Northstowe Community Forum

Community Buildings

Clare Gibbons, Growth Manager and Kirstin Donaldson, Service Manager Acquisitions and Development, South Cambridgeshire District Council

Community Buildings [PPTX, 10.5MB]

Phase 1 Permanent Community Building

• December 2023 – received planning permission for the Permanent Community building.
• Engagement with the town council and community groups really improved the design and planning officers could see the huge ambition.
• The building will have a range of sustainability credentials including ground source heat pumps, solar panels, 19% biodiversity net gain.
• The procurement process has begun.

Western Park Pavilion

• The Pavilion opened on Saturday 20 January with the first match taking place on the 4G.
• Elite Sports UK managing the facility on behalf of SCDC and are already busy taking lots of bookings.
• Recruitment is currently taking place including interviewing for their Sports Development Officer.
• A premises licence has been submitted and an outcome typically takes 30 days.

For more information, please visit the Western Park Sports Pavilion website. 

Nursery School Provision in Northstowe

Alan Fitz, Place Planning, Cambridgeshire County Council and Alison Revell, Education Capital Framework & Programme Manager

Nursery School Provision in Northstowe [PPTX, 0.9MB]

• Construction making good progress.
• There will be roadworks outside the campus to complete the foul water drainage – 3 weeks of traffic management.
• Following a survey there was a strong preference for full day nursery provision.
• Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) use a Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System to find nursery providers. Providers are invited to join this and when new opportunities arise, they can apply.
• During February the CCC will be inviting new providers to join the PDPS. Following this the Northstowe opportunity will be offered and providers will then be assessed.
• Hope to make a decision on a provider during April/May so they can open September 2024.
• Plan to start with one room in autumn 2024 which will be extended to 3 rooms from January 2025.
• From September 2024 one class of Reception will open. In due course there will be 630 places across the school available.
• Expansion will increase the number of pupils in the Secondary College from 600 – 1200. In due course this will increase to 1800.
• In September the sixth form will open. Healthy numbers have applied for the sixth form, and this will give students another option.
• Expanding Martin Bacon Academy to offer 20 post-16 places.
• Much effort being made to recruit childminders and childcare workers.

Questions received at the forum:

• Is the secondary school considering running the International Baccalaureate?   No – It is a hugely expensive course and Impington VC do it very well and are very close to us, so it would not be financially viable.
• Are there any plans to run community education courses?  We do run community education classes, but the take up has been small. If there is a desire for more, please contact the Adult Education Department at Swavesey VC who oversee the offer at present.

Greater Cambridge Shared Planning 

Luke Mills, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service

Greater Cambridge Shared Planning [PPTX, 20.5MB]

• GCSPS is the planning service that serves two local planning authorities – South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council.
• There are several stages when a new development is established.
• Plan Making Stage: This has already taken place for Northstowe but during this stage Planning Policy officers carried out a wide various of work and as a result the Northstowe Area Action Plan was produced.
• Decision Taking Stage: All four phases of Northstowe have outline planning permission. Outline permissions sets out some basic parameters such as where different land uses will be located, how tall building can be in a given location and the main walking and cycling routes. Each planning permission is accompanied with a Section 106 agreement, a legal agreement that secures a range of things which must be provided within the development such as schools, community facilities and affordable housing. Each permission also requires the approval of a Design Code, which contains comprehensive requirements that guide the detailed designs presented in Reserved Matters applications.
• Prior to a planning application being submitted, developers typically seek pre-application advice. These discussions are confidential so residents will not automatically be able to give their thoughts. However, the planning service encourages developers to engage with the local community as they prepare their designs, so you contact about surveys/workshops/engagement events do take the opportunity to share your views and local knowledge. The pre-application stage is the best chance to help the developer make improvements before they settle on a final design.
• Compliance – third main function of the Local Planning Authority is to ensure development is carried out in accordance with the relevant permission or approval. If you think a developer might be building something that doesn’t comply please do report it on our Planning Compliance page.

Homes England Update 

Dean Harris, Senior Planning and Enabling Manager (Large Sites – Northstowe)

Homes England Update [PPTX, 7.5MB]

• Homes England is the Government’s Housing and Regeneration Agency. At Northstowe, acting as the public sector master developer responsible for Phases 2 and 3.
• Phase 2 – 3500 homes, education campus and infrastructure for the future town centre and related amenities
• Phase 3 – 5000 homes, 3 Primary schools and related amenities
• Have appointed Greenfishers to raise levels for the Eastern Sports Hub. There will some impact on access around Halcyon Mere. The main restriction will be the path between Halcyon Mere and the southern greenway will be closed for approximately 9 months.
• Landscaping improvements will be taking place, particularly around the lakes with new and replacement planting.
• Now have a helpdesk number monitored 24/7 if any issues with the estated 0845 603 1485.
• Application to be submitted shortly to prepare the west of Phase 2 (the old barracks area). This will involve clearance, remediation and earthworks. Some trees will need to be removed. Category A trees will remain though.
• Seeking a development partner for the remainder of Phase 2A (Inholm) and also a partner for 2C2 (130 homes).
• Looking to establish an area within the future town centre for temporary or ‘pop up’ uses and events.

Questions received at the forum:

• Will the trees which need to be replaced as part of the Phase 2 west works be able to be planted elsewhere and when will the works take place? Homes England are exploring what may be possible. They are yet to submit a planning application so the works will likely take place in the autumn.
• CCC are working with National Highways and they are replacing any failed trees with non-plastic tree stump which is bio-degradable. Can Homes England do something similar? Homes England very happy to look into this.
• When will the commercial unit come forward? Keepmoat is delivering 60 affordable homes and SCDC has purchased these as a housing provider. Some of the flats sit above commercial unit. To ensure it works for the tenants the council has also purchased the commercial unit. Date likely to be Spring/Summer 2025.
• How long will it be until a partner for Phase 2A is secured? Homes England have started the process, officially out to tender and have received expressions of interest.
• Are the red/white barriers near the school a temporary measure to try and protect children cycling safely? Yes they are, internal discussions being had regarding how and when they will be replaced.

Health Provision for Northstowe 

David Parke, Assistant Director Sustainability & Infrastructure (South) and Joanne Fallon, Primary Care Enabling and Contracts Manager

Health provision for Northstowe [PPTX, 0.4MB]

• Northstowe is part of the Northern PCN. There are 7 surgeries residents living in Northstowe can register with.
• Nearest is Longstanton Branch Surgery and Willingham Medical Practice. The practice has capacity to take up to 8000 patients. In order to do this their workforce will need to increase considerably. The Integrated Care Board will support them to do this.
• Currently midwifery and health visitor services run from The Cabin using the NHS room.
• Civic Hub – keen to have a centre where residents have access from clinicians but also services that understand the wider determinants of health – citizens advice, housing. Expected to be delivered 2028. Working with contracting and enabling team to commission GP and health contractors from Civic hub.

Northstowe Town Council

Cllr. Paul Littlemore, Town Mayor, Cllr. Shola Delip and Cllr. Carla Bros Sabria, Northstowe Town Council

Town Council Update [PPTX, 2MB]

• Park Play: On pause but look out for updates in the spring.
• Community Lounge: Mahjong, chess and table tennis very popular. Celebrating Chinese New Year Thursday 8 February. If you’d like to volunteer do get in touch.
• Markets: Continues on Sundays 10am-2pm. Weekly a small number of food and basic stalls, once a month there is greater variety of food and non-food and craft stalls. Also at the market – community café, community pantry, bike repairs (2^nd Sunday of month). Currently recruiting for a market manager.

Community Update 

Mihaela Stan & Michele Eidevik-Skinner South Cambridgeshire District Council

• The Winter Festival has had a large variety of events and activities with involvement from many community groups. It takes place from November until February. As part of the festival, The CDOs have organised a Christmas Quiz at the Community Lounge in December which was great fun. The festival continues, please check the Winter Festival page which can be accessed via the Northstowe Community website for all the events that are scheduled to take place until the end of next month.
• We look forward to celebrating/attending the Mother Language Day organised by Northstowe Hub on Saturday 24 February where you will have the chance to learn some phrases in another language.
• The Community Cinema will also take place on 24 February and is organised by Northstowe Arts. There will be a screening of Barbie.
• Lunar New Year will be celebrated by Emmanuel Church on 10 February, this will be the start of the Year of the Dragon.
• First Toy Swap was organised by Sustainable Northstowe in December. The event was very successful, and the group are planning to repeat it this year, as requested by residents.
• We are hoping to start a menopause café at the Cabin. At the moment, we are in the initial stages of discussing how and when it could be run, and how it will be funded. If anyone is interested or knows someone who may be interested in being part of the group or attending once it’s up and running do email community@scambs.gov.uk
• Wellbeing walks have been happening twice a month usually on a Friday morning, but also the occasional Saturday around Northstowe. They start at The Cabin at 10:15am and everyone is welcome. They are followed by a free hot drink. The times are advertised on Facebook and on the noticeboard in the café area and on the Green.
• A community workshop for Halcyon Mere signage is being held on 23 March. There will be two sessions to choose from in the morning and afternoon for anyone to sign up to - completely free of charge. All ages welcome, although the content will probably appeal most to children over the age of about 8 and adults. Booking will be via the what’s on page on the Northstowe Arts website - places are limited, the previous workshops were fully booked.
• Volunteering opportunities: All groups in Northstowe are looking for volunteers, as we are still in January, this would be an ideal time to make a New Years resolution to give a little bit of your time to help. Please email community@scambs.gov.uk if you would like to discuss this further.

Question & answer session

Will the forum be able to be delivered online?

Working to be able to deliver live stream forums across all our forums.

When will the roads be adopted?

Roads, cycle ways and footways should all be complete by the end of 2024. The adoption of roads will then be end of 2025, following a 12-month maintenance period.

Aims

1. Share regular updates about the development with residents and stakeholders
2. To let residents and stakeholders to discuss their interests and concerns with those involved in planning, which includes:
   • Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service (‘Planning’)
   • Communications and Communities teams (‘Communities’)
   • Elected Members
   • developers
   • Cambridgeshire County Council

Scope and purpose

This forum is about Northstowe's growth.

• to regularly share accurate and timely information with residents about the development
• to let residents raise interests or concerns for current and new communities with a view to enhancing the quality of community life and environment in Northstowe
• for council officers to share issues raised by residents and report back on responses and actions taken
• to provide information about planning and growth.
• to allow developers, residents, community groups, elected members, and council officers to engage with each other
• when needed to allow for residents to be consulted and involved in planning, co-design and management of relevant 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.

Chair and Lead Officer

Chair: Councillor Sarah Cheung Johnson.

Lead Officer: Ellen Bridges (Development Officer)