Manchester developer, Capital&Centric, is set to bring 3,000 homes and a new town centre to Northstowe in Cambridgeshire.
The venture comes through a collaboration agreement signed by Homes England, Keepmoat Homes, and Capital&Centric. Northstowe, identified as Britain’s largest new town under development, will see the realisation of 3,000 new homes, half of which will be affordable. This initiative aims to provide local people with access to quality housing for rent or purchase. Additionally, the new town centre will span up to 50,000 sq m of commercial space, including shops, workspaces, and community facilities.
Matthew Pennycook, the Minister for Housing and Planning, stated, ‘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.’
This development leverages existing infrastructure set up by Homes England, such as roads, public transport routes, cycleways, green spaces, and schools. Moving forward, the agency will serve as the master developer for the final two phases of this extensive 30-year project. Known for creating imaginative town centre neighbourhoods, Capital&Centric will be responsible for designing and delivering a vibrant town centre. This centre is envisioned to be the beating heart of Northstowe, featuring a mix of contemporary apartments and low carbon suburban homes under their ‘Neighbourhood’ brand.
John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, remarked, ‘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.’
Peter Freeman, Chair at Homes England, noted, ‘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.’
Keepmoat Homes, currently building and selling homes at Northstowe with its 300-home Stirling Fields development, is expected to complete by autumn 2027. Tim Wray, Group Development Director at Keepmoat, commented, ‘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.’
He added, ‘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 aims to provide training for school and college leavers, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities, as well as support for local groups, charities, and small businesses.
Northstowe, being developed on the former RAF Oakington air base, currently houses around 3,000 people in 1,400 homes. The town boasts primary, special educational needs, and secondary schools, a park and ride facility, a sports centre, water parks, bridleways, cycle lanes, a community centre, playgrounds, and allotments. A further primary school, sixth form college, and second sports facility are under construction.
The collaboration between Capital&Centric, Homes England, and Keepmoat Homes sets the stage for Northstowe’s transformation into a vibrant and sustainable community. This ambitious development promises to deliver quality housing, community facilities, and economic opportunities, making Northstowe a model for future town developments in the UK.