4,500-home South Cambridgeshire town finally approved

The planning permission now allows WDC, a joint venture between Turnstone Estates, Royal London Asset Management and Aquila Investments Limited, to move into delivery phases.

Together with the earlier green light given for up to 6,500 new homes to developer Urban&Civic, Waterbeach New Town East forms part of the 560-hectare site, identified in the District Council’s 2018 Local Plan.

 The outline planning includes:

• 4,500 new homes

• • 30 per cent affordable housing
  • masterplan based around the concept of ‘Sociable Streets’, designed to create neighbourhoods that place cyclists and pedestrians ahead of the car
  • More than 35 hectares of open space, including a 20-acre country park
  • Contributions of £100 million+ for local infrastructure
  • One secondary school, two primary schools and a sixth-form centre

• 24,800 sqm of employment space

The Waterbeach planning application was considered by the District Council’s Planning Committee in January 2021.

However, permission was delayed over discussions to agree details relating to infrastructure requirements, and concerns about water supplies and the adequacy of the plans from Cambridge Water to meet future demand.

This resulted in the Environment Agency objecting to the application.

In November 2024, the Environment Agency replaced their objection to the application, with a recommendation that conditions be imposed, following the establishment of a Water Scarcity Group for Cambridge by the government last year.

Through the work of the group, agencies across the area have been working to resolve the Environment Agency’s concerns.

The permission also requires Waterbeach Railway Station to be relocated prior to any of the new homes being occupied. 

Funding for the relocation of the station has been secured via a repayable grant from Homes England and a contribution from the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP). 

The GCP will be responsible for delivery of the Station, which will open in 2027. 

Tim Deacon, managing director of Turnstone Estates, one of the partners of the Waterbeach Development Company, said: “With funding for the relocation of the train station agreed and its delivery scheduled for 2027, we can ensure that sustainable infrastructure is in place for the residents of the Eastern side of Waterbeach New Town from day one. 

“This will also enable the acceleration of housing delivery across the entire New Town, ensuring the homes that are needed to support the growth of Greater Cambridge can be delivered.”

Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins, lead cabinet member for planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “At a time of national focus on the delivery of new homes and economic growth, being able to issue the final permission for this site will help the Council to meet the growing pressure on local authorities to identify and bring forward sites for new housing. 

“In Greater Cambridge our annual housing target has grown this month from 1,675 homes per year in the adopted 2018 Local Plan to 2,309 homes per year.”

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