FAQs

A lake and education buildings in Northstowe

  • Northstowe is one of the largest developments under construction in the UK, so there are a variety of organisations responsible for different aspects.

    Phase one, featuring approximately 1,500 homes and a primary school, is led by L&Q (formerly Gallagher Estates) as Master Developer. Read more here: https://www.lqestates.co.uk/development/northstowe-development-cambridge

    Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, is responsible for phases two and three as Master Developer. These phases encompass the remaining 8,500 homes and all remaining facilities. Read more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-england

    Both L&Q and Homes England collaborate with private sector housebuilders, contractors, other developers, and public sector bodies, such as Keepmoat Homes, Kier, and South Cambridgeshire District Council, who build the homes, community buildings, facilities, roads, and cycleways.

    South Cambridgeshire District Council is responsible for constructing various community buildings such as sports pavilions, the community centre, and the Civic Hub across all phases of the town, using funding and land provided by the developers. The Council has also taken responsibility for the local centre and employment land on phase one, which you can read more about on their FAQ: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/community-safety-and-health/northstowe/your-common-northstowe-questions-answered/

  • Northstowe will take many years to build and the pace of construction is linked to economic conditions in the UK. Initially, it was projected to take around 25 years, based on previous developments of this scale.

  • The first outline planning permission for homes at Northstowe was granted in 2014 to Gallagher Estates (L&Q’s predecessor). Phase one commenced construction shortly after this, with the remainder of Northstowe dependent on the major upgrade to the A14. The town welcomed its first residents in early 2017.

  • The developers for each phase lead the construction and maintenance of open parks and spaces for their phase until it transfers into a Long-term Term Stewardship arrangement with a third party which will manage it on an ongoing basis. Greenbelt manages open space within phase one with the exception of the water park, which is managed by Anglian Water.

    Homes England’s Estates team manages open space within phase two while the long-term stewardship arrangements are being put in place. To report issues on Homes England land, please dial 0845 603 1485. Phase three is not under construction.

  • A variety of homes for open market sale, social rent, shared ownership, and discounted market sales are currently available and will continue to be available across all phases. Later phases will also see more apartments and homes designed for all stages of life.

    Find out more: https://www.northstowe.com/buying-a-home

  • Homes England is the government body responsible for housing and regeneration. Homes England is the master developer for phases two and three.

    Homes England does not directly construct the homes or buildings. They allocate government land and funding to pay for planning and enabling works such as all the preparatory infrastructure, access roads, and open spaces needed for development. They also create sections of land upon which partners can construct the various buildings and amenities. This includes selling land to housebuilders for homes, such as Keepmoat Homes, or transferring land to the Council for a community building. Proceeds from Homes England’s land receipts go to the Treasury.

    Read more about Homes England here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-england

  • There is a thriving community centre called The Cabin, which features a community-run café, meeting spaces for local groups, and an NHS room.

    The Western Park Sports Pavilion was delivered by South Cambridgeshire District Council and is being run by Elite Sports UK. It includes a clubhouse with a kitchen and bar for events and changing facilities for sports teams. There are multiple sports clubs including football, rugby, running, and bowls.

    Plans for a larger, permanent community building are well-advanced. Pop-up food trucks visit every week.

    Longstanton village is a 10-15 minute walk away and offers numerous amenities, including a Co-op, post office, public house, hairdressers, children’s nursery, and a fish and chip shop.

    There is a Northstowe Town Council and a Mayor. Also, many local groups have now been established, from arts to gaming - some with funding through developer contributions to form Community Interest Companies (CICs). These also include a range of faith groups, such as Northstowe Pathfinder Church, Northstowe Muslims, Hindu Samaj Northstowe, and Emmanuel Church.

    There are three dedicated schools, including SEN provision.

    The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway offers quick and direct off-road access to Cambridge City, the Biomedical Campus, the Science Park, Cambridge North Station and beyond via a local park-and-ride stop. It is the longest busway in the world and was featured as one of the top ten most scenic bus routes in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/nov/04/bag-a-window-seat-10-of-the-uks-most-scenic-bus-routes

    For more information about the community, you can contact the Northstowe Community Development Officers at northstowe.community@scambs.gov.uk or visit https://www.northstowe.com/get-involved

  • There is currently no dedicated shop within Northstowe. There are plans for lots of facilities as phases two and three are constructed as part of a town centre setting.

    A local centre is planned for phase one, serving the initial community. South Cambridgeshire District Council has taken on this land, and you can read more about the progress of this in detail on their website: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/community-safety-and-health/northstowe/your-common-northstowe-questions-answered/

    Homes England also has land and outline planning permission for shops and cafes on a later stage of phase two, as part of what will become the town centre. There is no specific start date currently, as it has been difficult to find a development partner who can develop this to the standard required. Homes England is also investigating the feasibility of temporary facilities.

    The Northstowe town centre will include a market hall and a convenience store.

    Keepmoat Homes has a commercial unit as part of its Stirling Fields development on phase two. South Cambridgeshire District Council has also acquired this unit as part of buying the affordable homes/flats in this location.

  • There is a footpath and cycle path along the dedicated access road from the B1050 near the A14 junction, all the way through Northstowe to the secondary school. There are also footpaths and cycleways around the current development, linking it to the wider area. It would take around one hour on foot, and about 20 minutes to cycle across this distance along the access road.

  • There are around 15km of footpaths and cycleways and a main spine road, Stirling Road. The Northstowe Running Festival attracts hundreds of runners and spectators and utilises a lot of these routes.

    Running alongside Northstowe is a guided busway, which is easily accessible by Longstanton Park and Ride and a 10-minute stroll from the nearest homes. In time, some of these buses will be directed into and through the development.

    Via guided bus, it is 23 minutes into the centre of Cambridge City and the Biomedical Campus. The guided busway also provides access to the Science Park and Cambridge North Station. To the north, you can access the nearby towns of St Ives and Huntingdon. These bus routes are situated also alongside cycle paths which are used regularly by commuters, and connect to the National Cycling Network. Cambridge City is 39 minutes by bike.

    The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway is not only the world’s longest guided busway; it is one of the most scenic bus routes in the UK, according to the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/nov/04/bag-a-window-seat-10-of-the-uks-most-scenic-bus-routes

    If you have any questions about bus frequency or bus stops, please contact Stagecoach directly: https://www.thebusway.info/contact.shtml

    If you have any questions about the lighting or footpaths connecting these areas, please contact Cambridgeshire County Council: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-and-pathways/streetlighting

  • A temporary community building, The Cabin, plus a new sports pavilion and clubhouse at the Western Park Sports Pavilion, have been delivered by South Cambridgeshire District Council and are already open. More community buildings are planned, such as a permanent community centre. The Phase Two Sports Pavilion and Civic Hub land will be transferred to South Cambridgeshire District Council by Homes England. Funding for these amenities has also been transferred to the Council.

    South Cambridgeshire District Council’s New Build Team is responsible for the design and build of some of the community buildings in phases 2 and 3 of Northstowe. You can read more on their website, including more information about plans for the permanent Community Centre which is well underway: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/community-safety-and-health/northstowe/your-common-northstowe-questions-answered/

  • All Northstowe children will be offered school places within Northstowe, from early years to sixth form.

    The very first building at Northstowe was a school. The Pathfinder C of E Primary School opened in 2017. The school has three forms of entry (630 places), a 52-place pre-school, and an out-of-school club.

    The primary school became a focal point for the new community, featuring a Community Wing, pop-up café, and home working hub for a number of years until The Cabin (the temporary community building) opened in 2023.

    There is also an occupied secondary school (Northstowe Secondary College) in Northstowe, plus the Special Educational Needs school, the Martin Bacon Academy, for students with complex and co-occurring needs. An extension to the secondary school, including a sixth form, additional primary school, and early years setting school is under construction. For more information about education at Northstowe, visit the website: https://www.northstowe.com/content/education

    There are eight schools planned for the town as a whole, once complete.

  • Cambridgeshire County Council is responsible for providing early-year school places as part of primary school provision. Construction work which is currently ongoing will deliver 78 early years places, offering full day care from nine months old. Enquiries can be directed to: PlacePlanningReferrals0-19@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

    There are a number of local childminders in Northstowe. Privately-run nurseries require commercial space to rent or lease. There will be buildings for lease or rent in the town centre in later phases of development which could be used for this purpose. If you are interested in running a commercial nursery in Northstowe, please contact: northstowe2@homesengland.gov.uk

  • Homes England is dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability at Northstowe. In phases two and three, priority has been given to the use of low and carbon-zero technologies to reduce CO2 emissions. By requiring the housebuilders to incorporate fabric efficiencies, low-carbon heating technology, and renewable energy generation technology, the aim is to achieve significant carbon reductions.

    Homes England’s commitment to modern methods of construction not only ensures quicker and quieter building processes, but also creates homes that are more energy efficient.

    Across Northstowe, there are also safe and comfortable walking and cycling routes. The emerging town is designed in a way which enables people to move around with the environment in mind.

  • All phases of Northstowe have undergone a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to ensure the protection of the environment. The Environmental Impact Assessment regulations outline the procedure for assessing, consulting, and deciding on projects with significant environmental effects.

    Approximately one-third of Northstowe consists of improved 'green infrastructure,' comprising natural or semi-natural urban green spaces, retained woodland blocks, allotments, parks, and gardens. These areas also provide habitat for several protected species.

    You can read more about sustainability on the website: https://www.northstowe.com/wellbeing-sustainability

  • The landscape and green infrastructure of the natural land in and around Northstowe have helped to inform the layout of the town, integrating both green spaces and waterways for the community to enjoy.

    As the development continues in phases two and three, great care and attention is being paid by Homes England’s development team to manage drainage and groundwater, to ensure that the town and community are protected from the risk of major flood events. This is key, alongside ensuring that water assets serve the varying needs of wildlife, nature, people, and the environment in and around Northstowe.

    You can read more about drainage, water, and flood management on phases two and three in Homes England’s blog and detailed booklet on the website: https://www.northstowe.com/drainage-groundwater

  • Northstowe has a huge amount of history. The site itself dates back to the time of the Romans and earlier. Oakington Airfield was a premier RAF station for 35 years. It was the original home of the Short Stirling, the first four-engined heavy bomber to enter service, as well as other aircraft such as Blenheims, Wellingtons, Stirlings, Lancasters, and Mosquitoes. You can read more on the history pages of the Northstowe website: https://www.northstowe.com/content/local-history

    Plans for a dedicated Heritage Centre unfortunately stopped mid-build, following the County Council’s contractor going into administration.

    The County Council intends to display archaeological finds from across both Northstowe and the major upgrade to the A14 in a different way, by finding alternative venues to deliver an exhibition, taking in accessible venues in Northstowe and across the County linked to the areas where the artefacts may have originated. You can read more here: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/county-council-agrees-way-ahead-for-a14-northstowe-archaeological-finds-display

  • There will be a range of health services. Developers provide the land and funding contributions, and the Council work closely with the NHS via the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System to scope and ultimately provide these services.

    Homes England has paid £16.4 million in contributions towards community buildings for the Civic Hub, Library, and Health facility in phase two, and will also provide land at no cost for these to be built. The developer contribution has been transferred to South Cambridgeshire District Council.

    Northstowe residents currently register with Willingham and Longstanton Medical Practice. Currently, 2,750 patients from Northstowe are registered, with capacity to take more.

    There is an NHS room within the Temporary Community Centre delivering support such as health visiting and midwifery services.

    Residents also have access to the Enhanced Access service (44 hours per week across the Cambridge Northern Villages Primary Care Network), comprising eight Practices including Longstanton and Willingham, which are available to Northstowe residents.

    In the future, a total of 1,740 sqm have been allocated for healthy purposes with the Civic Hub which will be part of phase two, comprising 1,300sqm General Medical Services, 200sqm Community Trusts, 120sqm Pharmacy, and 120sqm Dentistry.

    Updates from the NHS can be found via the Northstowe Community Forum webpage: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/community-safety-and-health/community-forums/northstowe-community-forum/

    Government information on new homes and healthcare services can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65324afae839fd000d867273/Fact_sheet_4._New_homes_and_healthcare_facilities.pdf