Town without centre to get 'meanwhile hub'

About a tenth of the new settlement of Northstowe, just north-east of Cambridge next to Longstanton, has been built so far

A temporary town centre will be built in a new town near Cambridge.

Northstowe, which is due to become the UK's biggest new town since Milton Keynes, will be given a "meanwhile hub" where cafes, restaurants, bars and other outlets can be opened.

More than 1,000 of the 10,000 homes planned there have been built so far, as well as a primary school and temporary community centre.

Developers said the temporary town centre would be built on unused land off Stirling Road and would remain in place for up to five years.

It could also include performance areas, flexible community spaces, a shared kitchen and outdoor seating, although design plans would be submitted at a later date, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Northstowe's first residents moved there in 2017. It was initially criticised for a lack of amenities, with no cafe, shop or GP in its first six years.

The Cabin – Northstowe's temporary community centre – opened in 2023 and includes a volunteer-run community cafe, "micro library" and NHS room for midwife and health visitor clinics.

It held its second annual Midsummer Festival in June, bringing together market stalls, food stalls and local arts groups, choirs and dance troupes.

The Cabin is due to be replaced by a permanent centre in 2026.

An artist's impression shows what Northstowe's "meanwhile hub" could look like

Plans for the temporary town centre, put forward by Capital and Civic and Homes England, were approved by South Cambridgeshire District Council.

They said it would become a "vibrant, community-focussed meanwhile hub, providing a dynamic space for social, educational and cultural activities".

They added that these would "cater to a diverse range of age groups and interests".