Over the summer we asked how we could improve the Corn Exchange, Guildhall, Market Square and surrounding public spaces as part of our ‘civic quarter’ project.

These historic sites, including the buildings, need investment to preserve them. So while we are investing to ensure their longevity, we want to make sure that at the same time we are making any improvements needed to make them fit for a 21st century society. We expect the investment to save us money in the long term, by reducing running costs and creating opportunities for additional income.

The aims for the new civic quarter area are to:

• be a focal point in the centre of Cambridge that local people can be proud of and which lives up to the city’s reputation as a centre of excellence and cultural significance
• attract residents and visitors to spend more time in the Market Square, Corn Exchange, and city centre shops, restaurants and bars
• build on the agreed vision for the Market Square to make it a more accessible, attractive, welcoming, exciting and safe place to visit, shop and gather
• make the Corn Exchange a more modern and appealing venue with updated facilities, while exploring new commercial opportunities and reducing operational costs
• conserve the Grade II listed Guildhall as a net zero carbon building to save running costs, with a welcoming environment for the public, and fit-for-future working spaces for council uses; while creating new spaces for commercial occupiers in order to increase the council’s income to support the delivery of frontline council services

Engagement programme

From 17 June to 28 July, we invited people to take a short survey to tell us what should happen to these public buildings and spaces. We received over 900 responses from local people, businesses, market traders, and community organisations. People also took part in themed workshops and attended pop-up events across the city.

Thank you to everyone who took part.

Next steps for the project

• 9 October: The outcomes from the survey and engagement will be presented at the next meeting of the Cambridge Civic Quarter Liaison Group, at 4.30pm, in person in the Council Chamber at the Guildhall. A report summarising the outcomes will also be published online. 
• 11 November: A report that sets out the concept design proposals for the Corn Exchange, Guildhall, Market Square and surrounding public spaces will be published ahead of the council’s Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee in November. 
• We will put in place a further meeting of the Civic Quarter Liaison Group before the committee meeting on the 21 November, which will walk the group through the concept design proposals.
• 21 November: The proposals will be discussed by councillors at the public Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting before a decision is made about whether to take these proposals forward. If approved, further development work would progress in 2025, beyond the concept design stage, with detailed design work and further community engagement.