This film is part of Free

Cambridge planning

Bustling streets filled with cars, buses and bikes - this is Cambridge 1951, the year it was granted the City Charter. Plans were also in the pipeline to address the city's growth.

Sponsored film 1951 14 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for East Anglian Film Archive

Overview

The year before saw "Cambridge Planning Proposals" published by William Holford and Myles Wright who addressed a number of issues focused on restricting industrial growth in the centre and expanding villages outside. This unedited film was made by members of the Cambridge Film Society Film Unit and would have been shown at Planning Meetings to illustrate the proposals and support the argument for change.

Whatever the discussions behind the plans, these images are an important record of a very special city, renowned the world over as a seat of learning and innovation. Behind the bus and bike bustle and chocolate box images of student life, there is also a reminder of areas of the city still in need of the attention of the modern world.