About
Life at Waterbeach
Waterbeach is growing into a new community shaped by landscape, movement and everyday life. Set between Cambridge and the open Fen landscape, it’s a place where lakeside spaces, new neighbourhoods and everyday connections to nature are already beginning to shape how people live, move and spend time together.
A more sustainable way to get around
Located 3 miles from the Science Park, and 5 miles from Cambridge, Waterbeach is an ideal choice for those looking for an easy commute. Existing rail connections to Cambridge, new travel routes, including frequent bus connections and off-road cycle paths, make it easier to leave the car at home and opt for more active, less stressful ways to get in and out of the city.
With a wide range of amenities and infrastructure built in, residents at Waterbeach will find plenty of ways to keep active. Walking and cycling routes, sports facilities, and seasonal wild swimming and paddleboarding sessions at the lake are close to home.
6500 new homes available to buy or rent, with affordable options
Sustainable travel hub, and extensive on and off site cycle connection
250 acres of green space enhanced and improved for sports leisure and recreation
Town centre with health centre, shops and services
5 new schoolsThree primary schools, a secondary school and a special needs school
Homes for people, and for nature
Waterbeach’s design and delivery has been carefully planned to minimise disruption to the natural environment. Development will ensure biodiversity net gain, meaning habitats for wildlife will be left in a measurably better state than before work began. To achieve this aim, five key habitat areas have been established. Together, they cover more space than 60 international rugby pitches, and sit alongside additional green and blue links which connect these spaces enabling the community to enjoy the benefits of getting outside in nature.
Water management and flood resilience is a key part of the long-term sustainability strategy. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) use the environment to mimic how land would naturally deal with heavy rainfall and help to slow down surface water run-off. The lake and other ponds across the development collect excess rainwater until it can drain away naturally into the soil, or be taken into a network of connected pipes. In this way, they prevent flooding alongside providing diverse homes for wildlife, further increasing biodiversity.
Building on rich heritage
Waterbeach has a long and rich history, from Iron Age settlements and medieval farming to use by the RAF and the Royal Engineers. The future vision for Waterbeach draws on this rich tapestry, with the site’s previous uses informing its future ones. The Mere Way cycle route to North Cambridge traces a historic Roman road, and the central walk and cycle lane through the development is formed by the old Causeway, trodden for centuries by monks, nuns, and farmers. The Old Tillage Roman Canal has formed part of the site-wide water systems.
The Royal Engineers left behind the man-made pockets of woodland and a 23 acre lake, which have since become important habitats for wildlife. Waterbeach celebrates this rich tapestry through its street names and the design of public spaces.
Learn more about the first phase of Waterbeach, including new homes, community facilities and local services.
Explore what’s coming next at Waterbeach
