Alconbury Weald

Project type:	New Settlement
Location:	Cambridgeshire, UK
Client:	Urban&Civic
Stage:	On-site
Programme:	2012 - ongoing

At Alconbury Weald in Cambridgeshire, Urban&Civic is transforming a 575 ha brownfield site, providing over 5,000 homes, an employment Enterprise Campus, new schools, transport linkages, energy infrastructure and community facilities – all integrated within over 280 ha of open space.

A large proportion of the site is represented by the former airfield of RAF Alconbury, the history and layout of the airfield having directly influenced the outline proposals for which consent was granted in 2014. The site benefits from a strategically significant location on the central spine of the UK, with access to major transport connections and plans for a future Alconbury Weald train station being developed.

JTP’s role has extended from ‘big picture’ strategic placemaking moves, through to the preparation of detailed implementation strategies and developer briefing packs, and on to the design of a new range of innovative high-density housetypes for Urban&Civic,as they move directly into housebuilding for the first time.

“

Alconbury Weald delivers much needed high quality space to support the growth of the Huntingdonshire and Greater Cambridge economy, enabling companies to grow on from space in the City.

Jason Ablewhite, Planning Authority for Huntingdonshire District Council

Project Delivery

Masterplan design and production (alongside David Lock Associates) of a full Design Code for Key Phase 1, which will deliver 1,400 homes and a mixture of dedicated employment spaces and mixed uses, including the first primary school
Analysis of ‘where to begin’ and how to make the vital first impression: creation of a placemaking strategy for locating and delivering the first new homes and school at Alconbury Weald, and the creation of a new sense of arrival
Design of a detailed masterplan and planning application for Urban&Civic’s site parcel, comprising 137 contemporary homes in a variety of bespoke housetypes, employment buildings, a nursery, café and foodstore
Preparation of a Developer Briefing Pack to distil information into concise, relevant guidance for the developers of the first housing parcel, supported by a detailed site layout and housing mix (including sample housetypes)
Advanced structural planting of shelter belts, or ‘landscape curtains’ around the first parcel to enclose the first phase of housing and establish its character, as well as to provide a more comfortable microclimate