Northstowe is a planned New Town of up to 10,000 new homes which is located about 10km north-west of Cambridge. The site was promoted through the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan. Phase 1 of the development is now almost complete with many new homes occupied by families. Phases 2, 3a and 3b are being delivered by Homes England as Masterdeveloper, and their housebuilding partners.
There are 4 main outline planning permissions which together will make up the whole new town, along with schools, shops, jobs and lots of open spaces to enjoy. There are also two further outline consents for dwellings at Digital Park and Endurance Estates.
Phase 1
Outline planning permission for 1,500 dwellings, a primary school, sports pavilion, community building, employment uses, retail and associated infrastructure was granted in April 2014 (Ref: S/0388/12/OL). All residential dwellings have now been built with respect to Phase 1 and the permission has now expired. The Phase 1 Local Enterprise Zone will come forward separately in the future.
South Cambridgeshire District Council have successfully delivered the Western Park Sports Pavilion which opened during 2024 (Ref: 21/03350/REM).
Phase 2
Outline Permission for Phase 2, for up to 3,500 dwellings, 2 primary schools, a secondary school, town centre including employment, retail, sports hub, open spaces and landscaping along with strategic transport infrastructure was approved in January 2017 (Ref: S/2011/14/OL).
The revised Phase 2 Design Code (Condition 9) was approved on 17 January 2025 (Ref: S/2011/14/COND9).
The consent is currently in the process of being delivered. The following key applications have been approved:
- The Education Campus, including Secondary and a Special Education Needs School were approved by the County Council (Ref: S/0092/18/CC)
- Wilson Bridge full planning application was approved in September 2018 (S/1559/18/FL)
- Waterpark and Greenways reserved matters application was approved in June 2018 (S/1002/18/RM)
- Strategic Landscaping reserved matters were approved in March 2020 (s/1552/19/RM)
- Phase 2a – approval for 406 modular dwellings approved in February 2020 (Ref: S/3499/19/RM)
- Phase 2b – approval for 300 dwellings approved in October 2021 (Ref: S/21/02310/REM)
- Earthworks and Clearance reserved matters were approved in March 2024 (23/04052/REM)
- Eastern Sports Hub - BMX Track was approved in March 2025 (Ref: 24/04716/REM)
- An outline application for town centre meanwhile uses was approved in August 2025. This allows for a new car park, and flexible uses allowed on the site while the permanent town centre is being developed (Ref: 25/01182/OUT).
- South Cambridgeshire District Council is going to be delivering the Phase 2 Town Hub and are currently in pre-application discussions with planning officers.
- Northstowe House – temporary planning permission for five years for Use Class E(g)(i) officer building. was approved on (Ref: 23/02931/FUL)
- NHBC Skills Hub – Temporary planning permission for a multi-skills training hub was approved in October 2025 (Ref: 25/02106/FUL).
Phase 3a
Outline Permission for Phase 3a, for up to 4,000 dwellings, 2 primary schools, a local centre (including employment community retail and associated services) secondary mixed use zones, open space, landscaping, sports pitches creation of a new lake was approved in March 2022 (Ref: 20/02171/OUT).
The following key applications have been approved:
- Reserved matters have been approved for a highway junction with associated footway and cycleway was approved in July 2025 (Ref: 24/04840/REM)
The ‘Unity Centre’ is currently under construction and is being delivered by South Cambridgeshire District Council and was approved in December 2023 (Ref: 23/03248/REM). The new community centre is expected to open in 2026.
More information can be found on South Cambridgeshire District Council's website.
Phase 3b
Outline planning permission for up to 1,000 dwellings, a primary school , secondary mixed-use zone (with retail, services, food and drink, community leisure, employment and residential uses), open space, landscaping and associated infrastructure works was approved in March 2022 (Ref: 20/02142/OUT).
Work is yet to commence delivering this permission.
Digital Park
Outline planning permission for 80 dwellings was approved in July 2023 (Ref: S/3854/19/OL).
Land West of Station Road
Outline planning permission for 107 dwellings was approved in July 2022 (Ref: 20/03598/OUT).
- Reserved matters approval for 107 homes was approved in September 2025 (Ref: 25/00887/REM).
Northstowe Community Forum
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