Plans to turn vandalised pavilion into family cafe

A vandalised pavilion said to be in a "very poor state of repair" could be turned into a new family-friendly cafe.

Plans have been submitted to refurbish and extend the pavilion in Darwin Green, Cambridge, into a so-called "Kinder Café".

This is a concept of a cafe where children can come with their parents and have a space to play.

The pavilion was last used, along with the former sports pitches, by colleges from the University of Cambridge.

Planning documents submitted to Cambridge City Council said the building had been empty since 2006 and had "fallen into a very poor state of repair" due to vandalism.

The building sits in the corner of the Darwin Green development, backing onto Woodlark Road.

Outline permission for the Darwin Green development was granted in 2013 for up to 1,593 homes, with outline permission for a further 1,000 approved last year.

The plans said the applicants wanted to create a "venue space for local families" and a place "outside the home for them to have fun, grow and thrive".

The plans also suggest that rooms on the first floor of the building could be used for children's parties, events and group uses, such as yoga and Pilates sessions.

The documents said: "The proposals will bring a long vacant and vandalised building back into a sustainable use that will form an integral asset of the Darwin Green development site."

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