To the President, Fellows and Students of Queens' College Cambridge

Queens' College, Cambridge is proposing to build further student accommodation in the garden of Owlstone Croft, a college residence for over 100 students. The new buildings would be for a further 60 postgraduate students, and the size and scale of the blocks would have a very serious impact on Paradise Nature Reserve.

Paradise is a much-loved green space, part of the 'green corridor' that runs along the Cam River from Cambridge to Grantchester. It is not large but very accessible and popular, It is visited every day by hundreds of people from across the city, including schools, students, walkers, bird-watchers, researchers and families.

Apart from the harm that would be caused to the biodiversity in the fragile ecosystem here by light and noise disturbance, the buildings would be on the boundary next to the wooden boardwalk, which was installed by the City Council in order to give access for people with disabilities. The visual intrusion of large buildings dominating this narrow part of the Reserve would significantly diminish the ability to enjoy the natural environment here.

These plans are counter to the commitment set out in the College's own Environmental Policy & Plan, 'To act decisively on the climate emergency, by mitigating our contribution to the climate emergency and crisis in biodiversity....To manage all activities, buildings and estates to promote environmental sustainability, to conserve and enhance natural resources and to reduce environmental pollution'.

We ask you to act in accordance with these policies and goals and withdraw this environmentally damaging planning application.