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Plans have been approved by Councillors to build a new boathouse on the Great Ouse in Ely for Cambridge University Boat Club, Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club and Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club, despite opposition from locals and groups including the Wildlife Trust and the RSPB.

The multi-million pound building spans 12 acres, and is designed to rival Oxford’s facilities in light of Cambridge’s current situation having been described as “dire” by a spokesman for Cambridge University Boat Club.  CUBC’s Richard Pryce-Jones told Varsity that the plans are essential in order to level the playing field, and particularly given the recent decision to move the women’s boat race from Henley to Tideway in 2015, “the most important single development in the history of the boat race”.

The decision has proved to be controversial, however, in the midst of claims that the site is next to an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) area of high ecological value, and that the new boathouse could cause breeding problems for local wildlife.  The initial application received more than 200 responses to the East Cambridgeshire District Council, in addition to 75 per cent of locals surveyed by the Council in April who voiced their opposition.

Despite assurances from planning officers that “stringent conditions to protect wildlife” would be met and further ecological research performed to guard against significant environmental harm, some remain unconvinced.  Cambridge University academic and Ely Wildspace member Andrew Balmford reportedly told the committee: “The proposed mitigation measures are far from adequate.  All the relevant organisations believe there will be significant harm to the ecology of the site.”

Rebuffing criticisms, planning officers claim that the site in fact holds low ecological value, as it has been used as a site by the Environment Agency to dump and spread silt from the bottom of the river for the last 200 years.  Additionally, the neighbouring SSSI area is in fact across the river, not next door as implied by the opposition.

Hopes for the facility’s impact on Ely’s regeneration attempts have also been expressed.  Councillor Mike Rouse said: “I don’t want this opportunity to be passed by ... I welcome the initiative”.

CUBC spokesman Richard Pryce-Jones echoed these sentiments: “By offering the local rowing club the opportunity to join the University Clubs on the site, the scheme is actively contributing to the local community sport, exercise and recreation amenity. The clubs are in no doubt that the boathouse will be a fitting recognition of the close mutual support that has existed between the City of Ely and Cambridge University rowing for more than a century and a half.”