Cambridge Celebrates Fifty Years Of City Centre Conservation Area

A public event at The Guildhall is marking the 50th anniversary of Cambridge’s historic city centre conservation area.

Cambridge City Council, the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and Cambridge Past, Present and Future are inviting the public to find out more about the conservation area which was first created in 1969, how the city centre has changed since then and possibilities for the future at an event taking place today (Wednesday 27th February)

The event, which will be free to attend from 1pm-5pm with the option to stay for part or all of it, will feature stalls, artwork and displays including from the Cambridgeshire Collection of local historical artefacts, from artists, local architects, students and other organisations.

There will be also be talks from Quinton Carroll, County Archaeologist and John Neale, Regional Director of Historic England about recent developments in the conservation area and from Steven Bee of the Historic Towns and Villages Forum.

The event will be followed by an evening event for invitees featuring further talks and presentations, at which the winning building of a poll to discover Cambridge city centre’s favourite new, refurbished, extended or conserved building of the last half century will be announced.

Nominations were invited for the best buildings in central Cambridge last December with projects since 1969 eligible.

The most popular nominations have been shortlisted and representatives from the council and Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry will choose an overall winner.