Faith and community groups have just over two weeks to submit their bid for land that has been reserved in the growing new town of Northstowe.
A bidding window – which was launched by South Cambridgeshire District Council 12 months ago – runs until the end of the day on Friday 23 January 2026.
It is the first of four opportunities at Northstowe for faith or community groups to secure land for their own facility. In future, there will be further land or floorspace within the town centre on phase 2 available, plus two more opportunities within phase 3.
The 0.25-hectare plot which is the current focus is located off Stirling Road - between the Taylor Wimpey and Urban Splash developments and next to Bug Hunter Waters. This was allocated under part of the planning agreements for phase one of the new town. Where space for worship is provided in any new building – there should also be community areas accessible to all, including other faith groups.
As part of the process, applicants are required to outline their plans for the land, including proposed facilities, services for their group and the wider community, evidence of demand, and the benefits their project would bring. They also need to demonstrate that their proposals suit the site and that they have the capacity and financial resources to deliver them.
Support with the application process has been available from Council officers - both before and throughout the entire year-long bidding window.
Once the 23 January 2026 deadline has passed, bids will be assessed against the detailed assessment criteria which has been available for bidders to review for the past year. The District Council’s Allocation Policy for the distribution of faith/community land in the new community of Northstowe was agreed at a Cabinet meeting in March 2020.
A summary of proposals and assessments will then be published for the public to comment on. Those comments will be considered as part of the decision-making process.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Cabinet will review all the information before making a decision on awarding the land at their June 2026 meeting. Following this, consent for the disposal will be requested from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. This is a process the Council must follow in this instance to offer a long lease on the land at a peppercorn rent.
The land, currently owned by Northstowe phase one developers Urban&Civic, will transfer to the Council, which intends to grant a 999-year leasehold to the chosen group. The successful bidder will commit to meet agreed policies and their project milestones. Delivering in line with these will be a condition of the winning bid.
Cllr Henry Batchelor, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We’re encouraging all faith and community groups with an interest in shaping Northstowe’s future to submit their bids before the 23 January 2026 deadline. This is a fantastic opportunity to create a space that serves both your group and the wider community. We’ve designed the process to be open and transparent, with clear criteria and public input, so everyone can have confidence in how decisions are made. Support with the application has been available from our officers throughout the past year – and indeed before the process got underway. These new facilities will play a vital role in bringing people together, fostering connections, and supporting a thriving, inclusive community.”
One of Northstowe’s District Councillors, Cllr Tom Bygott, commented: “Places of worship and faith-led community facilities have long played a vital role in the public life of towns, providing spaces not only for worship, but for service, fellowship and civic cohesion. As Northstowe continues to grow, the availability of dedicated faith and community land is an important step in its maturation into a fully-rounded town, alongside shops, schools and other essential facilities. I strongly encourage faith and community groups to engage with this open and transparent process and help shape a shared civic heart for Northstowe.”
Fellow District Councillor for Northstowe, Cllr Natalie Warren-Green, added: “Representatives from Northstowe-based Faith Groups have told me over the last year how excited they are about bidding for the faith and community land and I’m expecting bids to come in from several of them. We’re fast approaching the deadline for bids, with a closing date of 23rd January, and I’m looking forward to hearing more about the proposals as I know residents are too. The team at the District Council will use a resilient process for assessing bids and will be able to share more about the proposals in due course."
Groups can submit a bid online at www.scambs.gov.uk/northstowe-faith-and-community-land
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