35 St Albans Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 2HF

1. 1.The proposed change of use would create two bedrooms (Bedroom No.3 and No.4) that would fall below the nationally described space standard for a room of the size. The bedrooms would measure approximately 6.5sqm whereas a 7.5sqm size room is required for a bedroom of this size. As such, the proposal fails to provide an acceptable living environment for the future occupants of these bedrooms and the development would be contrary to Policy DP3 (5) of the National Planning Policy Framework (2026) and Policies 48, 50, and 56 of the Cambridge Local Plan (2018).
2. 2.By virtue of the single windows serving Bedroom 3 and 4, the proposal would create a dark and uninviting living space and would result in a substandard living environment for future occupiers. The rooms would be served by a single aspect north facing window, providing limited amounts of natural light. No evidence has been provided to demonstrate adequate light levels for both Bedroom 3 and 4. By failing to be of high-quality design which creates a suitable standard of amenity for future occupiers, the proposal would be contrary to Policy 48 and 56 of the Cambridge Local Plan (2018).
3. 3.Bedrooms 1 and 2 of the HMO would have direct access onto the amenity space via French doors. Concerns are raised that the movement of people associated with the HMO accessing the cycle store is within approximately 2.1m of the French doors which would be detrimental to the privacy of the occupants of the bedrooms. Obscure glazing this room would not provide occupants with satisfactory living accommodation. As such the proposed development would result in a significant adverse impact upon the residential amenity of occupants of Bedroom 1 and 2, contrary to Policies 35, 48, and 56 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018.
4. 4.The proposed cycle parking would be less accessible than car parking space and fails to provide sufficiently convenient and usable cycle parking suitable for the HMO and would be in conflict with Policy 82 and the standards set out in Appendix L of Paragraph 24 of the Cambridge City Local Plan 2018 and contrary to Policies TR2 (3(d)) and TR4 (1(b)) of the National Planning Policy Framework (2026).

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

CB4 2HF

Application type

Full Application

Scale / size

Small

District

Cambridge City Council

Date validated

23 June 2026

Last date for comments

15 July 2026

Target decision date

18 August 2026

Agent

Cameron Bosque Brookes Architects Limited

Architect profile

CAMERON BOSQUE BROOKES ARCHITECTS LIMITED

Agent address

17A Market Hill St. Ives PE27 5AL

Statutory period

56 days

Documents

18