Ensuring the future of new homes at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire

Homes England, the UK government housing agency, has announced a £61 million investment to accelerate the construction of homes at the Waterbeach development in Cambridgeshire. Stantec has been working with Urban & Civic since 2013 to ensure the delivery of 6,500 homes at the site and provided fundamental support for the funding submission.

As well as new homes, the 716-hectare site will also provide three new primary schools, one new secondary school, a health centre and community facilities. The loan will fund the key strategic infrastructure works necessary for construction to begin, including; pedestrian and cycle infrastructure, public transport routes, roundabout improvements to create a main access route from the A10, road, drainage and utility works.

To secure the funding, Homes England required assurances that the work completed to date was of the highest standard. Stantec has provided technical, engineering, and environmental services for the development, including transport, drainage, flood risk assessment, utilities, ground conditions, air quality, and more, and could provide the assurances needed to secure the Homes England investment.

Waterbeach is an important development for the local area so news of the loan is very well received. Stantec has been part of the project team from the outset and we are committed to seeing it successfully completed. The country needs new homes and Stantec is doing all it can to create and enhance new and existing communities by supporting projects like Waterbeach and the work that Homes England does as the government’s housing accelerator.

Waterbeach, a former WW2 RAF Bomber Command airfield six miles north of Cambridge, is surrounded by woodland and provides a unique lakeside setting. The development, which will see more than 17,000 trees planted to extend the existing woodland, is based on a sustainable design which extends to transport provision. A portion of the Homes England investment will go towards providing a cycleway to the nearby Science Park and a cycle bridge over the A10, access to the Cambridge Research Park roundabout and a new park and ride facility near the entrance.

The pedestrian and cycle provision for the Waterbeach development was designed by Stantec, in conjunction with the wider Waterbeach team, and has been described by Cambridgeshire County Council as ‘…a pedestrian and cycle network that is exemplary and of the highest quality for anywhere in Europe.’

“We are very pleased that our cycle scheme will now become reality,” commented Ron. “Waterbeach will be a shining example of sustainable transport and will deliver a community that residents will be proud of. Stantec is privileged to be a part of it. “

The first phase of 1,600 homes is currently progressing through planning, and work is already underway to take forward detailed design on additional transport measures and landscaping.

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve—because they're our communities too. This allows us to assess what's needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

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Media Contact                                               
Jody Prescott                                                             
Stantec Media Relations                               
Ph: (44) 1189-520670                                       
jody.prescott@stantec.com