Cambridge Liberal Democrats

The square is already a popular and well-used space for residents in Clay Farm and beyond. The Clay Farm Centre, with its library and meeting rooms, is a busy and valued community hub. There are two supermarkets, a pizzeria and Chinese café, a dentist, and even a bike repair van that regularly visits. Community groups also make good use of the square for local events.

We have been campaigning for improvements around Hobson Square for many years, and it remains a key priority for us.

But despite all this, there is still clear room for improvement.

From the start, Hobson Square was meant to be the lively heart of the community — a place where people meet, shop, and spend time together. Many residents moved here expecting a wider range of local amenities, including cafés and restaurants. Yet for a long time, several units around the square remained empty, and others were only filled after years of delay.

We have consistently raised this issue with Council officers and at Council meetings, pushing for faster progress and better use of these spaces. Empty units and low footfall don’t just mean missed opportunities — they can also contribute to problems such as antisocial behaviour.

There has been some progress. The pizzeria O’Vesuvio and the Chinese Dao Café finally opened, and they are often our port of call after a long canvassing session!

However, challenges remain. The unit on Poulter Walk, next to Sainsbury’s, was originally intended for a restaurant. Many residents were shocked when a planning application was submitted by a pizza takeaway chain instead. A large number of objections were raised, and the application was initially rejected by local planning officers.

Unfortunately, the applicant appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and the decision was overturned. We supported residents’ concerns throughout, including highlighting the proximity to two schools. While conditions have been attached to limit noise and traffic, the outcome is disappointing. At this stage, it is not yet clear whether the business will go ahead — but we will continue to monitor the situation closely.

There are also still empty units on the west side of the square, next to Dobson Way. These are owned by the City Council and are currently designated for “Financial and Professional Services”. We understand that there is some interest in these premises, although we are not yet able to share further details.