Future Phases of Alconbury Weald

The next phases of Alconbury Weald have taken a step forward, with two planning submissions which will help enable the second and third phases of development.

Key Phase 3 – Central hub, future homes, business space, heritage area and parks

Following on from a process which defined the location and scale of Key Phase 3 in June 2022, a Key Phase 3 Framework has now been submitted which sets out the spatial and delivery principles around this next phase of development.

This next key phase features some important facilities and amenities, as well as some exciting features which will define the heart and hub of Alconbury Weald, including:

• The central Hub of the development, which will include health centre, library, community and faith space; shops, cafes and other facilities
• 2 Primary Schools
• New areas of parks and play spaces
• The Heritage Area, which focusses around 3 Listed Cold War structures including the Avionics Building
• The next 2,168 homes
• Up to 100,000m² of employment space as the next phase of the Enterprise Zone.

The Framework has been informed by feedback from consultations held with the community and with local stakeholders and partners and includes a Design Code, potential sequencing of delivery, and the setting out of key locations for schools and transport connections. The planning submission also includes a range of technical reports which show how the Phase will be bought forward in a way that is compliant with the overall strategies set out in the wider Outline Application for the development: including supporting commitments to water management, ecology and biodiversity, construction management and sustainability.

Key Phase 2 – the Country Park

Alongside the Key Phase 3 work, Urban&Civic have also re-submitted planning documents which enable the delivery of the Country Park to move forward. The Country Park area had originally been progressing under a Section 73 Application, but this re-submission of the ‘Key Phase Definition’ will enable it to come forward as the next Strategic Open Space through a standalone Key Phase submission.

The team have been working on the designs, and the governance which will sit behind the Country Park, and will be involving residents of the Stukeleys and Alconbury Weald in 2023 to continue to refine the designs and approach. This submission enables this work to progress at pace and provides the framework under which the Park will come forward. All of the details within this are in line with the earlier submissions, and the planning documents do not mark a change in the plans, but an opportunity to progress the work that will enable the Park to come forward.

Rebecca Britton from Urban&Civic said: “These planning submissions do not mark any key changes to the plans shared with the community , but critically they enable us to move the process forward onto more detailed design for both the central hub – Alconbury Weald’s “Town Centre” – and the Country Park.

“We know there has been real interest in both the services and facilities coming forward, and the new green spaces being opened up in these future phases of Alconbury Weald. Alongside the progress of these documents through the planning process look forward to coming back out to the community and our neighbours next year as we refine the detailed designs, which we can then bring forward to delivery.“

If anyone would like further information or to discuss the details in the planning documents, please get in touch with the team on info@alconbury-weald.co.uk