We (Phillips Planning Services Ltd) write on behalf of clients promoting land at Hazlewell Court, Bar Road, Lolworth (Site URN 676). The site is being promoted for the development of a new concept hotel with multi-function suites to support flexible working during the week, while accommodating families at the weekends. The hotel will be supported by an Electric Vehicle Charging Hub, and other supporting ancillary welfare services such as restaurant, drive-thru hot-food and convenience goods provision. The site also offers the potential for expansion of the existing businesses at Hazlewell Court. The site is highly accessible and benefits from a footbridge and cycleway across the A14 into Bar Hill.

In our opinion, the vision and aims fail to reflect the importance of tourism and the role it plays within Greater Cambridge, its economy and local employment. The vision and aims need to do more towards highlighting the significance of tourism, meeting the demand for visitor accommodation (both for tourism and employment) and how such developments can support other aspects of a broad economic strategy, adapting to flexible working in the post-COVID era.

Junction 25 of the A14 (at Bar Hill) is an important point outside the City of Cambridge, that can deliver new employment opportunities in a strategic location benefiting from unrivalled access to the highway network, at the entrance to the new settlement of Northstowe and serving the wider hinterland to the north and west of the city. Our clients support the proposals at Slate Hall Farm, Bar Hill (Site URN 236), and believe there to be a synergy between the two proposals, with our client's site being able to offer support to the economic objectives of the neighbouring site.

We would therefore encourage the Council to consider the importance of visitor accommodation in the wider planning strategy, and how this can support business development going forward.