Religious group wins bid for 999-year land leasehold in Cambridgeshire new town

A final decision on whether the group will be leased the land will be made at the end of June

A church group has won a bid for a 999-year land leasehold in a new Cambridgeshire town. The Northstowe Church Network scored the highest out of two proposals in a bid for faith land, as run by South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The group will be recommended for a 999-year leasehold agreement at the council’s scrutiny and overview meeting on June 4, before a final decision is made at a cabinet meeting on June 23.

Councillor Dr Lisa Redrup, lead cabinet member for healthy communities for the council, said: “This is an important milestone for Northstowe as the new town continues to grow and develop.

“We’ve taken a thorough and transparent approach to assessing proposals, including public feedback, to ensure the best outcome for residents. Northstowe Church Network submitted the highest-scoring bid, and we are recommending them to take forward this first faith and community site.“

She continued: “Spaces like this play a vital role in bringing people together, supporting wellbeing, and fostering a strong sense of belonging. This is just the first opportunity of several, and we look forward to working with a range of groups as more sites come forward in future phases of Northstowe’s development.”

In 2020, the council adopted the Northstowe Faith and Community Land Allocation policy, providing a fair and transparent process for land allocation. In December 2024, the cabinet agreed to initiate a bidding round for the first parcel of land.

Alongside the Northstowe Church Network, the Hindu Samaj Northstowe submitted the other bid. The two proposals were assessed against the agreed policy and criteria by an eight‑member panel, including six District Council officers, alongside two external specialists.

The bids were also open for comment in a public survey. It received 440 responses, including 14 responses made on behalf of groups.

Councillor Natalie Warren-Green said: “Reaching this point is an important step for Northstowe, and I’d like to thank both groups who engaged with the process so thoughtfully.

“We recognise the time, effort and passion that goes into bids like these, and that this will be a disappointing outcome for those who were not selected. The panel followed a robust and fair assessment process, considering both expert input and community feedback.

“As Northstowe continues to grow, there will be further opportunities for faith and community groups in future phases, and we remain committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive range of spaces that bring people together.”

Cllr Hansraj added: “It’s great to see progress towards creating a dedicated faith and community space in Northstowe, which will play a vital role in bringing people together in this growing and diverse town.

“Places like this are so important for building connections, supporting one another, and creating a strong sense of belonging. Thank you to everyone involved in putting forward bids and contributing to the process – it really reflects the strength of community spirit here.”

This is the first of four opportunities for faith and community groups to secure land in Northstowe. In the future, there will be further land or floorspace within the town centre on phase two, plus two more opportunities within phase three.

The new community at Northstowe is planned as a new town of 10,000 homes. Currently around 1,700 homes are occupied.