More than 4,000 homes could be built on edge of Cambridgeshire town

The development would deliver local facilities including cafes and schools

Plans have been submitted to build over 4,000 homes on the edge of a Cambridgeshire town. In July 2024, Lands Improvement (LIH) announced it would propose plans for a new development of 4,400 homes called Little Barford Garden Community, near St Neots.

At the end of June 2026, an outline planning application was submitted by LIH Little Barford Limited (LIH) to Bedford Borough Council proposing to build up to 4,400 homes.

The site, extending to 324.76 hectares, would see other community and local facilities including cafes, pubs, a nursery, two primary schools and one secondary school built and two bridges over the East Coast Main Line (ECML) in the development alongside thousands of new homes.

Additionally, it would see the renovation and restoration of existing historic assets, including the former Manor House and offer safeguarded land for the delivery of East West Rail.

It has been revealed that of the 4,400 homes, five per cent will be for specialist elderly accommodation together with a mix of market and affordable homes.

To facilitate the redevelopment, the planning application seeks permission to demolish buildings including: Top Farm barns, Dower House, an unlisted attachment to the listed barn, a small building to the south of the barn, and adjacent to Lower Farmhouse.

The applicant said the development would contribute to 16 per cent of the net housing need over the period until 2040 and create 3,495 direct full-time jobs on-site.

LIH added that the schools will “meet locally generated needs” and two new bridges over the ECML would “enhance local connectivity and support sustainable movement across the area”.

A planning statement reads: “The Site represents an opportunity to create a ‘Garden Community’ style of settlement which will prioritise the provision of high-quality landscaping and seek to minimise vehicular movements, with a capacity of up to 4,400 dwellings, approximately 5 per cent of specialist elderly accommodation alongside supporting commercial development and social infrastructure, in close proximity to existing services in St Neots contributing to a local network of villages, transport links and community facilities reducing the need to travel.”