Key milestones have been passed this week in Cambridge City Council’s Civic Quarter project to reimagine Cambridge’s Guildhall, Corn Exchange and Market Square – with planning applications approved and temporary measures for cultural events and the market to continue during works, which could start on site from January 2027. 

As custodian of the three historic sites, Cambridge City Council needs to invest in their upkeep, and plans to do so in a way that will generate income and reduce operational costs for the long term, while making the spaces more accessible and environmentally sustainable.

At Planning Committee on 25 March, plans for the Guildhall and Corn Exchange were approved and those for the Market and public realm deferred.

Guildhall

The approved plans for the Guildhall are to create fit for future spaces for the council's Customer Service Centre and staff who are currently based in Mandela House on Regent Street, which will be sold to reduce the council’s accommodation costs. 

The scheme would also create new work space for commercial tenants and provide spaces for conferences, weddings and entertainment in the refurbished halls and civic spaces, along with a public café and Changing Places toilet. The council’s Chamber would be fitted out to accommodate any increase in councillors following local government reorganisation and flexible enough to be used for meetings, lectures and exhibitions as well as fully accessible to wheelchair users.

The Grade II listed building will be conserved and designed to operate at net zero carbon, using EnerPHit principles to reduce energy use and installing Air Source Heat Pumps and solar panels.

Corn Exchange

The approved plans for the Corn Exchange aim to strengthen the Corn Exchange’s long-term future by enhancing its environmental sustainability and audience experience, while protecting the historic character of the 150 year old listed building. 

Proposed works include upgrades to the main auditorium, improvements to foyers and bar areas, and changes to the surrounding public space. Improved seating, ventilation, acoustics, sound quality and lighting will improve the audience experience and better back-of-house facilities will add up to make the Corn Exchange a sought after venue to perform in. The project will also improve the building’s environmental performance, with measures which include improved insulation and roof upgrades to reduce energy use, solar panels to generate energy and energy systems to manage comfort levels. 

These changes are designed to ensure the Corn Exchange can continue to host a wide range of concerts, comedy, community events and performances for future generations.

Market Square and public realm

The planning committee decided to defer the decision on the Market Square application due to concerns raised by the county council’s highways department on the proposals for a flush, level surface around the market. The project team will work with the highways team and look again at some elements of the proposals relating to road safety, cycle parking and traffic regulation orders before bringing the application back for determination in June 2026. 

The Market Square needs significant investment to secure long-term economic and social value for the city, and the council is committed to supporting the seven-day market to continue and thrive in the long-term. The proposals for the Market include refurbishing the Market Square, Peas Hill and Guildhall Street, and a new combination of permanent stalls alongside new demountable stalls to enable the market to contract or expand according to demand from traders and provide flexible space for occasional events.

The proposals would also aim to improve accessibility – include relaying the historic setts to create a more level and accessible surface – and changing the surrounding streets to prioritise pedestrians, while protecting the historic character of the square.

Cultural events and Cambridge Market during construction

Before any work would start, a further decision on whether to proceed with the project will be taken by Cabinet and Full Council in autumn 2026. If approved, work could start on site from January 2027. Both the Market Square and Corn Exchange would be closed during construction, with the Market Square to be completed within 12 months, and the Corn Exchange to be reopened within 18 months.

To ensure market traders can continue to operate during the construction period the council has been working with traders to agree the best temporary locations to trade from. The current proposals would see stalls at nearby King’s Parade, St Mary’s Passage, Petty Cury and Sidney Street.

Cllr Rosy Moore, Cabinet Member for Climate and Environment, said: “The decision to defer the planning applications for the market and public realm gives us an opportunity to follow up with highways on some of the concerns they raised and be clearer with the Planning Committee about the detailed proposals for traffic safety.

“The location of the temporary market while the works are being completed was not relevant to the planning committee, but the plans for it are ongoing. All current traders who wish to trade during the construction period would be given stall space, with these locations being identified as most favourable in a recent trader survey. We know this will be disruptive for traders and have worked with them to develop a support package, including offering a 50% discount on stall rents for the duration of the works. Throughout this project there has been regular engagement with traders and other stakeholders, such as the surrounding businesses and colleges, the public through consultation, and a cross-party steering group of councillors.

“Ultimately the works will provide desperately-needed investment in the Market Square to ensure the market’s continued success for future generations, with improved facilities for traders and opening up the city centre by making it easier for wheelchair and pushchair users to visit.”

For the cultural, conferencing and civic events that currently take place in the Corn Exchange to continue during the construction period, the council is considering the viability of a temporary venue. At Cabinet on Tuesday 24 March, councillors approved proposals to further investigate this opportunity, with a final decision expected to be made in autumn 2026. 

Cllr Dr Antoinette Nestor, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, said: “Cambridge Corn Exchange is the largest performance venue in the East of England, vital to Cambridge’s cultural life, and the proposed enhancements will ensure it continues to thrive, with enhanced seating arrangements and facilities including more toilets and new lifts to ensure everyone can enjoy the venue.

“While we need to invest in the Corn Exchange to ensure its longevity for the future, we recognise that closure will create a two-year absence of cultural and community events which will be felt locally as well as by those who visit Cambridge for cultural experiences. We are determined to carefully consider whether it is viable for us to create a temporary venue for the two years to ensure people can still enjoy the majority of the Corn Exchange’s annual programme during the closure.”

Read more about the proposals, or sign up for project updates