Waterbeach newsletter: Autumn 2023

It has been another busy few months for the Waterbeach development, and we are working hard to have everything ready for our first residents, who will be moving in very soon. We also have new faces joining the team as the development progresses, and Fiona and Caroline – who we introduce in this edition – have been a great addition to the team and are fast becoming familiar faces among partners, stakeholders and the local communities. We hope the updates in this edition are useful, and we always welcome feedback as to areas to cover. If you have any queries about the development or new community, please do get in touch with us.

Over the next few pages, you can find an update on the work done to create the walking and cycling lake loop around the lake at the heart of Waterbeach, which will be opening up soon, alongside our work to bring the lake into active use for water sports in designated areas from next spring. Meanwhile essential management work on some of the inherited woodland impacted by climate change is progressing well, with failing and diseased trees being removed and over 340 new trees planted. The new trees will include more diverse species of varying canopy heights to create a more natural and sustainable woodland.

While the Urban&Civic team has been working hard to provide the infrastructure, amenities and landscaping, our housebuilder partners have been busy building the new homes for our first residents. We’ve included some highlights from Stonebond and Cala, along with affordable options from Longhurst Group.

We also have a bit of a health focus in this edition, with an update on the provision of health care within the development and for the wider community. We know there have been a lot of questions on this important subject and getting the right plans in place, at the right time, for the existing community and the future development is a key priority for us and all the local partners. We also include information on the Active New Communities project we are working on with South Cambridgeshire District Council and Living Sport: to put health at the heart of the development, and help connect people to ways in which they can lead more active lives.

Work is progressing at pace on Mere Way to help connect communities by providing an active travel route between Waterbeach and Landbeach, to Cambridge Science Park and beyond. We have also appointed smart journeys to encourage new residents moving into the development to choose cycling, walking and buses, over their car: improving their health and decreasing their carbon footprint.

There has also been lots going on within the local community, from guided ecology walks to Summer at the Beach and the thriving Waterbeach Community Market.