillor Bennett raised concerns that two of the one-bedroom flats only had space for a single bed.

“I think my only concern is whether these properties are actually not going to be a white elephant. Even in rental properties for single people, the demand is for a double bedroom, nobody wants to sort of admit that their social and sexual life is completely without prospect, I’m not sure that is a planning matter,” stated Bennett.

Bennett also claimed that building a new floor on top of an existing block of flats would be “abhorrent,” but recognised that it was allowed under planning laws.

Despite appreciating that the flats met the minimum space requirements, Councillor Martin Smart agreed that residents were “all being squeezed in”. However, neither party could see much to protest in terms of planning affairs.

The decision on the application was unanimously approved by the planning committee when put to a vote.