Cricket players, alongside the Protect Fenner’s Action Group (PFAG), have raised concerns about the revised development plans for the Hughes Hall estate.

Hughes originally acquired two pieces of land from the University in 2024, at a reported cost of £3 million. These pieces of land do not include the cricket ground.

The initial development plans included a new building for accommodation and teaching, to be built on the Fenner’s cricket ground. In August 2024, PFAG launched a petition against the plans, which garnered nearly 5000 signatures.

In response to residents’ and cricketers’ concerns, Hughes has recently revised its development plans. According to the College’s website, most of the development will now be located on brownfield land, which has previously been developed on. The College says this will reduce “the building footprints within protected open space”.

The College is also seeking to refurbish Covent Garden Hall, which will involve “relocating the Fenner’s Maintenance Store adjacent to the Indoor Cricket School”. It says this will take place “in conjunction with the University Sports Service and the Cambridge University Cricket and Athletics Club”.

Fenner’s was designated a Protected Open Space in 2018, as part of the Cambridge Local Plan. Building on this class of land is strictly limited, with certain exceptions such as for “educational need”.

Laurie Bristow, President of Hughes Hall, said: “We are committed to working closely with Cambridge University Cricket and Athletic Club, the University of Cambridge, the local community and University Sports Service to ensure the development benefits both the College and the wider area.

"This project will ensure that Fenner’s remains the proud home of cricket in Cambridge, safeguarding the playing and spectating of sport at Fenner’s for future generations.”

One of the College’s aims is to improve its accommodation provisions. According to a webpage dedicated to information about the development, only 34% of Hughes students are able to be accommodated on site, with the remainder renting privately in nearby accommodation.

The new development seeks to increase this proportion to 50%. The plans include building a new accommodation block at the end of Mortimer Road, as well as a new, permanent, porters’ lodge.

In a letter sent to nearby residents on 16 January, seen by Varsity, the College said it will “ensure that access to cricket at Fenner’s is retained, recognising its importance to the University and the city,” and invited local residents to attend a drop-in session at Hughes, where members of the project would explain the plans further.

Concerns are once again being raised regarding the plans. Anthony Hyde, the secretary of Cambridge University Cricket Club (CUCC), said: “I think that the proposals described on the Hughes Hall website just show a preliminary development, and not the full extent of the proposed Hughes Hall expansion of the land purchased.”

On the development website, the College states: “As the land purchased is not part of the cricket field there will be no impact on the playing of sport at Fenner’s and the College has a contractual obligation to maintain a no-build zone in accordance with the condition that development cannot in any way impact the play of cricket at Fenner’s.”

Hughes continued: “The project provides an opportunity through the development of a permanent Porters’ Lodge to ensure smooth access to Fenner’s – balancing its open character with the need to maintain safety and security across the cricket ground, wider College estate and surrounding neighbourhood.”

Varsity reported last year that Fenner’s cricket ground has seen a decline in the number of home games played there over the last few years. Players have complained that the condition of the pitch has deteriorated, and that they regularly struggle to access the cricket ground for training and matches, as the gates at the Mortimer Road entrance are frequently closed.

Simon Callaghan, a player for CUCC, said: “We must make sure the proposed developments, on and around Fenner’s do not happen. Open space is critical to both the city’s and the university’s culture and well-being.”

The development project is being led by Feilden Fowles, an architectural firm responsible for the new dining hall at Homerton College, as well as renovations at several Oxford colleges.

The dedicated website provides a provisional timeline for the development. Further drop-ins, covering specific topics such as biodiversity, will be held in February and March, before a planning application for the renovation of Covent Garden Hall is submitted in March. Planning permission for the remainder of the works will be sought in the summer.

John Phelps, a chairperson of Cambridge St Giles Cricket Club, said: “Fenner’s is potentially a fantastic asset for Cambridge and the community in general. The cricket community remains concerned about the restrictions to access and use of the ground as these developments progress.”