For over 30 years, the family-owned SPAR Barnwell Road has served our community faithfully. Now, with the proposed redevelopment of East Barnwell by the Cambridge City Council and Hill Group (together forming the Cambridge Investment Partnership), this vital lifeline is under threat. Without temporary premises during construction and a guarantee of new premises afterwards, we and our beloved shop stands to lose everything!

The impact extends beyond just one business. The entire community will be left without local shops and services whilst Site 2 is redeveloped which could take 1.5yrs + period. This is not merely an inconvenience; it's a potential crisis for those who rely on these services daily.

East Barnwell deserves better. We deserve continuity of service provision throughout this redevelopment process. We urge the council to reconsider their plans in a way that protects existing businesses like SPAR Barnwell Road while still allowing for growth and improvement in our area.

In addition, rethink their design and plans to ensure those still living in the area do not suffer adversely, as many will be impacted by being heavily overlooked by 4 and 5 storey flats - creating a 'concrete jungle' of the area. Not to mention the addition of more issues with parking by reducing overall parking capacity and the removal of the lay-by/parking outside the shops. Parking issues will further overspill into neighbouring roads so the impact reaches further than the immediate site.

We are not against development – we understand its necessity in ensuring a vibrant future for East Barnwell – but it must not come at the expense of those who have served this community tirelessly over decades and where people call home - the most important place for all of us.

Let us stand together as a community and demand that our voices be heard by those making decisions that affect us all so deeply! SIGN THIS PETITION TODAY to show your support for preserving local shops during East Barnwell’s redevelopment process and call upon the Cambridge Investment Partnership to come up with a more sympathetic design.

We thank you for supporting our campaign!

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To review the plans and/or to make a formal objection to the plans (should you also wish to), they can be accessed here or can be found on the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning application website under the reference 23/04687/FUL. Objections can be added directly onto the planning portal by registering to add comments - make sure you HAVE YOUR SAY! You do not have to have any expert experience to make an objection - just explain what you are objecting to and why or what you believe would be a better alternative to the plans.

Or written comments (quoting reference 23/04687/FUL) can be posted to South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6EA

Thank you!