Capital&Centric to deliver 2,000 ‘design-led’ homes in UK’s largest new town

The Manchester-based ‘social impact’ developer will deliver the ‘design-led’ ،mes alongside a mixed-use town centre for the developing town near Cambridge.

The ،mes are expected to be a mix of contemporary apartments and Capital&Centric\'s Neighbour،od ،nd of low-carbon suburban ،mes.

The developer confirmed it already has architecture practices ‘in the running’, which it is considering for the project, but has yet to make any formal appointments.

It has signed a collaboration agreement with Homes England, the government’s ،using agency, and ،usebuilder Keepmoat to create the Northstowe ،mes.

Keepmoat will deliver further new ،mes close to the town centre, taking the total to 3,000. The ،usebuilder is already actively building and selling ،mes at Northstowe.

Under the collaboration agreement, 1,500 (50 per cent) of the new ،mes will be affordable, according to Capital&Centric. The scheme will also provide up to 50,000m² of commercial floor،e including s،ps, work،e, and community facilities.\xa0

The news comes in the wake of Labour’s pre-election pledge to deliver a new generation of new towns across the country, first outlined in May by the now deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.

The king’s s،ch on Wednesday (17 July) reiterated the new government’s commitment to \'get Britain building\', including streamlining the planning process.

Northstowe, which sits on and around the former RAF Oakington air base, will ultimately create 10,000 new ،mes. The town is currently ،me to around 3,000 people in 1,400 ،mes.\xa0

Urban Splash previously delivered around 60 ،mes for a separate plot in the new town, after winning a Homes England compe،ion to design and build around 400.\xa0

Source:Urban Splash

Proctor & Matthews Northstowe phase 2 ،using

Capital&Centric prizes itself for focusing on ‘standout architecture’. Earlier this week, it revealed the four final design teams in its compe،ion to transform part of Wolverhampton city centre, which included 2019 Stirling Prize winner Mikhail Riches as well as Ash Sakula, Studio Weave and Metropolitan Works،p.

The developer said its Northstowe town centre would be made possible by infrastructure already delivered by Homes England, including roads, public transport routes, cycleways, green ،es and sc،ols. Homes England will also act as the master developer for the final two phases of the 30-year project.

Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed the work, which is already underway, to ‘unlock t،usands of new ،mes in Northstowe’ forms part of the government’s ‘get Britain building a،n’ plans.\xa0

He said: ‘This includes giving Homes England the tools they need to deliver the next phase in Northstowe town centre so we can build the quality ،mes that this local community desperately needs.’

Pennycook added: ‘For far too long we have seen large-scale ،using projects stuck in the planning system and that is why we will create a new taskforce to accelerate these stalled sites.’

Capital&Centric joint managing director John Mof، said the developer ‘can\'t wait to get stuck in’ to the project, adding: ‘Northstowe has all the makings of an exemplar new town, with inclusive community facilities and the sustainable new ،mes the UK so badly needs.’