AtkinsRéalis has revealed its designs for a new Town Hub at Northstowe, Cambridgeshire, one of the largest and most ambitious new towns currently under construction in the UK.
South Cambridgeshire District Council has now submitted a planning application, including the designs, to Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service for the proposed Town Hub.
The innovative facility will provide a new focal point for the growing community, bringing together health, wellbeing and learning services under one roof as Northstowe continues to expand towards a population of up to 28,000 people and around 10,000 new homes.
Positioned where the town centre will be located in future, the four-storey building has been designed as a vibrant community destination, providing over 4,000 square metres of flexible space including more than 1,290 square metres for GP services and other healthcare uses.
The building also features a large community hall for hosting events, performances and community activities as well as meeting rooms and workspaces. Other amenities include a new modern library, learning spaces, quiet study areas and collaborative working environments, as well as a café and welcoming social spaces with accessible entrances and step-free access throughout.
The project was led by AtkinsRéalis’ Cambridge-based team and draws on broad expertise from across architecture, structural and civil engineering, building services, sustainability, and project and cost management teams.
Richard Bonner, managing director for Buildings and Places, AtkinsRéalis, said: “Northstowe is one of the most significant new town developments under construction in the UK and a project that demonstrates how thoughtfully-planned communities can support growth, opportunity and quality of life.
“In the Town Hub we have an innovative concept that breaks down traditional boundaries between healthcare, culture and civic life, creating much greater access to facilities that enable health and wellbeing.
“By integrating these functions into a single destination, the building will help foster stronger community connections and support healthier, more resilient communities. This is an approach we would expect to see more of as new towns emerge across the UK.
South Cambridgeshire District Council's Lead Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, Cllr Dr. Lisa Redrup, said: "There has been a huge amount of local engagement that has helped to shape our vision for the Town Hub – and we’re extremely pleased with how AtkinsRéalis has worked to bring that vision to life.
“Submitting the application marks another important milestone towards the creation of Northstowe's civic heart. If approved, the Town Hub will bring together health, learning and community services in a modern, accessible and sustainable building, creating a welcoming destination for residents of all ages."
The design itself has been shaped through extensive engagement with local stakeholders and future users, promoting healthy lifestyles and community interaction through nature-inspired design principles, generous natural daylight, welcoming shared spaces and a central atrium that encourages movement and social connection.
The proposed building will be called Wayfinder which is taken from the historic trig point that occupied the Town Hub site (formerly RAF Oakington), recognising its long-standing role as a marker used to orientate and guide people through the landscape. The original metalwork from the trig point will be re-laid in the exact coordinates it has been removed from.
The district council says that by reinterpreting this landmark within the new Town Hub, Wayfinder reflects both the site's heritage and the building's future role as a civic focal point that helps connect, navigate and bring together the Northstowe community.
The submission represents the latest development in AtkinsRéalis’ long-standing involvement in shaping Northstowe, having supported the new town's growth for more than a decade beginning with delivery of the first primary school in phase one, and subsequently contributing to major education facilities and other key infrastructure.
Northstowe forms a key part of the wider growth story of Greater Cambridge and the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor, helping to address demand for new homes and supporting economic development in one of the UK's fastest-growing regions.
AtkinsRéalis was appointed to the Northstowe Town Hub project through the Professional Services in Construction framework managed by Pagabo. Subject to planning approval, contractor procurement is expected to progress in parallel with the planning process, with the project moving towards detailed design and construction delivery in the coming phases.
Key features of the building include:
- Space for healthcare uses on upper floors, providing more than 1,290 square metres of space for GP services and other healthcare uses.
- A self-contained high street facing unit - intended to accommodate a healthcare provider as the town grows.
- A modern library, including dedicated children's library, adult and teenage learning spaces, quiet study areas and collaborative working environments.
- A café and welcoming social spaces opening onto the Town Plaza and High Street.
- A full height modern atrium and feature staircase that acts as a meeting place, performance space, and internal town square.
- A large flexible community hall capable of hosting events, performances and community activities.
- Meeting rooms and workspaces available for community groups, public services and local organisations.
- Accessible entrances, step-free access throughout, a Changing Places facility and inclusive features designed for all users.
- A landscaped first-floor garden terrace and a roof terrace providing outdoor spaces for learning, events and wellbeing activities.
