Northstowe Phase 1 – Faith and Community Land Allocation
Comments are welcomed on bids that have been made for land reserved for use by faith or community groups in Phase 1 at Northstowe.
Background
A bidding window for the land was launched by South Cambridgeshire District Council in January 2025 and closed on Friday 23 January 2026.
It is the first of four opportunities at Northstowe for faith or community groups to secure land for their own facility.
In future, there will be further land or floorspace within the town centre on phase 2 available, plus opportunities for land within both phases 3A and 3B.
The 0.25−hectare plot which is the current focus is located off Stirling Road - between the Taylor Wimpey and Urban Splash developments and next to Bug Hunter Waters.
The land was allocated under part of the planning agreements for phase one of Northstowe. Where space for worship is provided in any new building – there should also be community areas accessible to all, including other faith groups.
The land, currently owned by Northstowe phase one developers Urban & Civic, will transfer to the Council, which intends to grant a 999−year leasehold to the chosen group. The successful bidder will commit to meet agreed policies and their project milestones. Delivering in line with these will be a condition of the winning bid.
The process
The District Council’s Allocation Policy for the distribution of faith/community land in the new community of Northstowe was agreed at a Cabinet meeting in March 2020.
As part of the process, applicants were required to outline their plans for the land, including proposed facilities, services for their group and the wider community, evidence of demand, and the benefits their project would bring. They also needed to demonstrate that their proposals suit the site and that they have the capacity and financial resources to deliver them.
Officers from South Cambridgeshire District Council participating in the assessment panel are drawn from a range of disciplines with subject expertise in specific areas. These areas of specialism cover Finance, Commercial Development, Capital Grants, Procurement, Urban Design and Community Development.
The panel also includes two external members from partner organisations, providing further specialist input concerning Community Development (Cambridgeshire County Council) and expertise in community and voluntary sector support.
Bids were assessed against the detailed assessment criteria which were made available to bidder from the outset of the process.
Strict conflict-of interest and equality safeguards have been applied.
Each element of the assessment criteria is weighted. This feedback forms part of the assessment process and the results from this survey will contribute 5% to the overall assessment score and will help inform the report to Cabinet.
The responses received will be evaluated and scored to complete the assessment process.
This feedback is structured to provide you with a summary of each of the proposals submitted and also a summary of the panel’s assessment of each proposal.
On completion of the assessment process, including the public feedback which forms part of the overall process, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Cabinet will review all the information before making a decision on awarding the land at their June 2026 meeting.
Following this, consent for the disposal will be requested from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. This is a process the Council must follow in this instance to offer a long lease on the land at a peppercorn rent.
Process timeline
- Faith and Community Land bidding window 23 January 2025 to 23 January 2026.
- Applications judged by assessment panel and summarised for public feedback: 26 January to 13 February 2026
- Six-week public feedback period: 16 March to 27 April 2026
- Evaluation of feedback responses: April to May 2026
- Cabinet will review and make decision: June 2026
- Publication of decision: June 2026
- One month appeals period: July 2026
- Offer made to successful applicant: August 2026
If you are unable to respond online you may complete a paper copy of the form. Paper forms can be collected from the temporary community centre The Cabin, at 1, The Green, Pathfinder Way, Northstowe, CB24 1FD and then, once open to the public, from the neighbouring Unity Centre and returned via The Cabin’s post box, or South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, CB23 6EA; please mark envelopes “Faith Land Feedback”. Please email engage@scambs.gov.uk if you have any questions.
The proposals
The following bid summaries are a reflection of the bid summitted, in order that the public can provide feedback on the proposal; these summaries do not reflect the view of the Council or of the assessment panel. There is a separate officer assessment summary which indicates the response of the officer assessment panel, which is also provided to give further context. Please note that any development of the Faith and Community Land would be subject to the formal planning process, which is fully independent of the allocation process.
Hindu Samaj Northstowe:
Northstowe Church Network:
6 days left
Phases
Feedback
Comments are welcomed on bids that have been received for land reserved for use by faith or community groups in Phase 1 at Northstowe. The survey runs from 16 March to 11:59pm on 27 April 2026.
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