Plans to turn former Labour Club into student flats

Plans have been made to convert an historic former Labour Club damaged by fire into 60 student flats.

The vacant Romsey Labour Club, off Mill Road in Cambridge, already has planning permission for 43 student units, but papers from the developer state its new application "would not result in any significant, noticeable increase in footprint or bulk".

The application contains a letter in support from the bursar of Homerton College to a representative of GCR Private Equity.

The college said the development would provide accommodation that is "well-suited to the needs of our postgraduate community and would help to alleviate pressure on the wider local housing market".

The Labour club was built between 1925 and 1928 as a meeting house and social centre for trade unions, co-operative societies and local people.

It was a club until 2014 and was then used by a charity shop and sports clubs.

In 2024 the building had a significant blaze, which the fire service believed was deliberately started.

The planning statement said the new development would retain its historic frontage.

In its letter in support, Homerton said it had 675 postgraduate students, but "due to capacity constraints and our obligation to prioritise undergraduate accommodation, the majority of our postgraduate students must seek housing in the private rental market".

A spokesperson for GCR Private Equity, said: "Our plans seek to bring it back into active use through the delivery of high-quality student accommodation, which will help meet the growing demand for housing in Cambridge and reduce pressure on the wider private rental market.

"We believe the scheme represents a positive opportunity to regenerate the building and contribute to the local community."

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