Developers deliver update on plans for phase three at Northstowe

Work on the third phase of developing Northstowe could begin in 2026-27, the developers have said.

The first phase of more than 1,000 homes is almost complete, but the new town is expected to grow to include 10,000 homes by 2040.

Representatives of Homes England, which is leading the Northstowe development, updated councillors at South Cambridgeshire District Council on 10 July on the work to create a design code for the first part of the third phase of work.

Outline planning permission for this phase was granted in 2022. It is due to include 4,000 homes, two primary schools, shops, parks and sports facilities.

The design code will guide the development for the first 1,600 homes, but will need to be signed off by the council before more detailed plans can be submitted for approval.

The representatives said they aim to begin on the third phase in 2026/27.

Cllr Peter Fane highlighted that the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, last week announced plans for a taskforce to accelerate development in Northstowe.

She included Northstowe as one of the four areas in the country she wanted to “accelerate stalled housing sites”.

Cllr Fane also highlighted the need in the town for more facilities as people move in and asked the developers to be more specific about the community facilities.

He added: “Do you think the pressure you may face to speed things up might affect the process of the design code?”

Dean Harris, from Homes England, said the phase 3A key stage one covered by the design code was mostly residential, but the developers hope to build it around the same time as the town centre in phase two of the development.

Further facilities would be built in the third phase at a later date.

Mr Harris said: “As well as looking to bring phase 3A key stage one forward, we will be continuing to deliver phase two, including the town centre for Northstowe, in partnership with the district council, who are delivering, for example, the important civic hub. There is a wider plan to bring those community facilities forward.

“We see phase two and phase 3A key stage one as complementing one another.

“Phase two is the town centre - it is likely to be higher density, higher proportion of apartments.

“Phase 3A key stage one is lower density, mainly houses, so we see those as complementary and we are able to bring those two forward together because they complement one another. They offer something slightly different and provide variety in the types of housing we can bring forward to the market.”