From cinema nights to a new sports pavilion: celebrating a year of growth and community in Northstowe

2024 has been another landmark year in the evolution of Northstowe, with significant progress being made when it comes to the development of homes, education, leisure, and community activities. Along with the town’s progress, its pioneering community is growing stronger and more vibrant.

Working with a variety of partners, Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, which is responsible for delivering phases two and three at Northstowe as master developer, has remained at the forefront of delivering and supporting key projects to support Northstowe’s residents.

There are many initiatives and community group activities underway supported by Homes England and Partners and Residents. Here, we celebrate some of this year’s highlights!

New development partners

Homes England, in collaboration with developers Keepmoat Homes and Capital&Centric, signed an agreement to advance Northstowe's development by delivering 3,000 new homes and establishing a vibrant town centre, marking a crucial step in fulfilling Northstowe’s vision to become a thriving, sustainable community.

This collaboration aims to provide residents with quality housing options and up to 50,000 square metres of commercial space, including shops, workspaces, and community facilities.

Homes England also appointed specialist SME developer TOWN to progress proposals for 130 homes, including cohousing similar to their successful scheme at Marmalade Lane.

Spaces to bring people together

Community spirit thrived in 2024, thanks in part to Homes England’s £120,000 Community Activation Fund (CAF), which helped organisations promote community cohesion and enhance the vibrancy of life in Northstowe.

The Fund supported a host of events, including Northstowe’s first-ever Midsummer Festival, which attracted over 800 attendees for a day of dance, music, heritage, games, and food. Organisers plan to establish the Midsummer Festival as an annual tradition, reflecting Northstowe's growing and diverse community.

Supported by the Fund, Northstowe Arts also hosted a free outdoor cinema event at Western Park, which was enjoyed by 850 residents. The evening featured a screening of The Greatest Showman, chosen by public vote, and premiered Northstowe Neighbours, a film celebrating the town's community spirit. As a new community, Northstowe has a pioneering spirit, with people enjoying being part of something new, and both events brought neighbours together to celebrate and connect.

Adding to Northstowe’s cultural landscape, two new, bespoke sculptures were unveiled at Unity Lake and Halcyon Mere, created by local artist Chloe Leaper in collaboration with the community. The artwork symbolised the town’s ongoing journey, and Chloe engaged with residents, wildlife enthusiasts, and schoolchildren in the creative process, incorporating local birdlife into the designs to symbolise Northstowe's harmony with nature and its commitment to a green future.

Enhancing education for the next generation

Education remained a key focus this year in Northstowe, with the Northstowe Learning Community expanding to accommodate 246 additional students, marking a significant milestone in the town's educational development.

The new facilities, comprising a 630-place primary school, a 400-place Sixth Form, and a 78-place pre-school, are scheduled for completion by early 2025 and add to the pre-existing Martin Bacon Academy state-of-the-art Area Special School. In the interim, these students are accommodated within the existing secondary school and new pre-school facilities on the campus. This growth ensures that young residents have access to high-quality education from early years through to sixth form within their community and reflects Northstowe's commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality education for its growing community.

Enhanced leisure and recreation

Recreational facilities took a leap forward in 2024 and further emphasised Northstowe as a place to cultivate an active, healthy and fun lifestyle with the opening of the Western Park Sports Pavilion which includes a bowls facility, space for hire and a licensed bar with big screens. Meanwhile, work began on the Eastern Sports Hub, which will include a BMX track, football and cricket pitches and an outdoor gym – an exciting development for residents of all ages!

Bug Hunter Waters parkrun commenced in June and takes place every Saturday at 9am whilst the Northstowe Running Festival and Half Marathon events once again highlighted the community’s enthusiasm for fitness and outdoor activities.

Building connections and sharing stories

This was a year of storytelling and collaboration for Northstowe. The unique short film, Northstowe Neighbours, created by Northstowe Arts in collaboration with Paper Films, premiered at Northstowe Secondary College and captured the stories of residents who have made Northstowe their home over the past eight years. The film showcased the diverse individuals and families contributing to the town's vibrant, pioneering community life and stands as a testament to the strength and diversity of Northstowe’s growing community.

A new gateway with community roots

This year, Northstowe Avenue, Northstowe’s main access road, was named through a community competition by local resident Thomas Nalloor. The road, designed with footpaths and cycleways, creates a gateway to the town, marks an essential step in Northstowe’s development and embodies the town’s commitment to sustainability and connectivity.

Looking ahead

As the year 2024 draws to a close, Northstowe stands poised for an even brighter future. With plans for a new town centre, ongoing housing development, and ever-expanding community initiatives, 2025 promises to bring even more opportunities for growth and connection.

Thank you to all the partners and residents, community leaders and everyone who made 2024 a success, and here’s to an exciting year ahead in Northstowe’s journey. Happy New Year to friends of Northstowe’s past, present, and future!