Construction of Northstowe Unity Centre underway 

📷 - davidjohnsonphotographic.co.uk

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Thursday 6 March as South Cambridgeshire District Council marked the start of construction of the Unity Centre, the permanent community centre for Phase 1 in the growing town of Northstowe.   

Construction of the community centre is being carried out by Kier and is due to be completed in early 2026.

An exciting space for the community  

📷 - davidjohnsonphotographic.co.uk

Once complete, the Unity Centre will host a range of community activities, events, and services, providing an exciting and spacious meeting place that will be well-used and enjoyed by Northstowe residents.  

The community centre will provide the following spaces and potential uses:   

  • A main hall - A large multi-purpose hall for formal and informal events; public assembly, visual and performing arts, practice and tuition, lectures, and demonstrations 

  • Foyer / café - An informal community gathering space which can be used to serve refreshments 

  • Kitchens - To serve the main hall and café 

  • A base for staff, Town Council offices, reception and booking point 

  • Consultation / meeting rooms – Multi-purpose spaces for meetings, groups, and visiting community services 

  • A free-range shared space for community use and co-working 

  • Micro Library area 

  • Flexible activity space - A robust ‘make space’ for arts and crafts, workshops or other potentially messy or noisy activities, connected to the secure courtyard garden 

  • Toilets including a changing places facility – this is disabled-friendly and includes features such as an adult size changing bed and a hoist for safe lifting 

  • Outdoor space that is safe and secure. 

📷 - davidjohnsonphotographic.co.uk

Green credentials 

The Unity Centre places sustainability at its heart.  

The building will have:  

  • Passivhaus principles – highly insulated and a low energy demand 

  • Solar panels and ground source heat pumps 

  • Green roofs and externally there will be hedges and trees with bird/bat boxes and bee houses to help increase biodiversity within the site 

  • 70 bicycle spaces. 

Thank you to the funders 

📷 - davidjohnsonphotographic.co.uk

The Unity Centre is funded through a collaboration between South Cambridgeshire District Council, who has contributed £6.5 million towards the project, and £2.2 million s106 funding from the Phase 1 developers, Urban & Civic. Additionally, the project has received funding from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

The District Council will work closely with local stakeholders to select an operator who will run the building for the benefit of the whole community.


In good company 

The Unity Centre is one of several community buildings that South Cambridgeshire District Council is providing for residents of Northstowe.  

This also includes a temporary community centre, which opened in summer 2023. 

The Western Park Sports Pavilion, managed by Elite Sports UK, has been open since January last year.   

Both have proved to be very well-used and popular local facilities.  

📷 - davidjohnsonphotographic.co.uk

Video report 

Watch the video of the groundbreaking ceremony featuring interviews with District Councillors: Cllr Henry Batchelor, Cllr Tom Bygott and Cllr Natalie Warren-Green, Town Mayor of Northstowe Cllr Paul Littlemore, and MP of St Neots and Mid Cambridgshire Ian Sollom.