Aims

• To provide residents and stakeholders with regular updates regarding strategic development sites
• To provide an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to share their interests/concerns with relevant council officers, including those from the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service (‘Planning’) and Communications and Communities (‘Communities’) teams, Elected Members, developers and other key stakeholders such as Cambridgeshire County Council and Anglian Water

Scope and purpose

• The development covered by this forum is Northstowe
• To provide regular, accurate and timely information to residents regarding the above development
• To offer an opportunity for residents to raise issues of interest or concern for existing and new communities with a view to enhancing the quality of community life and the environment in Northstowe
• For council officers to share issues raised by residents with relevant parties and report back responses and/or that appropriate action has been taken
• To provide information and signposting on planning and growth matters
• To provide an opportunity for developer/s, residents, community groups, elected members and council officers to engage with each other
• From time to time, to provide opportunities for residents to be consulted and involved in the planning, co-design and management of associated facilities and services
• The forum does not have decision-making powers and cannot be held accountable for growth and related issues
• Minor developments may be covered by this forum from time to time, but the developments listed above will take priority

Structure, management and format

• The forum will be chaired by local ward member, Cllr Henry Batchelor
• There will be a maximum of 4 ‘open to all’ formal meetings a year, where appropriate, and other forms of engagement where necessary
• Venues, where appropriate, will be spread around the different catchment area/s for the new development(s) to ensure all residents have an opportunity to attend
• The frequency and format of individual meetings will be determined by senior Planning and Communities officers in consultation with the Chair based on the progress of each specific development and views expressed by stakeholders, including residents 
• Meeting dates will be set, wherever possible, on a rolling basis a year in advance
• A range of methods will be used to deliver the forum - the most appropriate format will be chosen for the meeting in consultation with attendees and in accordance with the circumstances and government guidance available at the time, that is to say in person forums (which will include drop-ins), virtual meetings or a hybrid of these, for virtual meetings Zoom Webinar will be used

Communication and publicity

• A range of measures will be used to communicate to residents about the forums, including local advertising via flyers, web page, existing parish publications, email and social media
• Where possible and practicable, Council officers will upload content within 10 days of a forum being held
• A rolling agenda will be posted online so residents are aware of proposed future topics for discussion
• Questions will be posted online so that attendees can see the issues that have been raised and addressed at past meetings
• Presentations, notes and recordings of the meetings will be published online. 
• A distribution list will be developed and maintained based on registered forum attendees and any others wishing to be kept informed. A registration form will be available on the relevant forum’s web page/s
• Surveys and feedback mechanisms will be employed from time to time to ensure forums are meeting residents’ needs and to facilitate continuous improvement
• Agendas will be published no later than 7 days prior to the meeting

Lead Officer

 Ellen Cox – Development Officer  

Valuing diversity

All delegates attending Forum events must undertake to:

• Treat all people with respect and act in a way which does not discriminate against or exclude anyone
• Act in a fair and responsible way to all

Collective responsibility 

All people coming to Forum events agree by their presence that they will:

• Observe the authority of the Chair or facilitator at all times
• Listen quietly to and respect the views and experiences of other people contributing
• Agree to and follow the standard of behaviour expected at each event, according to what is happening at that event (e.g. no interrupting or shouting)
• Allow others to have equal opportunity and time to share their opinions
• Not use inflammatory language or behaviour of any kind

If the above values are not met during a meeting or event, the Chair, facilitator or nominated officer may take one or more of the following steps with the objective of restoring order.

Any person making offensive, insulting, threatening, provocative, slanderous or obscene remarks, or who becomes boisterous, or who threatens or harasses any person or property while at a Forum event, will cause the event to be suspended for the shortest period needed to allow order to be restored.

Any person or people causing an event to be interrupted by reason of behaviours identified above, who does so more than once, can be asked to leave the event by the Chair or staff at the event. This can be for a specific length of time to allow the person or people to cool off or for the rest of the meeting or event, depending on the judgement of the Chair or staff present.

Where the Chair believes that:

• The event has become unmanageable, unnecessarily interrupted, harassed or hindered more than once by the same person or people
• There has been behaviour which threatens the safety of him or herself or others present, the Chair may opt to suspend the meeting or event until order is restored or to end the meeting, or event, if they feel that it is appropriate
• Any person or persons causing through their behaviour, any other individual or individuals present at a Forum event to fear for their personal safety may be subject to immediate removal from the event and/or the event premises.

Due to a technical issue, the forum recording is not available.

The questions and answers given here include those that were asked in person at the forum, questions received in advance for parties not present, and questions received in advance but not answered in the meeting due to time constraints. 

Greenbelt Update – Adam Lewis, Strategic Project Manager 

View the presentation: Introduction and Greenbelt update [PPTX, 4.5MB]

• Introduction to Greenbelt & involvement at Northstowe 
• Explanation of areas under Greenbelt management for both the infrastructure and parcels. 
• Events and Social Value 

What is Greenbelt (or other authorities) doing to ensure that developers have completed their obligations regarding landscaping before they are handed over to Greenbelt (and thus residents to pick up the cost)? There are many dead trees along residential streets that the developers should pay for. No one seems to be holding them to account.  

The handover process for any adoptable open spaces between the housebuilder and Greenbelt follows an access requirements guideline through our Delivery team. These guidelines are outlined in the agreement between the two parties.  

Greenbelt works with the individual housebuilder to ensure the areas are installed as per the approved landscape plans. 

This process is systematic and includes checking for any dead plant stock ahead of planning any handover or billing date. 

In most cases Greenbelt offers to help the housebuilder with the final landscaping of the areas to improve standards ahead of handover. This often allows us to take control of the Public Open Space areas and install any missing items in the correct season and in accordance with the approved plans. 

The handover process can only begin when the housebuilder is ready to engage. Until that time the parcel is under the management of the housebuilder. 

Sustainable Northstowe Tree Planting Project – Irene Zaccari 

View the presentation: Tree planting project update [PPTX, 9.5MB]

Tree Planting Day – Adopt a Tree initiative held in March. 

25 trees planted with more than seventy people involved. 

5 follow up waterings throughout the summer. 

• Community Planted Linear Orchard – Route shown on presentation slide. 
• Trees and wildlife task force formed to follow up planted trees and develop new projects to plant trees and shrubs in the local area and restore natural habitats. 
• More volunteers needed. Details of how to join the taskforce, monthly meetings provided on the presentation slides. 

Sustainable Northstowe recognise the need for ongoing watering as referenced in the presentation.  Where trees are close to homes it was suggested that if residents have a young tree on land near to their property in need of watering, then they should water it themselves if they feel able to do so. 

Homes England Update – Catherine O’Toole, Planning and Enabling Manager. 

View the presentation: Homes England update [PPTX, 2.5MB]

• B.M.X Track – approaching completion. Opening event planned for October – Will be advertised. Landscaping to follow in 2026.  
• Temporary Commercial Space – Early activation application approved. Homes England delivering the initial phase (shown in orange on presentation slide). 
• Further planning submission will be required for remaining elements that will be delivered with partners. 
• This is to cover the short to medium term, the application is for a five-year period while the Town Centre, which will take longer to deliver, comes forward. 
• The Commercial Unit being constructed by Keepmoat will be finished early next year. It will then be handed over to the Council who are arranging for this to be let.  
• Town Park – Keepmoat are delivering the first section of the park, south of the Stirling Fields. 
• Footpath/Cycleway Update – The connection between Phase 1 and the Rampton Road Greenway has been temporarily opened as of 9 September following feedback from residents. 
• The traffic light sequencing has been adjusted which should improve the traffic flow and the broken pole has also been fixed. 
• Homes England outlined process to develop a Stewardship body to take ownership of strategic, neighbourhood and green infrastructure that cannot be adopted within phases 2 and 3.  
• Hoped that Northstowe Town Council can build the experience and capacity to own, control and operate the stewardship body in the long term. 

Can we see the plans online? 

Yes, all planning applications are on the Local Planning Authority website and also the Homes England Northstowe.com website. 

Who makes the decision on what play equipment goes in the play parks, can they be made more varied for different ages and can existing ones be altered or added too?

The planning requirements stipulate a range of play areas across the development as a whole.  Partners and residents have the opportunity to comment on these plans and consultations take place as part of the planning process.  We recognise that there is less equipment for older children/teenagers and the BMX track will help to address that. 

Homes England cannot carry out any works on any parks which are outside of their ownership.  Most of the existing parks are within Phase 1 so outside of this.

The Woodland Garden in the Town Park design does not currently have any mature trees in it. Will mature trees be planted? 

Plans are awaited from the designer. 

What is the status of the Northstowe cricket ground? How long will it take to complete it. It is getting difficult for the Northstowe cricket club to get local members as there is no ground?

The cricket pitch which is being delivered earlier than required under planning. Topsoil is being laid at the moment ahead of seeding. Whilst the pitch construction is likely to be completed in Spring/Summer 2026 it will take between 18 months and 2 years to establish before it can be used for cricket training or matches.  

Will the temporary meanwhile use not impact on the Town Centre progress? 

The meanwhile use has a five-year temporary permission so will not influence the timing of the permanent facility. It is hope that it will provide an interim facility with the opportunity for transition of some business/occupiers to move across the Town Centre permanent units when complete. 

When will the temporary and permanent community town centre works start and get complete? Is temporary centre a way to just delay the permanent one? 

The planning permission for the temporary commercial space grants full planning permission for a hard surfaced area which can accommodate food trucks but requires further details to be approved in relation to buildings and their uses. It is hoped that work will commence on an initial phase before the end of the year – this will take the form of a serviced hard space. Temporary commercial units will follow when details have been approved by the Local Planning Authority, and an operator has appointed and is dependent upon demand. 

In the meantime, Homes England is in the process of appointing a partner to deliver an initial phase of permanent town centre development including commercial space. These facilities are likely to be a number of years away however the idea is that the temporary commercial space will be available until the permanent town centre facilities are completed so that businesses can relocate from temporary to permanent in due course. 

When will work start on the meanwhile town center now that the plans are approved? 

The Local Planning Authority has stipulated a number of planning conditions, including biodiversity net gain requirements that need to be satisfied before work can commence. As stated above it is hoped that work will commence on an initial phase of the temporary commercial facilities before the end of the year. However, before work can commence off site biodiversity net gain has to be secured via a legal agreement – this being a planning requirement. 

Why is the meanwhile town center necessary with a 5-year agreement in place when the town center hub (for instance) is supposed to be available in 2028? What assurances to residents have that the two projects will be worked upon concurrently? i.e. don't stall the delivery of the real town center with a meanwhile offering? 

It is envisaged that the temporary commercial space will operate for a couple of years alongside the town hub as an initial destination within Phase 2. The temporary commercial space is an opportunity to deliver commercial space quickly and early, whilst the town centre partner is confirmed and permanent town centre facilities, which are likely to be part of large mixed-use blocks, go through the planning system and are constructed.  

When is the lake going to be opened for open water swimming and kayaking? This is an ongoing question, and we keep getting told to wait for water quality testing. If it's never going to happen just tell us, please.  

Use of the lakes will be dependent on a willing commercial or community operator running sessions.  It is not intended to be made available for wild swimming or other water uses not organised by an operator. Water testing is ongoing. Results are looking generally positive; however, it has been advised that further testing is undertaken for an extended period.  

Many of the current pavements on the edges of the development are not accessible friendly. Can we please ask developers to think of pushchairs/wheelchairs/mobility scooters and those with impaired vision. In the earlier phases many of these did eventually get temporary ramps to help.  

Noted. It would be helpful if the pavements which are not accessible friendly could be pointed out.  

What is the update on the swimming pool site? I understand that pools are expensive to run but we cannot have a town the size of St Ives without a pool as swimming is a cradle to grave exercise. We can't afford to NOT have a pool and once that land has been used for something else there will be no pool.  

Land for a pool was reserved within the Northstowe Learning Community site as part of the Phase 2 s106 agreement. Homes England is set to make a financial contribution towards construction of a swimming pool via the Phase 3 s106 agreements; however, this is dependent on the district council developing a strategy (prior to 2000 occupations on Phase 3A) for delivery of the pool at this site. The first of Homes England’s financial contributions to the swimming pool cannot be drawn down before 2,000 homes are occupied on Phase 3A and the district council must first have served notice as to whether the land will be required. 

Please can we get an update on how the construction of Stirling fields’ commercial space is going and when they expect a vendor to be in place. 

Keepmoat have advised that the commercial space is due to be completed early in 2026. Identification of an occupier is the responsibility of SCDC (post meeting note, SCDC have been actively marketing this site through their commercial agent, Carter Jonas).  

When will the bus lane cycle path open? 

The section between Phase 1 and the Rampton Road Greenway is now open. Please note there may be periods when it has to be closed again on a temporary basis for health and safety reasons as development progresses on adjoining land. 

The section further south near Oakington (linking the new access road to the guided busway) has been subject to a road safety audit and will require further works before it can be opened. 

Planning Update – Luke Mills & Sophie Pain, Principal Planners, Strategic Sites, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning. 

View the presentation: Planning update [PPTX, 3MB] 

Wilsons Road Solar Farm – (Ref: 25/025539/FUL) – Application received for a solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) for a temporary period of thirty-five years. Comments by 17 September and Decision by 17 October. 

Planning for green infrastructure – An overview of how the open space and landscaping has developed as a result of the natural slope from West to East which facilitates drainage across the site to arrive at the lakes in the East. 

As well as providing a drainage function this provides the framework for the open space that is available to be enjoyed by residents for leisure purposes. 

Greater Cambridge Local Plan – The current local plan was adopted in 2018. The Greater Cambridge Planning Service is now working to produce the first joint local plan covering Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire. Progress was slowed due to national and regional challenges but is now moving forward with a consultation due to start in October/November. 

The consultation will cover policies such as Transport, Design, Biodiversity etc.  There will also be a roadshow going out over a 6-to-8-week period. 

Information available on the GCPS website – details on presentation slide. 

Why are developers building houses that make it impossible to get a cycle through the car port without taking your car out first? This certainly doesn't encourage cycle use. There's only just enough room for a very small car.  

In determining planning applications for housing development, the Local Planning Authority aims to ensure developers provide cycle storage that is convenient and accessible. For example, applications for housing on Phase 2 will be governed by the approved design code (Ref: S/2011/14/COND9), which states on page 91 that all residential cycle parking must be "easily accessible and convenient". We would encourage residents to take opportunities to improve development layouts when developers engage with them on their emerging proposals and when the Local Planning Authority consults on formal applications. 

I have heard that Lidl may be moving into some units near the green, is this confirmed and when would this be happening? 

This question seems to relate to the former Hypro site on Station Road, which was the subject of a Lawful Development Certificate application earlier this year (Ref: 25/00656/CL2PD). This established that a change of use of the land to a supermarket would be lawful and would therefore not require planning permission. This would allow reuse of the current premises. A purpose-built supermarket would require a planning application and as yet no further application has been made to the Local Planning Authority. 

Urban & Civic Update – Katherine Snell, Senior Project Manager. 

View the presentation: Urban and Civic update [PPTX, 5.5MB]

• Highway finishing works progress – Drainage remedial works complete in Section 1, Roundabout reconfiguration and associated works in Pathfinder way complete. Cycle lanes and footpath construction completed to binder level. Bus shelters on Pathfinder Way and Wellington Road installed. Asphalt surfacing to roads in Section commenced and remedials in preparation for surfacing commenced in Section 2. 
• Surfacing Programme – Whilst the overall programme is behind due to more extensive remedial works than expected, the recent surfacing programme is slightly ahead. Thank you for your cooperation and patience. There may be additional works out of sequence (eg. bellmouth raised tables) as we try to bring the programme back on schedule. 
• Cycle Lanes. Next phase will be completing cycle lanes in Phase 1. Red asphalt and regulatory signs will denote dedicated cycle lanes. Temporary signage to remind there is no parking within the cycle lanes. 

Will there be double yellow lines on Wellington Road and near junctions so that people don’t park on roads once cycle lanes are actually used for cycles? 

As a principle, it is preferred to keep highways free from unnecessary markings and signage, and the design does not include for double yellow lines.  However, if it is found that certain areas would benefit from double yellow lines this is something that can be considered by Cambridgeshire County Council Highways following adoption.  A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) would be required to implement this. 

What enforcement will be in place for the cycle lands to stop parking in them? 

Temporary parking signs will be used initially. However, if enforcement is needed longer term then we will consider employing enforcement agents to do if necessary.  

The barriers put up by the school to stop people using the cycle path have been moved, so is it not likely the signs will be ignored? 

It is a process of education to stop people from using the cycle lanes inappropriately, not an easy problem to solve unfortunately. 

Will there be signage to warn people to stop before entering the cycle lanes? 

Working with highways on this, there will be red asphalt and white lines so it should be clear. 

What is the timescale for resurfacing of Wellington Road? 

Area of current work is most complex as adjacent to adopted highways. Hoping to accelerate in later phases. Wellington Road is the next bit to be done but there is no exact date but should be completed soon. 

 When will secondary roads in certain parcels finally be surfaced? We have been living here for almost 8 years and 18 months of those we have had raised ironworks.  

The housebuilders are responsible for the completion of the roads within their parcels. Please contact your housebuilder directly for an indication of timescales. 

Road safety for pedestrians has decreased since road surfacing around Pathfinder way roundabout and the temporary zebra crossings have been covered over. Please improve this.  

The design does not include for zebra crossings at these locations. However, if it is found that certain uncontrolled crossings would benefit from being upgraded to zebra crossings, this is something that can be considered by Cambridgeshire County Council Highways following adoption and a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) would be required to implement this.  A Road Safety Audit will be undertaken when the works are completed, and this situation will be monitored. 

 The recent road resurfacing organisation was chaotic with people being unable to access/egress from their own properties (despite my getting reassurances at the last forum) and road closures leaving residents nowhere to go. What is being done to monitor and improve this drastically? There appears to be little oversight on location. 

Unfortunately, it is not possible to maintain access to properties at all times during working hours. The contractor endeavours to notify all the residents whose access would be directly affected by the road surfacing works.  The diversions and closures should have been appropriately signed on the highway.  If there are specific instances where this did not happen, please contact the contractor (enquiries@phoenixsurfacing.com) or Urban&Civic (01223 622 533) 

Unity Centre – Kirstin Donaldson, Service Manager, Acquisitions and Development, SCDC & Cllr. Jason Benedicic, Northstowe Town Mayor. 

View the presentation: Unity Centre update [PPTX, 12MB] 

• Update on progress of the building, including drone footage video and presentation slides providing first look at the interior of the building providing a realistic comparison of each area to the CGI design images previously shared. 
• Topping out ceremony took place 3 September, marking the highest point of the build. 
• PV panels now being installed. 
• 55% through the build with an expected completion in February 2026. 
• Northstowe Town Council have appointed an Assets & Estates Manager and instructed Legal counsel. Now in the process of reviewing the Agreement to Lease which will require approval by Full Council. 
• Bidding process/framework is being developed for the Commercial Café Space and bids are welcomed from local businesses and community groups. 
• Now also able to take enquiries from new and existing groups who may wish to transition to the Unity Centre.  
• Enquiries Email: bookings@northstowetowncouncil.gov.uk  

With the Unity Centre not due to be completed until February and The Cabin scheduled for removal in March, how will you ensure that there is no loss of service provision should there be problems with the completion of the build? 

Confident that the building will be ready in February but as the contract with Portakabin extends until July 26 a decision has been made to apply for an extension of the current planning permission which expires in March.  We are not intending to take any bookings in The Cabin after February, but it does provide an extended period for transition purposes if required. 

Community Update, Mihaela Stan and Michele Eidevik-Skinner, Community Development Officers, South Cambridgeshire District Council. 

Occupation Count  

• Phase 1 Newbuild total: 1463 
• Phase 2 Newbuild total:188 
• Northstowe Newbuilding total: 1651 
• Northstowe Overall total: 1750 
• A new group for Young Parents, aged 25 and under with children 0-5 have started at The Cabin, Monday’s 1:00pm to 2:30pm, Please let people know who might be interested. 
• Northstowe Art Show takes place in the Cabin on Saturday 2 September form 10am to 5pm.  
• Preview session on Friday 26 September, 6.30pm to 8.30pm 
• Submission deadline is Friday 12th September. 
• Smart Journeys will be undertaking a survey between 13th October and 26th October.  
• Access the survey 

General Questions submitted not related to the agenda. 

Are any plans to include a big commercial gym in any phase of the Northstowe development? Currently, the closest commercial gym is either Cambridge or St Ives, which is quite inconvenient. Having a gym like Pure Gym, Virgin Active etc would greatly improve the area of Northstowe and surrounding villages. 

 

A substantial gym of approximately 50 stations is soon to be delivered as part of the dual use facilities at Northstowe Secondary College. P&E Sports has been appointed by Meridian Trust and plans for the gym are currently being finalised. It is anticipated that the gym will be available early in 2026.

Please can you provide some detail on what is being proposed for the faith land - will there be consultation with local residents on which proposal is accepted. Will there be restrictions on noise and hours for any events held there, how much parking will be built, will there be large events like weddings? 

The district council has no details yet on what is being proposed for the Faith Land because the bidding window is still open - the closing date is January next year. As part of the assessment process a summary of the projects and the officer assessment of those bids will be provided to residents to gain their feedback, and this will contribute to the overall assessment of the bids.  

It is expected that groups will consult with the Local Planning Authority (through its pre-application advice service) ahead of any bid submission to gain guidance on issues such as parking. It would be anticipated that at the point of a full planning application an event management plan would be produced and any restrictions on noise and hours for events specified at that time. Most faith groups would want to make their facility available for events such as weddings, but the way any such event would be managed would need to be properly managed within the constraints of the building and the site - this is the purpose of an event management plan. 

Please view our Faith and Community Land webpage for more information. 

Are any street trees in H4 going to be adopted by the County Council when they adopt the roads in this parcel, as some have died?

No, the street trees will need to be maintained by the developer of this parcel.   

Why don’t we have community tennis courts as available in Cambridge where people can play free of cost. Everything at Northstowe comes at a price. 

We have high quality facilities at Northstowe - but they will degenerate with wear and tear. The charges for use are necessary to ensure that facilities can be properly maintained and replaced when needed. Elite Sports UK, managers of the Western Park Sports tennis facilities (available within the MUGA) for South Cambridgeshire District Council, say "we have reduced the price of a tennis court to £5 per hour to help with ensuring our facilities are affordable for the local community to use." The Council considers the charging structure to be fair. 

Elite Sports UK | Western Park - Elite Sports UK

When will the plastic tree guards be removed around Bug Hunter Waters? Most have done their job now, with trees/shrubs over six foot, and some trunks are starting to split the guards. These often get left and forgotten, removing them now would be easier than later, and improve the habitat (and aesthetics) 

Town Council update and close [PPTX, 1.5MB]

Unity Centre - Kirstin Donaldson, Service Manager – Acquisitions and Development SCDC

The building is progressing well through a ten-week programme to deliver and install the CLT frame. It is currently on target for completion of the shell by the end of July.

A video of drone footage of the site was shown and can be viewed via the YouTube recording on this page.

Live Planning Applications – Luke Mills & Sophie Pain, Principal Planners (Strategic Sites), Greater Cambridge Shared Planning

View the presentation [PDF, 1.5MB]

An overview of current live planning applications was provided as follows.

Town Centre Early Activation - 25/01132/OUT

A hybrid application for temporary/meanwhile facilities in the area proposed for the Town Centre.

Detailed elements include car park and hard standing for mobile food trucks.

Outline elements cover potential uses, to be determined dependant on operators coming forward. Envisaged to include Convenience Store, Children’s Nursery, Food & Drink outlets, Flexible workspace, Outdoor event space & Town gardens.

The consultation period has now ended.

Construction Skills Hub – 25/02/06/FUL

The hub is proposed to be located South of Rampton Road & West of Homes England office at Northstowe House.

This is a collaboration between National Housebuilders Council and Keepmoat and will provide a training base for providing apprentices with construction skills training covering Groundworks, Brick laying & Carpentry. For a ten-year period after which the land would revert to the original approved use of residential.

Consultation on the application will open w/c 9/6/2025.

Land West of Station Road – 25/0887/REM

This is an inset site located on land west of Station Road, South of the guided busway.

The application is for 107 homes; some amendments are being sought to resolve some technical points after which consultation is anticipated to take place during June.

Hypro Land building

A Lawful Development Certificate has been granted to allow the change of use from Industrial to a Convenience Store under Class E use which has been granted.

What is the timeline for the Town Centre Activation application?

The Design and Access Statement in the application is a helpful guide to the phasing, it indicates that in year one there will be car park and hardstanding for food trucks and by year three there will be a convenience store, children’s nursery and some pop-up units as well. The application is for five years after which the site would revert to the intended use.

Northstowe Town Hub & Health and Wellbeing Update in and around Northstowe – Greg Lane, Director of Clinical Improvement ICB, Anita Howard, Integrated Neighbourhood Programme Manager, ICS & John Ridgett, Associate Director, Atkins Realis

View the town hub presentation [PDF, 8.5MB]

View the health and wellbeing update presentation [PDF, 8.5MB]

A Community Health Needs Assessment will be undertaken to identify the current and future needs of the community, the results of which will be used to shape the services provided in the Town Hub and Phase 1 Community Centre.

The presentation slides available on this page provide details of the services defined by the assessment process and the principles.

Qualitative and Quantitative analysis and lived experience will be used to inform the process with the team undertaking the assessment attending community events to engage as many residents and community groups as possible.

An introduction to the Town Hub was provided by Atkins Realis who are conducting a feasibility study to establish what is achievable and affordable.

The vision for the building was outlined, elements include Sustainability, Social, Economic, Connectivity, Health & Wellbeing, Flexibility, Inclusive to all.

It will include a Cafe, Square, Library & Community Hall. An outline of the building was shown in the presentation slides that are available on this page.

Will the building have solar panels to power itself and have low overheads?

 

Solar, ground, and air source heat pumps have been explored along with Passive House principles. This is very much an aspect of the design.

Are you open to extending the data collected as part of the Health Needs Assessment to gather enough data to consider factors in childhood which predict adult health in the longer term?

 

We are limited by what data is being collected currently but are keen to explore that and happy to discuss further.

Will there be a Dentist in the Town Hub?

 

That will be determined by the Health Needs Assessment as what is identified as needed. We will be flexible and recognise the need to adapt over time and the building is flexible enough to accommodate that if required.

Northstowe has been here for a few years now. How come we are only at the feasibility study stage and who is holding you to account?

 

We are working to a date of 2029. The Town Hub was always due to come forward in Phase 2. A critical mass is needed to deliver the services that will be located in the Town Hub which these assessments are now looking to identify.

Who is holding you accountable for delivering the Town Hub and Local Centre?

Both of these projects are collaborative efforts. The Local Centre is on land owned by the District Council and is a commercial project and the Town Hub involves partners including Homes England, Health colleagues and the County Council. For the District Council, Councillors as the elected representatives hold the organisation to account for its delivery. 

Unity Centre and SCDC Updates, Anne Ainsworth – Chief Operating Officer, SCDC

Unity Centre

·       Construction is now underway next to The Green – the work here is to deliver a state-of-the-art community facility, into which the district council has invested £6.5million over and above the s106 allocation. We also secured government funding through the Combined Authority’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

·       To be known as the Unity Centre, and offering nearly 1000m2 of floorspace, the community meeting spaces it will provide will benefit the community enormously, and we understand that Northstowe residents have a keen interest in how this will be run.

·       At previous forums the Town Council have shared that they were very interested in developing a proposal to operate the Unity Centre and they resolved at their last full council meeting to submit an initial proposal for our consideration, which we have received.

·       The district council has a policy in place to deal with such approaches from local authorities and groups to bring community assets which we own into local management – this is known as the Community Asset Transfer policy.

·       Under this policy, which is reactive, we must publicise the fact we’ve received a bid, so that any other local group that themselves might be interested in taking on an asset (and this would generally be on a long leasehold basis) might come forward with their own proposal.

·       We have set up a webpage, to direct any interested party to the information we have available on the Unity Centre to allow them to explore that opportunity and to make a bid if they wish. Both the town council and any other group have until 28 March to submit a full and final proposal to operate the Unity Centre, so that we might take a decision on that in May 
Unity Centre, Northstowe - South Cambs District Council 

·       Due to this being such a significant decision, it will be for the district council’s Cabinet to make this decision, with officers making a recommendation.

·       If you have any questions about this process or want more information contact northstowe.community@scambs.gov.uk

Enterprise Zone

·       People will have noticed the old blue hoarding which has been removed. This will be replaced by new hoarding.

·       Have constructed a contractor to repair/replace the damaged areas of post and rail fence along Stirling Road. This work will be undertaken in the coming weeks.

·       The Commercial Work on the delivery model options for the Enterprise Zone and Local Centre continues in the background with elected members.

Keepmoat Commercial Unit

·       SCDC are very pleased that the Commercial Unit we are delivering in partnership with Keepmoat at Phase 2B Stirling Fields is well underway.

·       SCDC’s commercial agent is market testing now and we have received significant interest from a number of businesses including retail.

·       Hope to secure a tenant in the coming months with a view that they will have an opportunity to fit-out the unit to their requirements prior to the block being fully complete. This could mean they could be opening soon after the block is complete. This is currently anticipated September/October. 

Town Hub

·       Working closely with all partners on an initial feasibility study.

·       Plan to take the principles of this study into a first pre-app with Greater Cambridge Shared planning in early May.

·       Hope to make a presentation on what can be expected from the Town Hub to the Northstowe Forum on 4 June. 

Urban&Civic Update - Katherine Snell, Senior Project Manager

View the presentation [PDF, 1MB]

-       Currently completing the first section of the finishing works at the entrance to Northstowe.

-       Works include asphalt surfacing to the roads, completing the cycle paths and footpath, any remedial works, installing street furniture, road markings and road signs.

-       Recently have been raising the gullies and manhole covers and have reshaped the island at Pathfinder Primary School’s car park.

-       Liaising with CCC regarding road closures for Stirling Road and Pathfinder Way which will be required at times during the work. Currently proposed to take place in the Easter holidays. Closure of Pathfinder Way will require 4-way temporary traffic signals.

Will Urban&Civic consider private enforcement for cars parking in the cycle lanes which complete? 

Urban&Civic hope that once the cycleways are complete and have their final red finishing layer people will be deterred from parking on them. However, they will consider private enforcement if required.

When the street furniture such as bus shelters are installed will residents be notified? 

The shelter on Wellington Road will be the closest to residential properties, but there will still be separation between the houses and bus shelter.

How are you communicating with residents about the works? 

Phoenix Surfacing should be directly communicating with residents if there are going to be disruptions. If this does not happen, please do get in touch Phoenix Surfacing enquiries@phoenixsurfacing.com Urban&Civic 01223 622533.

Where will the new bins being installed be located and who will manage these?

Bins will be installed next to the bus shelters and benches. Urban&Civic aim to transfer them to Greenbelt.

Homes England Update - Dean Harris, Senior Planning and Enabling Manager

View the presentation [PDF, 4.5MB]

-       Submitted planning application for the Phase 2 BMX track.

-       Subject to planning permission the aim is to begin construction Spring 2025 with a view to open summer 2025. Landscaping will follow and be complete early 2026.

-       Access will initially be via the path around Halcyon Mere.

-       Work to start on the five listed WWII pillboxes. They will be deep cleaned, repaired and converted to bat roosts.

-       Engagement coming up: Phase 3A Key Stage 1 Design Code & Public Art Strategy.

What measures are being put in place to protect the bat roosts? 

The pillboxes will have lockable gates fitted to prevent unwanted access. The opening beneath the cap will have a grill so that bats can move freely in and out but to prevent other animals or humans from entering. 

As a BMX track is being designed for Phase 2 could a skatepark be provided in Phase 3?

Homes England hopes to also provide a skatepark within Phase 2 as part of the NEAP. 

Is it possible to open the bus route between Phase 1 and the Secondary College to allow Secondary College students to cycle to school away from Stirling Road?

Homes England are reviewing this, but they do have construction traffic on the land adjacent and this will also be the next parcel to be developed so would need to be closed again in the future. 

The paths around the existing lakes are very wet. Will lessons be learnt from these for future areas?

Homes England are currently carrying out some drainage works around Halcyon Mere to specifically address the flooding of paths around this lake.

Planning Update – Luke Mills and Sophie Pain, Principal Planners, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning

View the presentation [PPTX, 7MB]

-       Phase 2 BMX Track is currently a live planning application 24/04716/REM

-       Residents and Town Council have provided support for this.

-       The track will be suitable for both bikes and scooters and will accommodate both beginners and more advanced riders.

Northstowe Learning Community – Claire Mills, Principle

View the presentation [PDF, 3.5MB]

-   Northstowe Learning Campus comprises of the Meridian Trust’s Northstowe Primary School, Northstowe Secondary College, Northstowe Sixth Form and special school Martin Bacon Academy (for young people aged 3 to 19).

-       The nursery and pre-school are not part of the trust.

-       The sixth form building is now open and there will be a formal opening on 25 March. Offers A levels and vocational courses including BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts in Dance.

-       Primary School due to be complete in the summer but currently open to Reception.

-       The school has received bids from potential providers to run the dual-use community facilities which will be available for both school and public use, this will include the gym. Interviews taking place later this month (March 2025). The school is also liaising with Northstowe Hub regarding potential operation of the cafe.

-       Cllr Firouz Thompson provided an update on the nursery. The nursery is growing each week. 71 children are currently registered with a further 11 due in April. Demand appears to be focused on term-time provision.

Very concerned about the parking outside the school during school drop-off and collection and children cycling the wrong way in the cycle lane, is the school aware of this problem?

The school is aware of the parking issues and the number of taxis attending Martin Bacon Academy. The Secondary College is trying to encourage parents to drop off in the secondary college car park. The college also educates their pupils on cycling in lessons and assemblies. If residents have a description of any child cycling inappropriately, the school is happy to follow up with individuals specifically. The school is also constantly reviewing their travel plan. Tam Parry, Cambridgeshire County Council, also updated that colleagues are working closely with Martin Bacon Academy on how to reduce the number of taxis attending and encouraging them to park and wait at the Park & Ride before the car park opens.

Will adult education classes be held at the college?

Claire Mills stated she was very aware of the adult education programme run at Swavesey Village College and if residents would like to make suggestions for the sorts of courses to offer at Northstowe Secondary College then the school would be very open to developing a programme there too.

Voi in Northstowe – Theo Gough, City Success Manager

View the presentation [PDF, 1.5MB]

-        Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority submitted a proposal to extend their existing scheme outside of Cambridge to include, amongst other locations, Northstowe and Oakington. Late last year this was approved.

-         Voi now considering potential designated parking locations within Northstowe and are working with Urban&Civic and Homes England. Rides will only be able to start and end at these designated locations.

-       Potential locations are Longstanton Park & Ride, The Green, Western Park Pavilion, Claudius Walk. Long-term - Northstowe Secondary College, Keepmoat, future Town Centre.

-       Voi will be able to manage where bikes can go and can also reduce the speed in certain areas. Normal speed is 20km/hr but there could slow zones e.g. outside schools which could be 12km/hr.

-       The minimum age for the Voi scooters is 18 years old and the bikes 16 years old.

-       Anti-social behaviour policy: 1) Warning sent to user, 2) mandatory training, 3) permanent ban from the App.

What would the costs involved be?

A 30-minute journey cost £3.99, 60-minute pass over 3 days £6.99, 120-minute week pass £14.99.

How will you know how much charge is remaining?

When the customer unlocks the bike or scooter, information on the remaining battery and mileage left is displayed.

Stagecoach East Update– Charlton Thornhill, Head of Commercial

View the presentation [PDF, 3.5MB]

-       TIGER Pass: Offers discounted travel for under-25s.

-       Bus A now runs every 10 minutes but there have been delays due to congestion on Hills Road.

Why was Northstowe removed from the Cambridge City ticketing zone?

The ticketing structure has been simplified. The impact will be mitigated under the new £2 fare cap from the Department of Transport.

Will bus routes be synced with Cambridge North train schedules?

Stagecoach reviewed this but found alignment difficult. 

Why isn’t the middle door used for boarding? Common in London but less so elsewhere.

Whilst this may be suitable for Busway use, when the buses are later in their life redeployed to less premium routes the middle door could not be utilised, so this is not the current approach. However, this could be reviewed for the Busway. 

Northstowe Town Council - Cllr Paul Littlemore, Town Mayor

-       Recently recruited 3 new councillors. Currently have one more vacancy which will be filled by co-option in the March meeting.

-       Monthly market being held on The Green, First Sunday of the month except August.

-       Community Lounge at The Cabin every Thursday 6pm to 8pm

-       Mobile Food Hub held on The Green, Fridays 10.30am to 11.30am.

-       Has submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council a draft proposal to operate Unity Centre.

Community Update - Mihaela Stan and Michele Eidevik-Skinner, Community Development Officers, SCDC

·       Occupation Counts: Phase 1: 1434, Phase 2: 127. Total new build: 1561.

·       Sustainable Northstowe to a tree planting session at Pioneer Park 8 March.

·       Digital Assistance drop-in sessions taking place at The Cabin, 2 Friday of the month 3pm-4pm. Offers support such as using/downloading apps, searching information online, email accounts and more.

·       Supporting the set-up of a new Amateur Dramatics group for adults. The group meets Thursday evenings 7pm to 8.30pm at The Cabin, preparing for their first play at the Midsummer Festival in June.

·       As part of the Great Big Green Week Sustainable Northstowe are holding their annual Community Action Day on 7 June. There will be recycling skips, toy and clothes swap, creative workshop, litter picking and various works. More information in shared on social media and noticeboards nearer the time.

·       An indoor defibrillator has been installed in The Cabin the storage room. It can be accessed anytime The Cabin is open. Residents are reminded to still call 999 in an emergency.

·       Let’s Cook hosted a 6-hour course during half-term teaching primary-school agreed children about nutrition, planning, preparing and cooking meals.

·       Northstowe Table Tennis have resumed and are meeting at Northstowe Secondary College on Monday evenings 7pm and Saturday mornings 10am.

·       Northstowe Foodbank continue to operate from The Cabin on a Wednesday 1pm to 3pm. The CDOs thank the volunteers for all their hard work. 

·       Menopause Group have hosted a range of guest speakers including a skin specialist in February. On 19 March an artist will be speaking to the group about her symptoms of the menopause which led to her taking up art.

·       London – Edinburgh – London cycle event (957 miles) which starts on 3 August will be stopping off at Northstowe. The Secondary College will be acting as a control point, offering food, drink and showers. Nearer the time the event organisers will be looking for volunteers to assist with this.

·       Midsummer Festival will be taking place on 21 June 12pm to 8pm on The Green. There will be a wide programme of activities. Community groups and organisations are invited to get involved offering information stands, activities for different age groups, performances and more, please contact Mari mari@northstowearts.co.uk  

Stream the recording of the meeting here

At the start of the meeting Nick Upton, Greenbelt apologised that at the previous meeting Gerry McQuade had made reference to Greenbelt’s commitment to respond to customers within 20 days as per the terms of their customer care charter. Unfortunately, a customer was left waiting longer than that and Greenbelt would like to personally apologise for this. It was not their intention to try and mislead any of their customers.

Please note: A short section of Mr Upton's statement was lost due to a recording error.

Northstowe Community Buildings – Kirstin Donaldson, Head of Acquisitions – SCDC

View the presentation [PDF, 0.2MB]

• Phase 1 Community Building – there has been a slight delay to stating on site. SCDC have been working with Urban&Civic, who have begun their finishing works on the roads and cycleways, to ensure that both teams can work side to side without causing too much trouble.
• Expect to be on site in the New Year. Site compound will need to be put up first.
• Residents on both sides of the B1050, Links Lane and Pathfinder Way will be notified by post. Information will also be shared through the Town Council and social media.
• Following residents being able to put forward suggestions for the name of the new community building, with the selected name of Unity Centre.

Given the late start on site will this affect end completion date?

Construction should still be completed by March 2026.

From the plans the building has limited storage space, where will items be able to be stored?

The building meets the requirements for storage of a building that size. The operator (to be confirmed) will need to work with all groups wishing to store items.

Willingham Medical Practice – Sharon Unwin, Practice Manager

No presentation

• 11,840 patients, 3286 Northstowe, 3038 Longstanton, 5490 Willingham and surrounding villages.
• Routine appointments waiting time – 3 weeks at Willingham, 2.5 weeks Longstanton. Online appointments – 2 weeks at Willingham, 4 weeks at Longstanton. Some on the day appointments are available.
• Offer an online triage service where residents can input symptoms and receive a call back.
• Current staffing 9 GPS – 2 partners, 7 salaried, 3 nursers and a phlebotomist, 2 secretaries, 7 receptionists, 4 dispensers, one note summarizer, assistant practice management and practice manager. Also have access to a community matron, social prescriber and first contact physio.

Are there plans for Longstanton to open in the afternoon?

Longstanton is currently open on Monday afternoons. Currently we have as many sessions as is affordable for the practice to have. The number of sessions that can be run depends on the number of patients. As patients increase the number of sessions, and it is likely these sessions will be at Longstanton.

Phase 1 Finishing Works: Stephen Sage Associate Direct of Project Management, Urban & Civic

View the presentation [PDF, 0.7MB]

• The finishing works to the main distributor roads (Pathfinder Way, Links Lane, Stirling Road, Eagle Way, Wellington Road and the busway which is made-up of Claudia’s Walk and Birdie Walk), the footways and cycleways will now be carried out. Will also include the remedial works to streetlights. Damaged manhole covers will also be replaced. Traffic signals will be installed at the busway junctions on Stirling Road and Eagle Way. Map of the works included within the presentation.
• Each section will be completed fully and offered to Cambridgeshire County Council to be placed into maintenance and 12 months later or sooner will be adopted.
• Have awarded the contract to Phoenix Contracting who have started on site and the overall duration of works will be 80 weeks (summer 2026).
• Will try to complete the works will minimal distribution but at times roads will need to be closed. Advance signage will be put up to notify residents and affected residents will receive letter drops. Will also work with the SCDC Communities team to ensure important messages and notices are put out to residents.
• Urban&Civic apologised that the work had not taken place this year as previously mentioned.

Over the last 6 years cycleways have been used primarily for parking. How are you proposing addressing that problem and ensuring that they do become usable cycleways?

Will start with a soft approach and as the cycleway are completed these are then only to be used as dedicated cycleways. They will be marked with red surfacing. Will monitor the situation and if it is a major problem other avenues can be explored. For example, if required private enforcement and fine are an option.

Is it still the house builders responsible for the roads which are not the main distributor roads? For example, Heron Road is unfinished, are you going to communicate with them to ensure they’re going to finish at similar time?

Housebuilders are responsible for their roads. We can chase and hassle them. Bovis (responsible for Heron Road) has been chased for an update. Bovis are looking to complete H5 at the end of 2025 so anticipate all their works will be complete by then.

Previous dates have been provided at previous forums. Will you meet the deadline of 2026?

Phoenix contractors have now been appointed and we hope that the length of time scheduled for the works has been overestimated.

Homes England – Dean Harris, Catherines O’Toole and Emma Drake

View the presentation [PDF, 27MB].

• Northstowe Neighbours – over the summer carried out a survey to get some feedback to understand how residents are feeling about living in Northstowe. 186 people. Benchmarked against a survey of 100 people living in Cambridge. Details of the survey included within the presentation.
• Working with the Council to bring forward to the Town Hub and a commercial unit will be delivered on the Keepmoat site by SCDC.
• Working with Capital&Centric on the future Town Centre and meanwhile use. Currently reviewing the feedback received following Capital&Centric’s engagement event in October. Hoping to submit a meanwhile use application in the New Year.
• Also keen to evolve the Northstowe brand - Northstowe, Cambridge: Breaking boundaries, daring to be different.
• Keepmoat – last month completed their 100^th A small amount of commercial space will become available in the summer.
• In early discussions with NHBC to deliver a new apprenticeship to give employment opportunities to those living in Northstowe. Also about to sign an agreement with Building Heros to provide training for veterans to get them back into the workplace.

With the positivity is there a view to ensure past mistakes are not made again?

Currently in the early delivery of Phase 2 and have already delivered the lakes, the land is being prepared for the BMX which will be open in 2025. Also have a dedicated haul route which will allow most of the construction traffic to be segregated so roads can be complete at the beginning in the beginning?

How much have you spent on new branding?

Costs are relatively modest given the size of the development and the benefits the branding will bring such drawing development partners and businesses to the development outweighs this.

How do you engage with the community?

Homes England are in regular discussion with the community groups and will also be setting up working groups. They want to work with the community. Have also set up the Community Activation fund to support community groups and events.

Any update on the Town Centre starting?

Homes England announced a Strategic Collaboration Agreement with Keepmoat and Capital&Centric in July 2024 to accelerate the delivery of 3000 homes and the town centre within the Phase 2 of Northstowe. Early facilities are likely to take the form of a ‘meanwhile’ or pop-up space which is being explored at the moment. It is hoped that a planning application will be submitted in the next couple of months with work starting Spring/Summer next year (subject to planning). The first commercial space to be delivered at Northstowe is due to be completed at Stirling Fields (Phase 2) in Summer 2025.

Phase 1 Faith Land, Clare Gibbons Growth Manager SCDC

View the Presentation [PDF, 0.3MB].

• First parcel of land which will come forward adjacent parcel H13, of 0.25 hectares. Offers an opportunity for the community to invest in the future of Northstowe.
• Following a Cabinet decision, SCDC will be opening the bidding process early 2025 (intention January 2025) for an entire year.
• Have created a development guidance which sets out the constraints of the site and give groups an idea of what might be delivered on the land.
• Eligibility: The faith or community group has to have a pre-existing association with Northstowe, has to have charitable status and be able to demonstrate it has the financial resources and organisational capacity to deliver their project. The building must fulfill not only the purpose of that specific community but provide wider community benefits which must be evidenced clearly.
• At the end of the bidding process the bids will be assessed by officers and a summary of the bids will be shared with the public for at least 6 weeks. The decision will be made by Cabinet and SCDC will be seeking approval from the Secretary of State on that disposal which will be less than best consideration.

Will future faith allocations be open after each phase is complete or will they run in parallel?

The next parcel will be in the town centre, once we know what this looks like we will share more details.

Can the process not be faster?

For the Phase 1 parcel SCDC cannot take the land prior to January 2026, also faith groups asked for a year bidding process as it is a huge task to acquire the grant funding.

Connecting Cambridgeshire – Michael Stevens Lead for Infrastructure - CCC

View the presentation [PDF, 3MB].

The presentation focuses on mobile network design and its impact on Northstowe's coverage and connectivity. It highlights the Connecting Cambridgeshire programme's efforts to enhance digital infrastructure through three workstreams:

• Infrastructure
• Innovation
• Inclusion

The document explains the types of mobile infrastructure, coverage factors, and the increasing data usage driving network improvements. It also addresses Northstowe's specific coverage issues and ongoing efforts to resolve them, including

• Drive test surveys
• Engagement with mobile network operators
• Support for technology pilots

Expanded Notes [PDF, 61Kb].

Can a neutral mast be crowd or council funded

In theory a mast could be fully/partially funded by an external group/organisation however the design/location would need to be aligned with Mobile Network Operator (MNO) requirements and would need their buy-in to ensure it would be utilised to provide the intended coverage. It needs to be noted that even without the costs associated with deploying a new mast there are significant on-going operational costs for an MNO associated with running a site including rent. maintenance, power & fibre connectivity. Specialist advice would certainly need to be sought to assess this approach.

Co-investment is something Connecting Cambridgeshire plan to explore over the coming year to assess the opportunity to expedite the deployment of new masts in priority locations where communities are underserved and there are no commercial plans for deployment. However, we do need to be aware that subsidy control regulations need to be adhered to and ensure that any investment would generate value for money for taxpayers particularly if commercial investment should be resolving the issue.

Northstowe Town Council - Councillor Paul Littlemore

• Market is now taking place on the First Sunday of the month (no market in January)
• Have Appointed Giuseppe Bernardis as Assets and Estates Manager who is working on a business case for the community building.
• Currently have 3 town council Vacancies - Northstowe Town Council

Community Development Update - Mihaela Stan and Michele Eidevik-Skinner

Presentation [PDF, 6.5MB] [PDF, 0Kb]

• Latest occupation counts: Phase 1: 1406, Phase 2: 90
• Regular digital assistance sessions are now taking place at The Cabin, first Wednesday of the month 1-2pm, providing support such as using or downloading apps, searching information online, emails, maps.
• Recently spring bulbs have been planted in the raised beds in garden of The Cabin, these were funded by Keepmoat.
• Over the last year The Cabin has been regularly used by a wide range of groups including the Child and Family service, community groups, dance classes, faith groups and midwives. The micro library is also regularly used and the community café very popular on a Wednesday and Sunday morning.
• Last Friday, Light Up Northstowe took place, organised by Northstowe Arts. Funded by National Lottery, Greenbelt, Northstowe Town Council, Homes England (Community Activation Fund).
• Sunday 22 December 4pm, Advent Window walk will be taking place starting at The Cabin.

Q&A

There are lots of different organisations responsible for various land etc in Northstowe. Is it possible to have map showing who manages which areas.

Urban&Civic offered to produce something.

Why have Hatton Road Ponds been included on the Greenbelt plan?

Greenbelt may manage Hatton Roads Ponds in the future. They have been included in the plan so residents are aware of this possibility. Currently residents are not being charged for maintenance. Urban&Civic continue to maintain Hatton Road Ponds. Urban&Civic are also currently reviewing some of the residents TP1s. 

Northstowe Community Building 

Kirstin Donaldson, Head of Acquisitions, South Cambridgeshire District Council

View the presentation [PDF, 2MB]

• Construction site will be adjacent to The Cabin (Temporary Community Centre) and will begin November.
• The existing blue hoarding on Stirling Road will be fixed and the land behind used as a storage compound and contractor parking.
• Construction site plan attached. The building will come up to the edge of the grass and the canopy will be on the paved area. As a result, the site compound will come up to where the trees are currently on the paved area. The trees will be relocated elsewhere in Northstowe (tree survey is taking place) and new trees will be planted once the building is constructed.
• During construction there will be no loss of any provision at The Cabin. The green fencing will need to be moved slightly. The sheds in the back garden will be moved and the cycle parking will be moved to the front of the building.
• We will need an address to install services such as the internet, water and electricity so looking to name the building.
• Residents can provide their suggestions until 11 October either using a postcard in The Cabin or by using the online form. When providing a suggestion, consider what the building will be used for. For example, potentially a wedding reception and what that may look like on an invitation. All suggestions will be shared with Northstowe Delivery Group.
• Now have a new working title, Town Hub, for the building formerly known as the Civic Hub. South Cambs have instructed some detailed feasibility work.

Greenbelt

Gerry McQuade, Billing Manager 

View the presentation [PDF, 0.6MB].

• There has been some non-routine works this year including play area repairs, planting and tree works. The total additional approximate cost will be £15.21 for each resident
• Proposed bill for the new year £107 + VAT (increase of £6 per bill). This coming year anticipating to take on new areas including Kingfisher Pond.
• Will be back in Northstowe first week in November when Greenbelt have the actual bills and also the bills for the individual house bills.

Questions received 

Can the plastic sleeves used to protect the saplings which are still wrapped around mature trees be removed?

Each winter this is carried out and there is a plan to remove any not required this winter. We do not manage the trees around the lakes though.

Why were dog bins missed for 2 months?

Unfortunately, a few bins within in the newly adopted areas which were missed. There was an issue with the bins being taken on by our original contractor. A new contractor has now been appointed and Greenbelt apologised for the missed bins.

Homes England

Dean Harris, Senior Planning Manager/Richard Spackman, Development Director

View the presentation [PDF, 1MB].

• Greenfisher are on site forming the eastern sports hub pitches down near the education campus. This includes football pitches, a cricket pitch, outdoor gym and BMX track. Works are due to complete Spring 2025 – but the pitches will require at least 18 months to establish before then can be used.
• Cognition are digging the next drainage lake (pond 5) and using that material to raise the land levels of Phase 2C. The internal haul road and future bus only route are being used to transfer material to minimise use of public roads. Work is due to be completed in Spring 2025.
• CR MacDonald are due to start site preparation works in the west of phase 2 (the old barracks area) at the end of September. Existing buildings and important trees are to be retained.
• Rampton greenway has now been reopened following repair and CCTV has been installed on the southern access road to reduce issues of anti-social behaviour.
• Homes England continuing to investigate early opening of the cycleway alongside the future bus link (within Phase 3A) to the guided busway. Discussions ongoing with the County Council.
• Unity Lake and Halcyon Mere are primarily designed for surface water management. Their design maximises the potential of these features to support ecology and public amenity. This may include access to the water itself in the future – once fully established – but this is subject to agreement with Anglia Water and matters such as monitoring water quality.
• Homes England is pleased to introduce new development partners Capital and Centric (who will be working alongside Keepmoat) and TOWN.
• Capital & Centric will be holding an event 10 October at Tap and Social to speak with residents and understand what residents would like to see. 

Questions received 

Are there any timelines on the lakes potentially being taken over? 

No specific timeline for that other than that is the current intention.

When will the retail unit come forward in Phase 2b?

SCDC have acquired the ground floor commercial unit (192 sqm). Cannot provide exact details at the moment but there will be an open process when the building is closer to being ready.

TOWN

Frances Wright, Head of Community Housing

View the presentation [PDF, 7.5MB].

• Profit-with purpose developer. Deliver residential-led mixed-use development in the UK.
• Working with Mole architects
• Location Phase 2D.1 (map included within their presentation)
• Parcel has potential to deliver c130 homes, likely in 4 blocks. Looking to deliver 1 or 2 blocks of cohousing.
• Cohousing: An intentional community that blends private homes with shared spaces. Example – Marmalade Lane.
• Northstowe cohousing - Register for next webinar 3 October & brief-setting weekend 19/20 October

Northstowe Faith Land and specific update on Phase 1 Faith Land

Clare Gibbons, Growth Manager, South Cambridgeshire District Council

View the presentation [PDF, 0.1MB].

• Phase 1 allocation: 0.25ha adject to Parcel H13 and Bug Hunter Waters
• Phase 2 allocation: An area of serviced land in the town centre capable of providing between 1000-1050 sqm gross internal area (could be land or floorspace within a building)
• Phase 3a allocation: 0.15ha of serviced land within the site, adjacent to the Local Centre or within a secondary mixed-use zone. Also a community garden for remembrance and reflection.
• Phase 3b allocation: 0.1675ha of serviced land within the site, within or adjacent to the secondary mixed-use zone or adjacent to the primary school.
• For Phase 1 allocation a development brief has been finalised and the service corridor approved. Land set to transfer to SCDC c. January 2026. SCDC seeking Cabinet approval in November to activate the faith land allocation process and agree the terms of disposal. If approved, the bidding window will be open for 12 months. For more information, please read the Northstowe Faith Land Allocation Policy Report.
• Any building delivered on the faith/voluntary land should accommodate, in addition to any dedicated worship space, shared space to be made available, with staff to support the provision of a range of community activities open to all. Such shared space must also be made available to other community and faith groups without restriction.

Northstowe Town Council

Cllr Paul Littlemore

Presentation [PDF, 0.1MB] [PDF, 0.1MB]

• Recruited new market manager – Ola Kuzior-Griggs
• Currently recruiting for an Assets and Estates Manager who would consider future assets such as community buildings, open spaces. Applications have now closed.
• Hope on the Go – Mobile food van coming to Northstowe every Friday 10.30 to 11.30 on The Green – providing everyday essentials at a low cost or free.

Community Development Update

Mihaela Stan/Michele Eidevik-Skinner, South Cambridgeshire District Council

• Very successful Midsummer Festival took place in June. Northstowe Arts and Northstowe Hub are already considering plans for next year. Date for your diary 21 June 2025.
• Community Action Day was very well attending with recycling skips and toy swap and Sustainable Northstowe looking to repeat the event next year.
• Excellent Northstowe Running Festival was helped at the end of August and finished with Northstowe Arts hosting an outdoor cinema showing The Greatest Showman.
• Light Up Northstowe will take place 23 November 2023 with a lantern parade finishing at The Green ready for the switch on.
• Longstanton and Northstowe Bowls Club has been successful in receiving Kickstart Funding (through Homes England’s s106 funding) to purchase some junior bowls.
• Homes England’s Community Activation Fund has already funded 3 events – Midsummer Festival, Outdoor Cinema and Ganesh Utsav. If you have an idea would like to discuss do contact Mihaela or Michele northstowe.community@scambs.gov.uk

Q&A sessions

Who is responsible for managing the parking taking place on the cycle lanes?

Once the roads are finished and complete (2025) the cycle lane will be red. County Council will then adopt the roads and South Cambridgeshire District Council will be able to carry out enforcement.

The cycle lanes along Stirling Road are protected by the bollards but they are then not cleaned by the sweepers, can this be addressed?

Homes England will take this away and Interim Principal of Northstowe Learning Community, Claire Mills, will also inform Kier who are still carrying out construction works to the education campus.

What can be done about the buses arriving full at Longstanton Park and Ride resulting in long queues for buses at peak times?

A lengthy discussion took place regarding full buses arriving at Stagecoach. Cllr Firouz Thompson has been working hard with Stagecoach to increase the frequency but there are still full buses arriving in the morning. Residents are encouraged to write to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Stagecoach to show there is strong interest from residents in using the bus service. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority are also currently conducting a bus franchise consultation. Details can be found on the CPCA website.

Update: Since the forum, MP Ian Sollom has written to the Combined Authority to express his concerns and ask for action to be taken.

What update is there on the Secondary College gym and café?

SCDC have been working very closely with Meriden Trust and colleagues at Cambridgeshire County Council. When the first phase of Northstowe Secondary College was built it was built with the dual use community facilities in place. At the moment the café and gym area are shells but we are working to bring forward that facility much earlier. The trigger within the s106 is 2500 occupations but we know the demand is there. SCDC has managed to secure substantial funding from the Combined Authorities Shared Prosperity Fund. SCDC are now working closely the school. Meridian Trust have carried out some very detailed market engagement work over the summer to assist with what model could be brought in.

Will the news of the Government’s plans for acceleration not just mean more housing?

Richard from Capital & Centric keen to incorporate some meanwhile use but want to ensure this is delivered in the right way. It is important to speak to residents to understand what you would like to see and looking to begin these conversations at the engagement event on 10 October.

Will there be a swimming pool?

Within the Phase 2 s106 land on the education campus has been secured for a 6-lane swimming. Within Phase 3a and b s106 some funding has been identified but this will not be enough so over the next decade will be looking to bring forward a strategy that will move us towards delivery of that pool, but it will involve identifying substantial additional funding. 

Phase 1 Community Building

Kirstin Donaldson, Service Manager Acquisitions and Development (SCDC) Steven Ponting, Contracts Manager, Kier Construction 

View the Northstowe Community Centre plans [PDF, 5.5MB].

• Achieved planning consent in December 2023.
• During the beginning of 2024 SCDC have been tendering for the contract.
• Kier, who have previously constructed Pathfinder Primary School and Education Campus, have been awarded the contract.
• The building will be situated adjacent to The Cabin on the green and Kier plan to utilise parcel 2 as site compound.
• The building has several sustainable credentials including a green roof, PV panels, ground source heat pump, rainwater harvesting and timber cladding.
• The site will also have 19% biodiversity net gain.
• Timelines – start on site autumn 2024, (designing the services now) build period end of autumn – winter 2025. Anticipated opening Early 2026.
• Question asked: What maintenance will the timber cladding require? The cost to maintain the building, including the cladding will be very low.

Western Park Pavilion

Joe Harper, Elite Sports UK

• Elite Sports manage 6 leisure centres across the country, including Western Park Pavilion.
• The pavilion is being open in 3 stages: 4G, MUGA and Bowls Green Open
• Have applied for alcohol licence – deadline 10 May. If successful Elite Sports will be installing the bar. TVs will also be installed within the club room.
• Grass pitches will be available to hire once the seeding has grown
• Holding an activation 18 May 9am to 3pm to allow the community to join in a range of taster sessions including football, netball, bowls, dance. There will also be a climbing wall.
• Have recently appointed Sports Development Officer, Chloe Smith, who is establishing different sessions. These include Wild Cats (football sessions for girls 5-11) and Squad Girls (football sessions for girls aged 12 to 14). A Just Play session for all children/teenagers will be taking place on a Monday 3:30 to 4:30pm free of charge.
• As these sessions grow Chloe will be able work with the community to establish Northstowe clubs.

Homes England

View the Homes England Update presentation [PPTX, 10.5MB].

Catherine O'Toole, Planning and Enabling Manager

• Greenfisher are on site and are forming the sports pitches. Works expected to be completed summer 2025 following by 18-month settlement period.
• The next works which will be taking place is to dig ‘Pond 5’ and raise the land levels of Phase 2C. Expected to start in June 2024 and last 10 months. The crossing between the greenway and Halcyon Mere will be closed during this period.
• Keepmoat are currently on site, 33 houses completed. They have also supported several community events including Northstowe Arts Cinema, Careers Event at Northstowe Secondary College and funding towards the raised beds at The Cabin.
• Will shortly be submitting a planning application to prepare Phase 2 west (the old barracks area). This involves clearance, remediation and earthworks. Exiting building and category A trees are proposed to remain.
• Looking to submit an updated Town Centre strategy in June.
• Chloe Leaper is continuing to work on the two sculptures to recognise the names of the lakes and hope to have an unveiling event in the summer.
• The road naming competition for the southern access road closed yesterday. Will be shortly announcing the winner.
• Have just launched a quality of life survey to help understand how experiences/perception change as the town grows, which residents are encouraged to complete. Feedback on the results will be given at future community forums.
• Please to launch the Northstowe Community Activation Fund with SCDC. The fund has a total value of £120k and will run from 2024 to 2029. 
• Estate team can be contacted on 0845 603 1485.

Phase 1 Faith/Community Land

View the Phase 1 Faith Land presenation [PPTX, 17.5MB].

Addendum Northstowe Development Brief- Faith Land V2 08 May 2024 [PDF, 1MB].

Northstowe Development Brief- Faith Land V2 13 March 2024 [PDF, 4MB].

Clare Gibbons, Growth Manager and Trovine Monteiro Built Environment Team Leader, SCDC

• A range of faith land will be provided within Northstowe.
• Phase 1 0.25 hectares of land, adjacent to parcel H13 (faith and community land)
• Phase 2 an area of serviced land in the town centre, capable of providing between 1000-1050 sqm gross internal area (could be land or floorspace within a building).
• Phase 3A 0.15 hectares of serviced land within the site, adjacent to the local centre, or within a secondary mixed-use zone; (community garden for remembrance and reflection to be delivered by Homes England in addition).
• Phase 3B 0.1675 hectares of serviced land within the site, within or adjacent to the secondary mixed-use zone or adjacent to the primary school.
• Eligibility criteria:
  • The faith/community group has an association with Northstowe.
  • The organisation has charitable status.
  • The applicant organisation has the financial resources and organisational capacity to deliver.
  • Any building delivered on the faith/voluntary land should accommodate, in addition to any dedicated worship space, shared space to be made available, with staff to support the provision of a range of community activities open to all. Such shared space must also be made available to other community and faith groups without restriction.
• The Communities team have been working with colleagues in the Built Environment team who has created a development brief which can be used as a start point for groups to guide discussions.
• The Built Environment team have researched local faith facilities to understand if there are coherent patterns, but they are all built to their own individual context - different sizes, different faith group, no one size fits all approach.
• The Phase 1 site has good links with the busway, cycle and walking routes and over looks the lake.
• One of the constraints the site currently has is there is a pipe which bisects the land. The pipe is to be moved by L&Q before site transfer.
• 5 Design Principles for the site have been developed:
• Respecting its landscape and setting
• Being a good neighbour
• Promoting active travel
• Building with a distinct identify
• Sustainable design
• The most challenging aspect to address will be provision of car parking spaces. This will depend on actual capacity, catchment, assessment of local need, realistic active travel. See design brief for layouts of possible options.
• Please provide feedback on the proposal by 17 May to clare.gibbons@scambs.gov.uk

Question raised at the forum:

• Will residents living locally be notified?

The community as whole is being notified through this Community Forum, but there will be opportunity as the bidding window approaches to notify those living in Taylor Wimpey’s Parcel H13 and the peninsular development of Phase 2A.

Community Development Updates

Mihaela Stan and Michele Eidevik-Skinner, SCDC

• Community Skips Day 15 June (8:30am to 1pm): Part of the Great Big Green Week which will be celebrated from 8-16 June on The Green. With community skips you can get rid of unwanted metal, wood and electricals for free. This year’s theme is ‘Let’s Swap Together for Good’. There will be a toy swap and a clothes swap stall, a ‘give & take’ stall, bike repair. Northstowe Arts and BPHA Storytelling and workshop to make something new out of recycling materials. Smart Journeys will also be there to provide advice on sustainable travel and their new schemes which we will tell you a little bit about in a minute.
• Midsummer Festival afternoon Saturday 22 June 3pm to 8pm: Preparations for the Midsummer Festival are under way, this will take place on The Green, it’s an event for the whole community. We are supporting Northstowe Arts and Northstowe Hub with preparations, there is participation from many other groups. Picnic, live music, games, dance, food trucks and much more.
• Northstowe Events Channel on WhatsApp: There is a new WhatsApp channel where community groups and organisations can post information on events, these can be viewed by residents. We will soon provide information on how the channel can be accessed.
• Enterprise Car Club Smart Journeys are working in partnership with Enterprise Car Club to provide a discounted e-car hire membership scheme for the Northstowe Community.  Local Northstowe residents will have access to a 1-year’s members at a discounted price of £10 (from £60) plus £10 free driving credit, and 10% off Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The E-vehicle, Nissan LEAF Auto EV, is located at Longstanton Park & Ride, conveniently situated by an EV charging station. Please get in touch if you’d like to sign up and you will be provided with an offer code.
• Car Sharing Scheme, Northstowe – Smart Journeys: Information for this can be found on the Northstowe Lift Share Community Site. You can post as a driver, passenger or both, and use the service to share journeys to school, work, shopping, gym etc. Its ethos is to help save money and reduce carbon emissions.
• Menopause Group The first Menopause group was held in April over coffee and cake. It was very successful with lots of sharing and comparing of information, i.e. symptoms such as ‘brain fog’ and body changes, but mainly there was lots of laughter. We are hoping to have some guest speakers in the future and look forward to having more residents join the group. The event is held at The Cabin on Wednesdays from 6pm – 7:30pm, future dates are: May 22, June 19, July 17. It has been kindly funded by Homes England.
• Wellbeing Walks take place on Friday mornings from The Cabin at 10:15am and last for about an hour followed by a free drink. They are a good way to up your step count, enjoy some fresh air, de-stress and meet other people. Future dates are: May 18, 24, June 7, July 5
• Touch Rugby We have been working with Cambridge Rugby Club and Elite Sports to start some Touch Rugby on the 4G pitch at Western Park Pavilion. This is a non-contact sport for males and females of any age. The sessions are starting on Wednesday 5 June, and will be from 6pm to 7pm. Booking will be through the Elite Sports website or by contacting the Community Development Team. This has been funded by Homes England through the Kickstart Fund. The first 3 sessions are free.
• Raised Beds With funding support from Keepmoat, we have been working with Northstowe Hub and Northstowe Horticultural Society to run 2 sessions on raised bed designs, one with the community and one with the Youth Hive. There will be a planting session on Saturday 18 May, booking for this is through the Northstowe Hub Facebook page or by contacting the Community Development Team, places are limited.

Contact: Northstowe.community@scambs.gov.uk