The planned expansion at Cambridge Sports Centre has been called “invaluable” Lauren Tho 31 / Wikimedia Commons https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed. en
The University of Cambridge could end up paying £600,000 to the council if it doesn’t finish building a swimming pool by June 2024.
This developer fee will be imposed by the City and District councils if the University fails to add the pool to its Sports Centre as promised.
When developing North-West Cambridge’s Eddington area, the University agreed to build a pool within seven years after people first moved into homes there.
Councillor Katie Thornborrow told Varsity that this seven-year deadline comes around in June 2024.
According to a document on Sports and Public Access to West Cambridge: “In the event that by the date seven years from the First Dwelling Occupation Date the West Cambridge Swimming Pool is not constructed, completed and open and ready for use the University shall pay the City Council the Swimming Facilities Fallback Payment”.
Councillor Thornborrow explained to Varsity that this payment is estimated at £606,847 total: “Based on the latest BCIS indexation figures those amounts will be circa £388,382 to the City Council, and £218,465 to SCDC [South Cambridgeshire District Council].”
At a Cambridge City Council planning and transport scrutiny meeting last Tuesday (16/01), Antony Carpen from the public asked for an update on “where the council is [regarding the] University of Cambridge’s long overdue swimming pool plans in West Cambridge”.
Councillor Katie Thornburrow said it was part of an older application and mentioned they are currently discussing with the University “warning them that there is a seven year time limit on that and the implications of that we need to go through with them”.
Though some colleges have private pools, there isn’t one owned by the University itself. Most students rely on Parkside Pool if they want indoor swimming access-a bit of a trek for those based in West Cambridge.
Ellie Mason, Junior President of Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club (CUSWPC), told Varsity a “university swimming pool would be invaluable to CUSWPC” because “the lack of a university pool limits our financial accessibility along with our training hours”.
She added it costs Blues swimmers about “£600 per academic year” due mainly to pool rental fees, while Oxford swimmers pay just £90 annually.
The student campaign back in 2009 for building what became today’s Sports Centre clearly highlighted how much they needed a swimming pool.
“The absolute necessity of a University sports centre has not diminished over the years. Instead, it continues to grow. It grows each year with the rising cost of pool hire, now so great that the Swimming and Water Polo Club cannot afford a coach,” campaigners said then.
The proposed pool wasn’t just meant for students but also intended as a facility for local residents in Cambridge.
Last April former Councillor Sam Davies spoke out about how badly West Cambridge needs this new pool.
She said: “The hope was that the University would provide this through a S106 commitment, as part of its West Cambridge development; but it appears the University is in no hurry to deliver this. Yet the need still exists.”
A spokesperson from Cambridge told Varsity: “The University does not currently have planning permission for a new pool, and if and when we receive planning permission we will need to take into account an ongoing council review of swimming pool demand and future provision in the wider area.”
“Meanwhile, the University Sports Centre at West Cambridge plus nearby facilities on Wilberforce Road offer various sport and fitness activities. The refurbished gym equipment and extra spaces including junior short tennis and pickleball are used by groups, athletes, students, staff and community members alike-with the Sports Centre open every day,” they added.
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