The University of Cambridge is under fire over plans to lease land required to build a new busway between Cambourne and Cambridge.

This new route would lead to the destruction of an estimated 500 trees in Coton Orchard, the eighth-largest traditional orchard in the UK, with some academics accusing the University of being complicit in ecological destruction.

The councillors behind the proposed nine-mile busway argue that the plan would be ecologically positive, due to reduced congestion, promotion of public transport, and improved air quality as potential benefits.

However critics state that these alleged environmental benefits are set against the destruction of a large portion of the orchard.

Separate to Coton Orchard is a small section of land owned by the University, which would also need to be developed for the project to succeed.

Dr Diarmuid O’Brien announced that the University had decided to negotiate a 125-year lease for this land, and thereby facilitate this project.

In a discussion held on 9 July for members of the University, some academics claimed that this decision showed “disregard for stated institutional aims of environmental sustainability”.

Many academics expressed their disapproval for the project, arguing that the University should instead support an alternative route.

Sir Partha Dasgupta, a fellow at St John’s College who has produced a report on biodiversity commissioned by the UK government, slammed the “insidious logic” of the plan, and the “incremental encroachment” into nature.

The plan was developed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, of which the University is a member but cannot vote.

However, Dr A.G. Sanger of Corpus Christi argued that supporting the project in any way “runs counter to the University’s stated aims of environmental sustainability”.

Some academics countered this, saying that rather than being damaging to the University’s public image, the busway would improve commutes for staff.

Professor David Cardwell from the Department of Engineering and Fitzwilliam College argued that the busway “brings a direct transport link for University colleagues” and would be a “welcome benefit”.

The council has said that the University is “not in a position to dictate the preferred route,” and urges people to raise their concerns during the expected public inquiry.

A spokesperson for the University said: “The university has chosen to negotiate the lease of this land as a preferable alternative to losing it by means of a compulsory purchase order. The choice of preferred route is entirely a decision for the Greater Cambridge Partnership, of which the university is a non-voting member”.