Until the early 21st century, crown court hearings were held in the Cambridge Guildhall.

[1] After the judicial facilities in the guildhall were deemed to be inadequate, the Lord Chancellor's Department decided to commission a new courthouse: the site chosen had originally accommodated a row of shops as well as a public house known as the "Wheelwright's Arms", which closed in 1960,[2] and later accommodated Mackay's Garden Centre.

[4] It was designed by Austin-Smith:Lord in the modern style,[5][6] built by Mowlem and was opened on 7 June 2004.

[7] It was commissioned as a Tier 1 court centre, used for trial of serious offences including murder, with three courtrooms.

[1] The design involved a drum-shaped structure built in rusticated brick.