Manchester developer, Capital&Centric, is collaborating to deliver 3,000 homes and a new town centre in Northstowe, Cambridgeshire.
- Homes England, Capital&Centric, and Keepmoat Homes have signed an agreement to accelerate new home delivery.
- Northstowe is Britain’s largest new town development, promising high-quality homes and facilities.
- Half of the 3,000 homes will be affordable, providing accessible housing solutions.
- The new town centre will include 50,000 sq m of commercial space, enhancing local business and community life.
The ambitious collaboration between Capital&Centric, Keepmoat Homes, and Homes England aims to deliver 3,000 homes and a new town centre in Northstowe, Cambridgeshire. This marks a significant step forward for Northstowe, Britain’s largest new town development. The collaboration agreement is expected to fast-track the delivery of these residential units and build a vibrant, mixed-use town centre.
Of the new homes planned, 50% will be designated as affordable, ensuring that both rental and purchase options are accessible to local residents. This initiative is critical to meeting the housing needs of the community. In addition to residences, the town centre will offer up to 50,000 square metres of commercial floorspace. This will include shops, workspaces, and community amenities, providing a well-rounded environment for both living and working.
Matthew Pennycook, the Housing and Planning Minister, highlighted the importance of overcoming planning delays to unlock such large-scale projects. “For far too long, we have seen large scale housing projects stuck in the planning system. We will get Britain building again… This includes giving Homes England the tools they need to deliver the next phase in Northstowe town centre,” he stated. This new taskforce is set to remove barriers, ensuring progress continues smoothly.
The new town centre’s development benefits from existing infrastructure laid by Homes England. This includes roads, public transport routes, cycleways, green spaces, and schools. Homes England will continue as the master developer for Northstowe’s final two phases, ensuring a thorough and cohesive progression of the project.
Capital&Centric is known for imaginative and socially impactful developments. The company will lead the design and delivery of Northstowe’s town centre. John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, expressed excitement, saying, “Northstowe has all the makings of an exemplar new town, with inclusive community facilities and the sustainable new homes the UK so badly needs.” Capital&Centric plans to create a dynamic town centre, complete with contemporary apartments and low-carbon suburban homes under its ‘Neighbourhood’ brand.
Peter Freeman, Chair at Homes England, emphasised the agreement’s significance, mentioning the nearby multi-school Education Campus housing 700 pupils. He noted, “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.”
Keepmoat, focusing on first-time buyers, is already active in Northstowe with its Stirling Fields development. Their ongoing success sets a solid foundation for future phases. Tim Wray, Group Development Director at Keepmoat, remarked, “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be involved in delivering the UK’s newest town… 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.”
The Northstowe development represents a forward-thinking approach to addressing housing and community needs in Britain.