Object

Representation ID: 30719

Received: 04/09/2015

Respondent: Dr John Reid

The proposals as submitted, though formulated with good intentions, will clearly have detrimental unintended consequences. The original appearance of the building will be altered, as well as incurring the loss of Rutherford's personal laboratory. They should be refused in their present form and returned for further consideration.

The Cavendish Laboratory has iconic status for science and society at large. In a way it is unfortunate for the University and the City that the Cavendish has this iconic status, for with it comes the obligation to consult very widely on proposed changes both internal and external before plans are submitted. This has clearly not been done. The University feels it could do more with the Cavendish Laboratory. Excellent. One example they should study is the sympathetic restoration and re-purposing of their historic laboratories by the University of Coimbra, celebrating 750 years of history. More sympathetic development of the Cavendish than the submitted plans is possible and should be investigated urgently before the tabled, well-meaning but detrimental, proposals are acted on.