The Grade II listed building is set within a designated conservation area and will now provide a high-quality backpackers hostel on its first and second floors, with large common areas throughout. The building, 49 Sidney Street, has been vacant since 2017, having previously been occupied by a bank on the ground floor and offices on the upper floors.
The application was submitted by Cheffins on behalf of Mapleroo Limited, a backpacker’s hostel provider, which already successfully operates a backpacker’s hostel called Central Backpackers in Oxford which was opened in 2005. The hostel will operate under the ‘Central Backpackers’ brand and is set to be open by the second half of 2023.
Edward Clarke, Planner at Cheffins who acted as lead consultant on the application says:
“We worked closely with the case officer and Environmental Health team at Greater Cambridge Shared Planning (Cambridge City Council) to secure planning permission and Listed Building Consent which was granted on 11th August 2022. Central Backpackers, when complete, will go some way to diversify the range of short stay visitor accommodation in Cambridge as tourism levels continue to pick up post-pandemic. Cambridge currently has a shortage of options for young and solo travellers, and Central Backpackers will provide high quality yet affordable accommodation, right in the city centre.”
Greg Mulligan, Director at Mapleroo comments: “Cambridge is top of the list for many tourists visiting the U.K. therefore Central Backpackers would like to participate in welcoming visitors to the city. Our goal is to provide really comfortable sleeping accommodation as well as offering a fantastic location for people of all backgrounds to meet, be social and share their experiences in a relaxed and safe atmosphere.”
