Phase 2B – Northstowe New Town, Longstanton, Cambridge

Local Planning Authority: South Cambridgeshire District Council
Client: Keepmoat Homes
Architect: Boon Brown

Having been successfully appointed as Homes England’s Development Partner our client Keepmoat Homes were appointed to rapidly deliver detailed planning approval for this important phase of 300 homes, commercial floorspace and important strategic open spaces at Northstowe, the Cambridgeshire new town.

Luken Beck advised KMH initially on the scope of the application, the appointment of the project team, and the wider requirements of the planning policy and the decision framework.  Working quickly to establish high quality relationships with the key actors at Homes England, South Cambridgeshire District Council, and with other key technical and community stakeholders. Luken Beck negotiated a productive planning performance agreement, and managed a thorough pre-application and engagement process that was significantly responsible for reducing local friction to the proposals and front loading significant conditional requirements through the reserved matters stage.

Through detailed negotiations with the LPA we delivered a scheme that met the authorities exemplar design quality aspirations, winning the support of the Cambridge Quality Panel and SCDC’s planning committee who voted unanimously in support. Luken Beck were delighted to work on and secure approval for this innovative phase of the Northstowe project which delivers fantastic opportunities for promoting social and environmental sustainability by focussing on high quality commercial and open spaces to promote community wellbeing, and draws heavily on MMC, solar PV, and water and waste minimisation technologies.