Government development agency, Homes England has signed deal with developers to accelerate the delivery of 3,000 homes in what is billed as Britain’s largest new town under development.
The collaboration agreement with Keepmoat Homes and Capital&Centric marks a significant milestone in realising plans for the new homes, and the construction of a new mixed-use town centre in Northstowe, near Cambridge.
Matthew Pennycook, minister for housing and planning, said: “For far too long we have seen large-scale housing projects stuck in the planning system and that is why we will create a new taskforce to accelerate these stalled sites. We will get Britain building again and work is already under way to unlock thousands of new homes in Northstowe.
“This includes giving Homes England the tools they need to deliver the next phase in Northstowe town centre so we can build the quality homes that this local community desperately needs.”
The development of the town centre is made possible by existing infrastructure already delivered by Homes England (including roads, public transport routes, cycleways, green spaces and schools). Moving forward, the agency says it will act as the master developer for the final two phases of this 30-year project.
Peter Freeman, chair at Homes England, said: “This agreement marks a significant step towards the creation of a vibrant town centre in Northstowe, just across the road to the multi-school education campus, which already has 700 pupils and is currently being extended to house over 2,000 people.
“This collaboration with Keepmoat and Capital&Centric will allow us to further our investment in supporting the local community, helping create new, quality, affordable housing and ensuring this emerging town is a vibrant place to live.”
Working across the UK, Capital&Centric is described as a social impact developer that has gained a reputation for delivering “imaginative” town centre neighbourhoods, with a focus on “standout” architecture.
The company will be responsible for the design and delivery of the town centre, intended to become the “beating heart” of Northstowe. It will also set out plans to include new high-quality homes that are expected to be a mix of contemporary apartments and its ‘Neighbourhood’ brand of low carbon suburban homes.
Exemplar town
John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “Northstowe has all the makings of an exemplar new town, with inclusive community facilities and the sustainable new homes the UK so badly needs.
“We’ve honed our craft delivering imaginative regeneration of towns and cities, with an acute focus on both social impact and award-winning design. We can’t wait to get stuck in, working with the burgeoning community to deliver a green town centre that gives Northstowe its own standout identity.”
Keepmoat, which focusses on first-time buyers, is already actively building and selling homes at Northstowe with its 300-home Stirling Fields development – expected to complete in the autumn of 2027. Its current success on site establishes a strong foundation for its future phases. The organisation will oversee the development of additional multi-tenure homes close to the town centre.
Tim Wray, group development director at Keepmoat, said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be involved in delivering the UK’s newest town. Working closely with Capital&Centric and Homes England, we know this collaboration will deliver transformational change at Northstowe, building on the significant infrastructure Homes England has delivered to date on the scheme. Bringing forward the new town centre, to be delivered by Capital&Centric, is the catalyst for this change and will be instrumental in place making at Northstowe.
“Delivering quality new homes at this flagship site is a key element of bringing the community to life, and we are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with both Capital&Centric and Homes England to ensure this sustainable community continues to grow.”
This collaboration is also expected to catalyse a range of benefits for the local community, including training for school and college leavers, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, as well as support for local groups, charities and small businesses,
Northstowe is being developed on and around the site of the former RAF Oakington air base and through its early-stage developments, is home to around 3,000 people in 1,400 homes.
The town also includes existing primary, special educational needs and secondary schools, a park and ride facility linking the town to the city of Cambridge, a sports centre, water parks, miles of bridleways and cycle lanes, and other facilities such as a community centre, playgrounds and allotments.
Currently under construction is a further primary school, a sixth form college and a second sports facility.
Main image: Northstowe. Credit: Paper Films
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