Celebrating the community spirit in Northstowe

Northstowe supports resident health and wellbeing, providing facilities and initiatives for people to get active. And in May 2024, hundreds of residents and visitors gathered to celebrate the opening of the new Western Park Sports Pavilion, delivered by South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC).  

From karate to dance classes, the Sports Activation Day was a success 

The milestone was marked by a vibrant Sports Activation Day hosted by Elite Sports UK. The event featured free sports sessions like karate, netball, dance classes, football, and a fully booked climbing wall. The Northstowe Sports and Wellbeing Group and Longstanton Bowls Club also played significant roles in the event. 

The Pavilion, located on Peppercorn Drive, serves the Western Park sports pitches, bowling green, and hard surface games area. It boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including team and referee changing rooms, a fully accessible changing places facility, a large clubroom area with a commercial kitchen, and green features such as an air source heat pump, electric vehicle charging points, and solar panels. 

Elite Sports UK, which manages the Pavilion and Western Park sports facilities, showcased a wide range of activities, drawing positive feedback from the community. Local clubs reported increased interest and even found new coaches during the event. 

Getting creative with community gardening 

The same day, community and youth groups planted vibrant raised flower beds in the garden at The Cabin, Northstowe’s temporary community centre. Funded by Keepmoat, one of the town’s developers, the project involved creative sessions where participants designed the flower beds and learned about gardening, taught by professional garden designer Lindy Blake. The flower bed project focused on creating engaging spaces for residents, allowing participants to bring their ideas to life, fostering community engagement and pride. 

Bringing social value to life within the community, the initiative is an example of how Northstowe is being developed with wellbeing and sustainability in mind. Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, is a master developer for the remaining phases of the new community. Supporting community wellbeing, cohesion, and sustainability, Homes England actively encourages partners and contractors to deliver social value through various tender processes.