Waterbeach Barracks Denny End Road Waterbeach
Cambridge
CB25 9PA

+44(0)1223861846

Did you know?

There are three so-called new towns within a few miles of Waterbeach.

Cambourne lies between Cambridge and St Neots, and comprises three former villages of Great Cambourne, Lower Cambourne and Upper Cambourne.

Bar Hill is a purpose-built village just off the A14 to the west of Cambridge. Planning for the village began in the late 1950s to alleviate the housing shortage in South Cambridgeshire, and the first residents arrived in 1967.

Northstowe, near Longstanton, will eventually have an anticipated population of 24,400. It was originally proposed to be "an exemplar of sustainability in the use of renewable energy resources and reducing carbon emissions”, and, like Waterbeach New Town, is being built on former barracks and WW2 RAF station of Oakington.

Waterbeach New Town

A new town built on the site of Waterbeach Barracks and former airfield was proposed as far back as 1985. At that time the land belonged to the Ministry of Defence.

There are two developers for the new town: Urban&Civic are developing the former Barracks and Airfield /Training area belonging to Defence Infrastructure Organisation. Royal London Waterbeach Estates are developing the surrounding farmland. All the land is in the Parish of Waterbeach

Both developers have held public consultations and information events involving Waterbeach and the parishes in the surrounding villages.  Comments from the public have been carefully considered during the planning stages, and many of their proposals are being implemented.  

Local people have mixed feelings about the two developments. Some are vehemently opposed, while others are hoping the New Town will bring new opportunities of work, commerce, and leisure with improved transport links to Cambridge and the surrounding area,
 or further afield.  

U&C have outline planning permission, and are in the process of discharging condition, while RLW Estates are currently in the process of applying for outline planning permission.

August 2020

The former barracks and airfield at Waterbeach is a unique place, nestled in a beautiful and established landscape, connected to the popular and dynamic village of Waterbeach.

With evidence of settlements from prehistoric times, to its more recent role as a military base, the site’s next evolution will work with its history to create a vibrant new community: growing along the historic causeway route that for centuries connected the existing village to Denny Abbey. You will be able to wander through a re-energised barracks district, landscaped parks that draw on the grassland and woodland that were the strong legacy of the Royal Engineers, and then connect to the amazing waterfront of the lake, and beyond.

The first phase of development, which will come forward over the next 5 years, will focus on the unique setting of the 20-acre lake created by the Royal Engineers in the 1970s: energising the lakeside with cafes and shops and enabling water sports in areas of the lake, while also maintaining some quieter areas to the south of the lake for nature and quiet reflection for people.

The first phase will deliver 1,600 new homes along with a range of facilities, including the first primary school and Early Years facility, community centre, 25 hectares of open green space, including community orchards, allotments, play areas, parks and sport pitches, health provision and library services.

The first phase also includes: £16m investment in transport facilities including 40 kilometres of cycle ways, including the Mere Way connection to Cambridge Science Park and a bridge over the A10; a new Park&Ride facility connecting to Milton Park&Ride and on to Cambridge; and investment in travel planning to support residents to choose bike and bus options over the car.

First new homes are due to be occupied by Summer 2022. Site preparations are underway and start with creating key parts of the landscape setting, with 17,000 trees planted to make more diverse, resilient and nature-friendly woodland; works to establish an entrance from the A10 at the Research Park roundabout to minimise impact on the village; and early archaeological investigations and site remediation.

To keep up to date with our plans, please register to receive our newsletter: www.waterbeachbarracks.co.uk

Waterbeach New Town East is a proposed development of up to 4,500 homes on land to the North of the existing Waterbeach Village. It will have its own, distinct identity and a sympathetic, appropriate relationship with Waterbeach Village and Denny Abbey. 

Our vision for the new town at Waterbeach will create a new community which provides homes for all ages and needs alongside a new, modern train station and infrastructure that will encourage cycling and walking.  

We will create a new town that seeks to put people first through our Sociable Streets concept. This seeks to place the car not at the centre of people’s lives but at the periphery. Streets will be for communities to curate, not be dictated to by the car. 

South Cambridgeshire District Council has approved the planning application for a new train station, which is set to open by Christmas 2022. 

The planning applications for the New Town have to be submitted and we expecting it to go before a Planning Committee at South Cambridgeshire District Council by the Summer.

Royal London Waterbeach Estates

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