February 3, 2021
South Cambridgeshire District Council has granted planning permission for a 4,500-home development at Waterbeach New Town East.
RLW Estates – a consortium comprising Royal London, St John’s College, Cambridge and Turnstone Estates – secured permission for an outline planning permission that will deliver:
- 4,500 new homes, providing a wide variety ranging from one bed apartments to five-bed homes, ensuring homes for all requirements;
- 30% affordable housing provision;
- A masterplan based around the concept of ‘Sociable Streets’, designed to create neighbourhoods for cyclists and pedestrians over the car;
- Contributions of over £100m for local infrastructure;
- One secondary school, two primary schools and a sixth-form centre;
- Over 35 hectares of open space, including a 20-acre country park; and
- 24,800 sqm of employment space
Waterbeach New Town East will be developed alongside the consented scheme at Waterbeach Barracks which combined will see the delivery of 11,000 homes. This meets the requirements of the Local Plan in South Cambridgeshire, which identified land to the north of the existing Waterbeach Village as suitable for a new settlement.
To support the delivery of the New Town, RLW had already secured planning permission for the relocation of Waterbeach Station. South Cambs’ Planning Committee recommended the new station for approval in September 2018, subject to a Section 106 which was signed in January 2020.
Chris Goldsmith, of Turnstone Estates, said: “I am delighted that the Planning Committee of South Cambridgeshire District Council granted permission today for our application to create a vibrant, sustainable new town of 4,500 homes at Waterbeach.
“We are committed to delivering a new community that will place cyclists and pedestrians at its heart, creating an environmentally conscious and future proofed development. Located just 5km north of Cambridge we will help to meet the growing housing demand in the City and Cambridgeshire through a wide mix of housing styles and tenures.
“Alongside the permission today we also have consent to relocate the existing station at Waterbeach village to Waterbeach New Town East. Its delivery is crucial for ensuring sustainable transport options from day one and we now look forward to working with our partners to bring the plans forward.”
