Plans for permanent community centre in new Cambridgeshire 'ghost town' submitted
Northstowe will be the UK's biggest town since the development of Milton Keynes in the 1960s
A planning application to provide a permanent community centre for the first phase of Northstowe has been submitted by South Cambridgeshire District Council.
If given the go ahead, the building will be built on land owned by the Council next to The Green, between Pathfinder Way and Stirling Road.
"We really need the community to tell us what they think"
The site is alongside Northstowe’s temporary community centre, which the Council recently opened for use until the permanent centre is ready.
What's in the plan?
- A main hall - A large multi-purpose hall for formal and informal events; public assembly, visual and performing arts, practice and tuition, lectures, and demonstrations.
- Foyer / café - An informal community gathering space, serving hot drinks and snacks, for waiting, meeting, and greeting.
- Community support space.
- Kitchens - To serve the main hall and café.
- Base for staff, Town Council offices, reception and booking point.
- Consultation / meeting rooms – Multi-purpose spaces for meetings and groups, visiting community workers, including police, and potentially NHS services.
- Community co-working / shared space - A free-range space for community book share / swap-shop and co-working, including a computer area.
- Flexible activity space - A robust ‘make space’ for arts and crafts, workshops or other potentially messy or noisy activities, connected to the secure courtyard garden.
- Storage
- Toilets including a changing places facility.
- A safe and secure outdoor space
Cllr Bill Handley, Lead Cabinet Member for Communities at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We’re hugely excited about our plans for the permanent community centre at Northstowe.
"Local residents have had lots of input and really helped us to shape the design.
"We are aiming for a warm and welcoming building that will serve the community and its activities and groups for decades to come and nature and the environment are at the heart of the plans.
"Now we really need the community to tell us what they think to make sure that the building is going to provide what they need.
"I would encourage people living in and around Northstowe to have their say by commenting on the planning application."