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Sidgwick Site

 

The Sidgwick site sits within the West Cambridge Conservation Area, which has an effect on the protection of many of the buildings on the site, as well as the trees. The Casson Conder buildings of the original 1960s masterplan hold a Grade II listing, as does the building for the History Faculty (Stirling building) and many of the other buildings have been noted as “Positive Buildings” within the West Cambridge Conservation Area Assessment as they are seen to contribute to the quality of the Conservation Area.

 

Allies & Morrison Architects Conservation Map

 

A Conservation study was undertaken by Allies and Morrison in 2000 as groundwork for the preparation of their original masterplan in order to understand the relative significance of the existing buildings and their surrounding landscape. It sought to place the development of the site in a historical context in order to set out what elements are significant and to derive appropriate policies that would retain and enhance them. The study also set out a fundamental understanding of the Casson Conder Masterplan vision, pinpointed the shortcomings of the site and set the context for improvements.

The recent masterplan appraisal by Allies and Morrison builds on the character of the area, respecting the approach set out in the original Casson Conder Masterplan. A Heritage Strategy aims to derive policies for future growth that will ensure the retention of significant aspects of the Sidgwick site whilst enabling its current expansion. These include:

  • enhance the setting of the listed and positive buildings and landscape within the Conservation Area
  • enhance the Raised Faculty Building and its courtyard as the heart of the site
  • mitigate the suggested loss of the last villa on West Road, but enhance the setting of the 'positive' Concert Hall.