Two groups have put forward their proposals for how they want to use the space
Two community groups have submitted their bids for a plot of land in Northstowe that has been dedicated to faith and the community. The public has been asked to share its feedback on the two groups’ proposals, which have outlined the services and benefits their projects would bring to the area.
The 0.25 acre piece of land can be found next to Stirling Road and is the first of four areas that have been allocated to faith and community groups to build their own facility. In the future, there will be more land or floorspace available in the town centre in phase two of the project and two more opportunities in phase three.
The bids are led by Hindu Samaj Northstowe and Northstowe Church Network. Both submissions include information about how the groups will collaborate with other faith groups in Northstowe and what the space will offer to the whole community as well as being a dedicated space to worship.
Cllr Henry Batchelor, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Now that the bids are in, it’s important that residents share their views. Public input has always been at the heart of our approach, and this next stage ensures that feedback from the public can be taken into account. This is an exciting moment for Northstowe as we move closer to creating a shared space that will help bring people together within a facility that supports connection, wellbeing and a thriving, inclusive Northstowe. We look forward to it playing a meaningful role in the life of our growing town.”
Bids were assessed against criteria that was made available to the bidders at the start of the process. The groups have had support with their applications from Council officers both before and throughout the year-long bidding window.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Cabinet will review the information before deciding who to award the land to at the meeting in June this year. The land, which is currently owned by the Northstowe phase one developers Ubran&Civic will be transferred to the Council.
The Council intends to grant a 999-year leasehold to the chosen group. The bidder will commit to delivering the agreed policies and project milestones, which is a requirement of the leasehold agreement.
One of Northstowe’s District Councillors, Cllr Tom Bygott, said: “Northstowe is evolving into a fully‑rounded town, and faith‑led and community facilities have long provided the backbone of civic cohesion. I strongly encourage residents to share their views. It’s encouraging to see plans progressing for a facility that will serve not just worshippers, but also the wider community.”
Cllr Natalie Warren-Green, also a District Councillor for Northstowe, added: “It’s great to see the project reach this important milestone with two bids which are being assessed. This next phase will help determine which proposal is best placed to support Northstowe as it continues to grow. It’s an exciting step forward and moves us closer to creating facilities that will strengthen and benefit our community for years to come.”
The public has now been asked to share its opinions on the two proposals. Both of the proposals can be found here with a space dedicated to share feedback on them, which will be available until Monday, April 27.
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