Category: EF Language School

I was rather hoping this blog had finished with the EF Language School development, but over the last few weeks, there’s been wholesale destruction of the greenery around the site.

Balfour Beatty project manager David Callow tells me that the work is scheduled to be completed on 26 August.

The developers have commenced a charm offensive by delivering a “Residents Newsletter” to neighbouring properties, explaining what they’re doing and how long it’s going to take to complete.

In which we find that the proposal for the revised EF Language School development is scheduled to go before the council’s South Area Committee on Thursday 9 May.

In which the revised (April 2013) proposals for the development of the EF Language School on Hills Road become available at the City Council Planning Website.

In which the EF Language School returns with a new set of plans for developing its Hills Road site, revealed to the public at an exhibition evening on 14 March.

There is to be a public exhibition of the proposals at the language school on Thursday 14th March, from 7-9pm. It would probably be in the interests of all local residents to attend.

In which Cambridge City Council does the right thing for the residents, the City and its environment.

In which the architects argue with the many points made by the Council Planning Officer when recommending that the application is withdrawn.

In which Cambridge Past, Present & Future objects to the EF Language School development with reference to a number of points in the Cambridge Local Plan.

In which Councillor Sue Birtles has a letter about the proposed EF Language School development published in the Cambridge News.

In which Senior Planning Officer Sophie Pain says: “the proposal cannot be supported because of a number of concerns”.

In which the Cambridge City Council Urban Design and Conservation Team objects to the development in a series of well-argued points.

In which the City Council’s Design & Conservation Panel describes the EF Language School development as “a confident and assertive introduction to the streetscene”.

In which we find that 221 Hills Road has a fascinating history, dating back to its construction in 1887 as a working-class residential apprentice school for upmarket building trades.

In which the council receives a strongly-worded objection to the demolition of the EF Language School building from The Victorian Society.

In which we get some local media coverage of the council Development Control Forum, held on 5 July.

In which we learn the details of the Development Control Forum (“DCF”) for the proposed EF Language School development, including how to attend.

In which we get even longer to make our thoughts known, which is good, seeing as so many people are only just now finding out about the proposal.

In which those with a professional requirement to comment on the EF Language School development, and other interested organisations, get their say.

In which it’s confirmed that there’s support for a Development Control Forum (update: it’s happening on 4 July)

In which we get a little longer to comment on the proposed EF Language School development, and that’s most welcome.

In which the petition for the Development Control Forum is submitted, support is offered by local councillors, and more objections are published on the Council website.

In which neighbours start to make their objections heard, in the short time available to them.

In which we make a first move on expressing our thoughts on the proposed EF Language School development.

In which we discover that the building will have “a sense of movement on the facades akin to looking through the branches of trees”.

In which we discover that St John’s Church on Hills Road and residents of Lady Jane Court on Cavendish Avenue were shown early plans some months ago.

In which we discover that the EF Language School on Hills Road is to be replaced with a huge new building. Or that’s the plan.