Help shape Alconbury Weald’s next green spaces

Residents and the local community are being invited to find out more and help shape the next parks coming forward at Alconbury Weald.  If you missed the consultation event on 21 October, you can still get involved, find out more and share your thoughts online until 30 November. 

Green spaces are central to the vision for Alconbury Weald, with four strategic green areas coming forward at key milestones throughout the development: the cricket pitch and Watch Office Green were delivered early in the development; Runway Park and Prestley Country Park will be the next parks coming forward; and the Sports Hub will follow in 2028/29.

Runway Park provides a central part of the third phase of the development, and marks the historic line of the runway, which was 3km long. The team is working up detailed designs that provide a multi-layered approach to different spaces, homes and habitats along the length of the route. These will provide spaces for people, nature, events and activities, and will stretch from The Glade and Enterprise Campus, through to the Town Centre ‘Hub’.

Prestley Country Park, at the southeast corner of the development, will provide 65 hectares of parkland, a bit smaller than Hinchingbrooke Park (72 hectares).  There are a number of inherited features that will shape the future plans of the Country Park as well as lots of ideas gathered from earlier consultations. The consultation shares the latest thinking as well as introducing partners Nene Park Trust, who will be working with Urban&Civic, the community and other partners to bring the park to life.

The consultation also provides  an update on Garland Park, which follows the historic footprint of one of the taxiways used by aircraft when Alconbury Weald was a military base. It is being delivered in three phases, and work is now starting on the final phase.  The completed phases include informal recreation spaces, a range of play opportunities, community orchards, ecological features and a walking and cycling route with seating and picnic benches. Residents are being asked for feedback on what they like about the completed sections of Garland Park, and thoughts and ideas for the final phase.

Alongside spaces for people, Alconbury Weald has been designed to deliver a Net Gain for Nature, with plans currently supporting a 20% increase that will be supported through the management of these spaces in the short, medium and long term.

Rebecca Britton, from the Communities team at Urban&Civic, master developer for Alconbury Weald, said: “Green spaces are central to the vision for Alconbury Weald, ensuring a fantastic and sustainable new community for people and nature. We want to hear the views of our residents and neighbours on the spaces and places coming forward, and the features and amenities they want to see in them.

“We also want to hear ideas of how people can get involved: from species surveys with our ecology team, to getting involved in tree planting and hedge laying, to Park Runs and silent discos, or art in the park events. We want your ideas and your energy to help us create amazing parks for people and nature in this special place.”

The online consultation will be running until 30 November 2023.